Speaking at the Defence Leaders’ ‘Combined Naval Event 2023’ conference in Farnborough on 24 May, Colonel Phil Kelly, Head of Carrier Strike and Maritime Aviation within the Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate, outlined an ambition to retrofit arrestor gear and assisted launch equipment as part of a broader Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) vision. FMAF is a multi-strand programme exploring the widespread fielding of uncrewed aviation across the surface fleet, with a specific focus on future carrier aviation.
In its current configuration, the QEC flight deck arrangement – with a 12.5o ski-ramp fitted forward and a vertical recovery deck offset to port – has been shaped by the operation and support of a single fixed-wing aircraft type – the F-35B Lightning II short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL) strike fighter. No assisted launch or arrestment machinery is installed.
Project Ark Royal
According to Col Kelly, one strand of FMAF – known as Project Ark Royal – is exploring options for the phased introduction of aircraft launch and recovery equipment to enable the operation of high performance uncrewed strike and support systems, and potentially fixed-wing crewed aircraft.
“We are looking to move from STOVL to STOL [short takeoff and landing], then to STOBAR [short takeoff but arrested recovery] and then to CATOBAR [catapult assisted takeoff but arrested recovery]. We are looking at a demonstrable progression that spreads out the financial cost and incrementally improves capability.”
Colonel Phil Kelly, Head of Carrier Strike and Maritime Aviation in Royal Navy
The first step would be to increase the available length for the unassisted launch of uncrewed air systems. “This November we will [launch] a Mojave [STOL] aircraft off the angle of the flight deck off the US east coast,” said Col Kelly. “This aircraft can take off in 300 ft of runway so enough for the trial [but] we have already undertaken design work to add sponsons and make a full run of 700 ft available.”
The next stage would be to introduce a recovery system into the QEC design. It is anticipated that the large fixed-wing UAS envisaged under FMAF – a persistent capability known as Vixen – would depend on some form of arrestment for recovery.
A final step would be to add an assisted launch system. “Adding catapults would allow us to operate the heaviest aircraft you can imagine,” said Col Kelly.
Naval News understands that various assisted launch and recovery system options have already been reviewed under Project Ark Royal. These include the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arrestor Gear equipment being delivered by General Atomics for the US Navy’s CVN 78 class aircraft carriers, and the UK’s own Electro Magnetic Kinetic Induction Technology demonstrator (developed by GE Power Conversion).
The FMAF plan remains pre-decisional at this stage. Work is continuing to explore capabilities, undertake experimentation and gather evidence in order to inform the UK’s next Integrated Review in 2025.
