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The Royal Navy is racing against time to develop a ship-based counter-drone system to address the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the maritime domain. The project, codenamed Project TALON, aims to provide a rapidly procured and installable counter UAS capability that can detect, track, identify, and defeat airborne threats.
The Royal Navy is developing a ship-based counter-drone system as part of Project TALON to address the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the maritime domain. The project aims to detect, track, identify, and defeat airborne threats, with a desired benchmark of engaging at least 25 targets before reloading. The system will combine kinetic and non-kinetic "effectors" to counter drone threats, including projectiles, missiles, lasers, microwaves, and electronic jamming. The project has been accelerated due to recent world events, such as the ongoing Iran conflict, which has highlighted the growing threat of UAS in military operations. The Royal Navy is not alone in its efforts to develop counter-drone systems; other countries, including the US, are also working on similar projects.
The Royal Navy is embarking on a mission to develop a ship-based counter-drone system, a project that aims to address the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the maritime domain. The Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Information (RFI) from industry, seeking to gather details and refine requirements for the project, codenamed Project TALON.
According to the RFI document, the Royal Navy is looking for a rapidly procured and installable counter UAS capability that can detect, track, identify, and defeat airborne threats. The system must be suitable for maritime platforms and provide a defended area of between 100 km² up to 2,500 km². The chosen system is expected to engage at least 25 targets before reloading, with a desired benchmark of 100 targets.
The project will combine a mix of "effectors" both kinetic and non-kinetic to counter the threats posed by the proliferation of drones. Kinetic implies the use of a projectile or missile to down a drone through force of impact or by explosive means, while non-kinetic involves the use of lasers, microwaves, or electronic jamming to disable it.
The Royal Navy is already due to receive the DragonFire laser weapon, capable of defeating high-speed drones, but it will be fitted initially to one Type 45 destroyer in 2027. However, the MoD has decided to accelerate the development of Project TALON, with a projected timeline that sees responses by March 17 and delivery of the initial capability within one month.
The project's urgency can be attributed to recent world events, including the ongoing Iran conflict and the increasing use of drones in various military operations. The proliferation of UAS has raised concerns among militaries worldwide, particularly in the maritime domain, where they pose a significant threat to naval operations and national security.
The Royal Navy is not alone in its efforts to develop counter-drone systems. Other countries, including the United States, are also working on similar projects, with some already deploying systems to counter the growing threat of UAS. The development of effective counter-drone capabilities has become a pressing concern for militaries worldwide, and it will be interesting to see how Project TALON unfolds in the coming weeks.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Royal-Navy-Rushes-to-Develop-Counter-Drone-System-Amid-Growing-Threat-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/03/09/uks_royal_navy_desperately_seeking/
https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/09/uks_royal_navy_desperately_seeking/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3d01nxg0y0o
Published: Mon Mar 9 05:41:22 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M