The W Autonomous Systems drone delivered a symbolic cargo of naval memorabilia to HMS Prince of Wales then returned to base at Predannack airfield in Cornwall.
Delighted Navy chiefs described the milestone 40-minute round trip as "a vital step along the way to operating crewless aircraft safely".
They want to use drones to move supplies around a carrier force without risking crews and helicopters.
Hunting
Using cheaper pilotless craft for transfers keeps Merlin and Wildcat choppers free for tasks such as hunting hostile subs or surface ships.
This story is from the September 08, 2023 edition of Daily Express.
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This story is from the September 08, 2023 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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