most interesting developments was the Deck Control Device, converting normal hand signals from deck personnel into inputs for the MQ-25 Stingray drone, in order to simplify and standardise deck operations. Additionally, the prototype MD-5 ground control station was fitted inside the new Unmanned Aviation Warfare Center, where coordination of drone missions and approach management to the carrier just before deck landing are conducted. In December 2021, General Atomics unveiled its new Mojave UCAV, derived from the well-known MQ-9 Reaper line and featuring reinforced landing gear, extended wings, a more powerful engine, a short take off capability from unprepared strips and from carrier decks, including those on LHD and LHA. The Mojave could perform long range reconnaissance, close air support and armed overwatch missions, without requiring catapults, but needing arrested recovery. Such a solution could prove attractive for the many navies operating amphibious flat deck vessels. The approach contributes to distributed lethality, expanding the number of platforms able to play significant combat roles. All these different national approaches offer interesting opportunities for MUM-T operations, while still raising significant challenges, both technological and doctrinal. In turn, the scarcity of both traditional carrier-borne fighter aircraft and traditional aircraft carriers, and the inherent risks in operating manned aircraft in harm’s way, provide a strong incentive to look for such a solution. revolving around a carrier-based variant of the Mosquito Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) concept, to be integrated in ‘loyal wingman’ mode with F-35B operations. In the meantime, HMS Prince of Wales has conducted operations with the catapult-launched Banshee Jet 80+ aerial target drone, to evaluate how drone operations can be integrated within a traditional flight deck. The aim of this programme (Project Vampire), is to procure low-cost fixed-wing drones for sISR and EW missions and threat simulation, as part of an increment to the service’s Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) programme. It is worthy of note that the US Navy, by far the largest operator of aircraft carriers, is actively working to integrate unmanned operations into its carrier air wings. For instance, in December 2021, USS George H W Bush carried out an extensive series of deck compatibility tests. One of the From the Bridge MT 3/2022 · 65 During deck trials onboard USS Bush (CVN 77) with the unmanned Boeing MQ-25 aircraft, deck specialists used the new Deck Control Device to convert normal hand signals into inputs for the drone. (Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Brandon Roberson) f
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