According to information published by the British Royal Navy on May 30, 2025, a small unmanned aerial system acted as the “flying eyes” for a crewed Merlin Mk2 helicopter during an operational mission in the Atlantic, marking the first time the British Royal Navy has employed a drone to guide the tactical behavior of a manned aircraft. The crew of the Merlin helicopter deliberately shut down their radar and onboard sensors, instead relying solely on real-time data delivered by a Puma drone launched and operated from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Tidespring. This trial represents a critical milestone in the British Royal Navy’s transition toward hybrid air operations, where manned and unmanned assets operate in synchrony to enhance maritime combat capability. Read full Naval News at this link ...
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| During the first operational trial of manned-unmanned integration, a British Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopter operating over the Atlantic receives real-time surveillance data from a Puma drone launched from RFA Tidespring, a Tide-class fleet replenishment tanker. (Picture source: British Royal Navy) |
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