Why naval drones may not keep carriers small

Will larger sixth-generation aircraft force light carriers to give way to drone carriers?

Naval drones also grow as range, saltwater protection, sensors, and multiple missions accumulate, so they may require large decks rather than preserving small carriers.

Removing a pilot does not remove the fuel, sensors, or saltwater protection a naval aircraft needs. More range increases aircraft size, while adding several missions creates further space and weight demands. The Royal Navy concept discussed combines airborne early warning with maritime patrol and ASW through different pods, with tanking also considered. Dr. Clarke recalls a design discussion in which the requested functions allegedly made a crewed version lighter than the proposed drone. That unnamed example is personal testimony, but it illustrates the question behind the exchange: whether mission growth consumes the space saved by removing the crew.