Formed in 2023, the Banshee flight within 700X NAS was established to test the operation of the high-speed drones, capable of reaching speeds up to 400mph. The project aimed to understand how to safely fly and manage these advanced remotely-piloted systems.
The Banshee Jet 80+ systems, developed by defence company QinetiQ, were flown from Predannack Airfield in Cornwall, near the squadron’s base at RNAS Culdrose. The trials formed part of wider Royal Navy efforts to assess the future role of drones in naval operations.
Lieutenant Tony Nairn, Banshee Flight Commander, said: “The project has not been without its challenges and the novel concept of trialling a remotely-piloted jet system has required resilience from inception. The team has now established the foundations on which future agile projects can be built. This has been achieved through extensive generation and recording of the lessons experienced.”
Though the Banshee drones will not become a permanent fixture in the Royal Navy’s arsenal, their impact has been significant. “While the Banshee air system will not become an in-service capability, its importance must not be underestimated. In this area of growth, what comes next is determined by what was done today,” Lt Nairn added.
During preparations for this year’s carrier strike deployment, led by HMS Prince of Wales, the Banshees were used to simulate hostile threats. These exercises tested ship and aircraft defences, with the drones destroyed by F-35 fighter jets and Wildcat helicopters using air-to-air missiles.
Lieutenant Commander Steve Cooke, Commanding Officer of 700X NAS, praised the outcomes of the trials. “Banshee has given us invaluable knowledge in how to operate high-speed drones. It’s also allowed us to assist with force generation for the carrier strike group. We are ready now for whatever the next capability will be,” he said.
700X NAS continues to explore new drone technologies, already operating Puma reconnaissance drones which require no flight deck for launch. In 2023, the squadron also successfully trialled Peregrine mini-helicopters, later used with HMS Lancaster in the Gulf.
Source: Royal Navy.
