UK Royal Navy tests airdropped K3 Scout sea drones from an Airbus A400

The UK Royal Navy said it has been test-launching sea drones from a turboprop aircraft at 1,300 feet in trials it described as a “first airdrop of its kind.” The K3 Scout, a 27-foot-long multirole sea drone, was parachuted four times from an Airbus A400 transport aircraft during a six-day campaign over the North Sea.

The Royal Navy said the airdrop capability “instantly expands the speed, range, and flexibility” of deployment because the drone does not need a port or nearby support ship. Cpt. Adam Ballard said one limitation of small uncrewed surface vehicles is their ability to self-deploy, making “motherships” or “mother aircraft” a focus for deployment concepts.

Kraken said the K3 Scout was dropped into the North Sea at Sea State 4, where waves could reach up to 8 feet. The uncrewed surface vessel has electronic warfare systems, can carry a payload of up to 600 kilograms, and is meant to operate for up to 30 days in the field.

Kraken lists the drone as capable of strikes at sea and in shallow waters, casualty evacuation, and forward screening missions.

Sea drones have gained prominence after Ukraine used them against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The UK’s navy has said it wants these drones to work alongside crewed warships and human forces, and in March announced it was purchasing 20 Kraken uncrewed surface vessels to “set the foundation” for future sea-drone use.

The contract is worth about $16.5 million, putting the cost of each drone at roughly $825,000.