British swarming drone projects beating expectations

New drone technology inspired by insects progressing quickly in UK and hailed as breakthrough for future warfare

Britain is fast-tracking the development of swarming drone aircraft. Courtesy Ministry of Defence

Britain’s efforts to develop swarming drones to kit out its air force are “exceeding expectations” in trials, a top defence official has revealed.

Two projects are being fast-tracked to deliver the new technology, inspired by swarms of insects, to the country’s armed forces in the near future.

Militaries around the world are racing to develop the capability to use large numbers of small, unmanned air vehicles that can work together to overcome adversaries.

Baroness Goldie, Minister of State for Defence, said both of Britain’s projects were moving forward quickly when she was asked in Parliament about the development programme for the technology.

“The Royal Air Force’s swarming drones project continues to be developed by the Rapid Capabilities Office with progress during recent trials exceeding expectations in several areas,” she said.

The defence minister detailed some of the progress being made.

One programme, named Many Drones Make Light Work, aims to explore the military use of a swarm of up to 20 drones being controlled by one person.

The project, Ms Goldie said, has entered its final phase of flight evaluation after successful first trials in March.

A second RAF programme, named Project Mosquito, aims to produce a technology demonstrator as a proof of concept. Flight testing could begin next year, the Defence Ministry has said.

The ministry awarded £2.5 million (Dh11.5m) to a consortium of aerospace and technology companies to develop the swarming technology last year.

Swarming drones have been hailed as a breakthrough in military technology, and the RAF envisions a range of uses for them.

Large numbers of flying vehicles could be used to overwhelm enemy defences or cover large areas in a search and rescue mission.

They could also be used to deliver medical assistance to soldiers on the ground as well as detect explosives.

Their comparatively low cost and ability to be controlled from a single source means they are a so-called force multiplier, boosting the capabilities of soldiers alongside whom they are deployed.

Several other countries are seeking to add the technology to their arsenals.

In the United States, a number of different projects involving semi-autonomous swarming drones are under development.

The drones range in size from small quadcopters similar to children’s toys, up to nine-metre long aircraft capable of carrying laser guided bombs.

China is also reportedly working hard to develop swarms of small drones for military use, and a Russian project envisages more than 100 drones laden with explosives to attack targets.