UK carriers could get jet-powered drones under Project Vampire

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is looking to begin the procurement of a series of jet-powered drones this year that will operate from Royal Navy platforms, potentially including the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, to provide enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. In an Invitation to Tender (ITT) notification, published on January 17, the MOD stated that the contracting authority – the Royal Navy – was seeking to assess the potential for maritime airborne uncrewed or autonomous UAS to