Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 5:20:07-5:25:26

Sea Guardian drones extend Queen Elizabeth-class surveillance

Short-takeoff carrier drones could replace Merlin in airborne early warning and add long-range sensor deployment without an immediate CATOBAR conversion.

Anti-Submarine WarfareAW101 MerlinCarrier Airborne Early WarningQueen Elizabeth Class Aircraft CarriersRoyal NavySTOL AircraftUncrewed Aircraft
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Question

What impact could a short-takeoff Sea Guardian airborne-early-warning drone have on the Queen Elizabeth class and Project Ark Royal?

Short answer

It could provide airborne early warning and deploy ASW sensors from the existing carriers; Project Ark Royal remains an unfunded study with any major implementation much further away.

Notes

The proposed Sea Guardian airborne-early-warning drone could eventually replace Merlin in that role. Its short takeoff and landing would allow operations from the existing Queen Elizabeth-class flight deck without a CATOBAR conversion. An estimate of six to twelve aircraft per carrier also includes possible anti-submarine sensor deployment. Storage and the effect on other aircraft in the hangar would need attention; a half-height hangar is mentioned as a possible but difficult modification. Project Ark Royal remains a study rather than a funded commitment in this June 2025 assessment. More ambitious carrier changes would require considerable development and probably wait for a midlife refit, estimated here as no earlier than the late 2030s.