Royal Navy patrol ship conducts first in class flight of Malloy drone

The Royal Navy reported last weekend that the HMS Trent (a River-class offshore patrol vessel) successfully conducted the “first flight of a heavy-lift drone during operations in the Caribbean.”

The milestone took place as the HMS Trent patrols the Caribbean during the hurricane season. The vessel launched sorties using the Malloy T-150B drone, marking the first time the Royal Navy’s River-class has deployed the system.

The Malloy drone is able to fly during both day and night and comes with thermal imaging capabilities.

The trial was carried out by Scout Flight 700X Naval Air Squadron and is a step forward as the Royal Navy explores adopting an increasing suite of uncrewed aviation at sea. This was an “important first step” towards a future ship-to-shore logistics support capability.

The Scout Flight worked with HMS Trent’s bridge and flight deck teams to “safely integrate drone operations into established aviation procedures.” HMS Trent’s flight deck is able to operate aircraft up to the size of a Merlin helicopter. Operating drones adds a new capability for the patrol boat.

A valuable disaster relief asset

The Malloy uncrewed aerial system is a quadcopter able to lift up to 68 kg with an endurance of up to 40 minutes. It comes with a top speed of 60mph. The range is heavily influenced by it payload. Its range is between 13 km and 37.5 km.

The Royal Navy notes Malloy has the potential to be a valuable asset in the event that HMS Trent undertakes humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions. It has the ability to transport food, water, medical aid, and other critical supplies to communities isolated by a natural disaster.

Commander Gavin Lowe, the Commanding Officer onboard HMS Trent, said, “This new capability is a fantastic addition to our toolset for humanitarian aid and disaster relief. The team have worked hard to integrate the system into our operations and we’re all very pleased to see the concept realised.”

Building on from 2025’s Operation Highmast

In February 2024, the Royal Marines announced it had acquired 22 T-150s, while the Royal Navy took delivery of 20 T-150 drones in November 2024. Nine T-150s were embarked with 700X Naval Air Squadron during 2025’s Operation Highmast, with the first delivery operation being between HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Dauntless.

The manufacturer, Malloy Aeronautics, notes its T-150 UAS is already in service with the US Marines, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines. It comes with a removable battery so that the battery can be changed between missions.

Future drones could significantly expand from the T-150B. BAE Systems describes the T-650 concept, which is within the same series, as having a payload of 300kg.

While the Trent operated the drone in the Caribbean, the potential is greater, as Malloy Aeronautics advertises it as an all-weather drone that’s already been demonstrated in the Arctic Circle and in deserts.