At DSEI this week, Thales told me it is exploring ways to expand the capabilities of its Peregrine rotary-wing uncrewed system already in service with the Royal Navy.
The company is developing a product line based on Peregrine that could integrate new sensors, improved data processing, and potentially a weapons fit.
According to Thales, there is “no formal requirement from the Navy,” but the service has expressed interest in options for greater lethality, particularly for smaller ships that lack kinetic punch. “They’re struggling, particularly on some of the smaller ships, with kinetic effects. We picked that up and ran with it and thought, well, we could probably build it.”
The initial concept has already been proven. Thales said the weapon itself is cleared and the plan is to conduct a live firing demonstration in 2026, ideally in the UK. The company noted that while early tests could involve the S-100 platform, the ambition is to build up to the larger S-300 system, which can carry up to ten stores.
Funding for the project is already secured. What is now needed, Thales explained, is sponsorship in terms of access to ranges, support from the Ministry of Defence’s certification bodies, and buy-in from stakeholders to accelerate trials. “It’s aspirational, but it’s funded. It’s something we want to do on our own scheme.”
The prospect is seen as particularly attractive for offshore patrol vessels, which have limited organic strike capability. By coupling an armed UAS with improved processing and dissemination, Thales believes it can offer a deployable precision effect without requiring major ship modifications.
The Royal Navy has also now confirmed that Peregrine has reached its official in-service date. The system, developed with Schiebel, has already been deployed aboard HMS Lancaster and proven its value on live operations. According to Thales, it extends the “eyes and ears” of the fleet far beyond the horizon, with persistent surveillance and reliable performance in demanding naval environments.
Marie Gayrel, Thales Vice-President for ISR activities, said “Its operational success aboard HMS Lancaster demonstrates the potential of rotary wing uncrewed air systems to transform maritime operations. This milestone highlights our shared commitment to innovation, safety and delivering critical capability to the Fleet, fully aligned with the Royal Navy’s transformation agenda.”
Sounds like an ideal solution, with such a low estimated cost and small foot print maybe two per ship?
A mature platform using existing weapons – if the MoD was functioning efficiently this is the sort of thing that should be done and dusted in weeks, maybe a couple of months. But demonstrations are not until 2026 sometime. That aside, could be a very useful asset.
I can’t believe that this has taken so long…
Just to get to this stage😒😤😡
Also…does anyone know what’s happening with the Jackal drone? I’ve not seen anything since a test firing of some missiles last year sometime. I was rather hoping it would be in Ukraine by now.
Must be a slow missile ?
Eyes and ears of the fleet.
Am I right in saying the RN has a single example, supported by contractors?
They seem paralysed with fear about making a decision and putting something, anything, into service.
I see no sign of anything changing?
Lancaster had two. Probably still does.
Thanks.
Two! A whole two!
Well if is the whole merry go round of everything needing to be cutting, bleeding edge rather than just work.
So, as you say, reasonable solutions are disregarded in favour of a bigger pot of jam tomorrow. Problem is the jam tomorrow budget is always raided….for in year balancing….
Money
The Thales web site reports The S-100, equipped with a Thales data relay payload, was deployed in an exercise to monitor the transmission of data sonobuoys and relay it to a command centre ashore, permitting the detection and classification of possible enemy submarines. I wonder whether the Peregrine could deploy the sonobuoy. If the command centre were incorporated in the container which houses the Peregrine and plugged into the ship’s CMS a Type 31 or a River 2 might have some sub hunter killer capability.