Written question asked by Lord West of Spithead (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 2 January 2026. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 22 December 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Aircraft Carriers: Uncrewed Systems
- Question
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To ask His Majesty's Government when the UK's carrier battle groups will have a carrier-based, fully autonomous, unmanned Carrier Onboard Delivery capability.
- Answer
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The Royal Navy recognises the potential of autonomous systems to enhance the resilience and flexibility of Carrier Strike operations. All options for a Carrier Onboard Delivery capability are being considered, and work is currently underway to explore unmanned, autonomous, Maritime Inter- and Intra-Theatre Lift (MITL) capabilities, including trials of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft capable of operating from Queen Elizabeth Class carriers.
This approach is consistent with the development of the Hybrid Air Wings recommended in the Strategic Defence Review. Investment decisions are being developed and will be published in the Defence Investment Plan.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- HL13066
- Session
- 2024-26
- Subjects
- Aircraft carriers Uncrewed systems
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2025-12-22 17:15:27 +0000
- URI
- http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/lords/2024-26/HL13066
- In Indexing
- http://indexing.parliament.uk/Content/Edit/1?uri=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/lords/2024-26/HL13066
- In Solr
- https://search.parliament.uk/claw/solr/?id=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/lords/2024-26/HL13066