Breaking News: British Navy uses Puma drone to guide Merlin helicopter in first joint operation.

According to information published by the British Royal Navy on May 30, 2025, a small unmanned aerial system acted as the “flying eyes” for a crewed Merlin Mk2 helicopter during an operational mission in the Atlantic, marking the first time the British Royal Navy has employed a drone to guide the tactical behavior of a manned aircraft. The crew of the Merlin helicopter deliberately shut down their radar and onboard sensors, instead relying solely on real-time data delivered by a Puma drone launched and operated from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Tidespring. This trial represents a critical milestone in the British Royal Navy’s transition toward hybrid air operations, where manned and unmanned assets operate in synchrony to enhance maritime combat capability.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

During the first operational trial of manned-unmanned integration, a British Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopter operating over the Atlantic receives real-time surveillance data from a Puma drone launched from RFA Tidespring, a Tide-class fleet replenishment tanker. (Picture source: British Royal Navy)

The term “flying eyes” refers to the Puma drone’s role as an airborne surveillance asset that extends the visual and sensor reach of the crewed helicopter. Operating silently and at safe standoff distances, the drone functions as a forward-deployed observer, gathering imagery and data beyond the visual and radar horizon of the helicopter. This allows the Merlin to remain undetected while still receiving real-time updates on surface contacts and potential threats. In essence, the drone becomes an extension of the helicopter’s situational awareness, feeding crucial reconnaissance information without exposing the manned platform to detection or danger.

The Merlin Mk2 is the British Royal Navy’s primary maritime patrol helicopter, designed for advanced anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and maritime surveillance missions. Developed by Leonardo, it is equipped with a powerful suite of sonar, radar, and electronic warfare systems. The platform is powered by three RTM322 engines, offers a top speed of 309 km/h (192 mph), and has a range of over 925 km (575 mi). It can deploy from frigates, destroyers, and carriers, and plays a central role in protecting fleet operations and securing strategic sea lanes.

The Puma drone, developed by AeroVironment, is a compact, hand-launched fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system used by the British Royal Navy primarily for tactical surveillance and intelligence gathering. With a length of 1.4 m (4.6 ft) and a wingspan of 2.8 m (9.2 ft), it is lightweight and highly portable. Operated by 700X Naval Air Squadron, the Puma can stay airborne for up to two hours and transmit real-time electro-optical and infrared video to ship- or land-based control stations. Its small profile and low acoustic signature make it ideal for reconnaissance in both open ocean and coastal environments.

The Puma, a lightweight fixed-wing tactical drone, was remotely piloted by a team from 700X Naval Air Squadron using a ground control station installed on board. It provided a secure, real-time feed of electro-optical and infrared imagery directly to both the command ship and the helicopter crew. This allowed the Merlin to approach and monitor a designated suspect vessel while maintaining complete electronic silence, a critical advantage in high-threat environments dominated by electronic warfare and radar-seeking weapon systems.

For naval forces, the operational interest in using such unmanned systems in direct coordination with manned aircraft lies in the ability to extend reach, increase stealth, and optimize resource allocation. In modern naval warfare, the risk of radar exposure can jeopardize the survivability of high-value assets. Drones like the Puma offer a persistent, low-signature surveillance capability that can conduct wide-area reconnaissance without alerting hostile forces. By offloading initial detection and surveillance duties to the drone, the Merlin helicopter can preserve its own capabilities for precision strike, close inspection, or rescue operations once targets have been located and assessed.

From a tactical perspective, this new approach to maritime aviation introduces greater flexibility in threat response. The use of drones as forward eyes allows commanders to deploy manned aircraft more selectively, reducing unnecessary flight hours and extending the operational availability of critical platforms like the Merlin Mk2. Furthermore, by integrating unmanned systems into the kill chain, naval task groups can execute multi-layered engagements where drones support not only reconnaissance but also battle damage assessment, target tracking, and dynamic retasking, all without requiring constant exposure of manned platforms.

The integration of Puma with the Merlin Mk2 also has major implications for littoral operations and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). In coastal waters or congested maritime zones, where clutter and civilian activity complicate detection, a drone can discreetly map vessel patterns or cue larger sensors onboard the helicopter or ship. In ASW scenarios, drones can operate in tandem with sonobuoy patterns, offering surface overwatch or enabling helicopters to focus on submerged threats while uncrewed systems monitor surface movements.

Experts from Army Recognition emphasize that this form of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) is not simply a technical achievement, it is an evolution of naval doctrine. As adversaries develop longer-range anti-ship missiles and sophisticated electronic warfare tools, Western naval forces must embrace distributed operations and reduce their dependence on high-signature platforms. The successful integration of Puma drones into live helicopter operations supports this shift, providing commanders with scalable, modular tools to adapt to a dynamic battlespace.

Additionally, from a logistical and economic standpoint, drones like the Puma are inexpensive to deploy and maintain compared to larger aircraft. Their ability to perform vital ISR missions without risking crewed platforms enables navies to sustain operations longer and with greater tempo. The low cost of expendability also means that drones can be risked in contested environments where a manned aircraft would not be sent.

This trial reinforces the British Royal Navy’s role as a leading innovator within NATO in operationalizing unmanned systems alongside its legacy fleet. The fusion of modern UAV capabilities with proven maritime helicopters represents not just an improvement in surveillance, it marks the emergence of a new model of naval aviation, one that is more agile, survivable, and prepared for the complexities of future maritime warfare.