This article is missing information about The term "drone carrier" has also been used to refer to aircraft and land vehicles that carry deployable drones. The deployed drones themselves, can be ground, water, or aerial drones as well, not restricted to UAV/UCAV. . Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.(June 2024)
As a naval vessel, a drone carrier is capable of launching and picking up combat drones without the need for large and expensive aircraft carriers .
In March 2013, DARPA began efforts to develop a fleet of small naval vessels capable of launching and retrieving combat drones without the need for large and expensive aircraft carriers.[1]
In November 2014, US DoD made an open request for ideas on how to build an airborne aircraft carrier that can launch and retrieve drones using existing military aircraft such as the B-1B, B-52 or C-130.[2]
In February 2021, President of the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) Ismail Demir made public a new type of UAV being developed by Baykar that is planned to be stationed on Turkey's first amphibious assault ship, TCG Anadolu.[3] The new aircraft Baykar Bayraktar TB3 being developed is a naval version of the Bayraktar TB2 equipped with a local engine developed by TEI.[4] According to the initial plans, the ship was expected to be equipped with F-35B fighter jets, but following the removal of Turkey from the procurement program, the vessel entered into a modification process to be able to accommodate UAVs. Mr. Demir stated that between 30 and 50 folding-winged Bayraktar TB3 UAVs will be able to land and take off using the deck of Anadolu.[5][6]
On 19 November 2024, Baykar Bayraktar TB3 UAV successfully landed and took-off from TCG Anadolu.[7] It was the first time a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft of this size and class had successfully landed on a short-runway landing helicopter dock.[8]
On May 18, 2022, the first Chinese unmanned drone carrier named Zhuhai Cloud ("Zhu Hai Yun") was launched in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in China, intended to advance marine research and economics.[9][10] In May 2024, a possible drone carrier, with a catamaran layout and low flight deck, was spotted in the Jiangsu Dayang Marine Shipyards.[11]
A Chinese Navy official, Chi, has announced that the recently launched Type 076-class Sichuan warship will serve as a UAV carrier.[12]
Iran also built a drone carrier (named Shahid Bagheri) with an estimated 160 to 180m long flight deck by converting a container ship.[13] It is reported that several kinds of drones and helicopters can take off from and land on the said carrier. She also carry several anti-ship and anti-air missiles for protection and 30 Ashura-class missile speedboats with herself.[14][15][16][17]
On 12 November 2024, the South Korean Navy conducted a Gray Eagle STOL UAV take-off test aboard the amphibious assault ship ROKS Dokdo to test the ship's ability to carry fixed-wing UAVs. The Gray Eagle UAV took off from Dokdo, flew twice close to her port side to perform a "simulated landing procedure", but did not land on the ship.[20] The Korean company Hanwha Ocean has presented several concepts for the production of UAV carrier or carriers of other unmanned vehicles in its proposed project called Ghost Commander.[21]
United Kingdom
A Mojave UAV onboard HMS Prince of Wales in November 2023.
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