Britain will test jet-powered drones alongside F-35B fighters under Project VANQUISH as the Royal Navy begins developing a mixed crewed and autonomous carrier force. The trials form part of Project PANTHEON, representing a nearly £240 million investment in uncrewed systems for a future Hybrid Carrier Air Wing.
Outlined in the UK Ministry of Defence’s 2026 Defence Investment Plan, the initiative will retain the core F-35B force while introducing autonomous aircraft and uncrewed rotorcraft operating from escort vessels. While Project VANQUISH does not have a separate funding line, the allocated budget covers the broader development of autonomous systems for the carrier air wing. The ministry has not yet disclosed specific drone models, suppliers, or a concrete schedule, describing the effort as early trials of jet-powered systems operating alongside crewed fighters.
Autonomous collaborative platforms are intended to deliver more affordable mass for air defense, strike, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electromagnetic attack. In parallel, a separate £300 million Collaborative Combat Aircraft program aims to fly a concept demonstrator by 2030 for operation from both land bases and carriers. These systems will eventually extend sensor coverage and operate ahead of crewed fighters.
The initiatives sit within a wider £5 billion commitment to autonomous military systems through 2030, marking the Ministry of Defence’s largest-ever drone investment across all branches. Additional allocations include £1.5 billion for the Hybrid Navy through fiscal 2029/30, £2.2 billion for the F-35 fleet, and £510 million for the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers over the next four years.
