Britain Tests Launch of FPV Drones from Helicopters

The Royal Air Force has conducted test launches of FPV drones from a Chinook transport helicopter.

The Royal Air Force reported this on X.

The tests were carried out as part of the Hornets Nest program, which involves launching FPV drones from platforms and exploring the potential use of helicopters as platforms for their mass deployment.

It is worth noting that the United Kingdom is currently fast-tracking the integration of FPV drones into its armed forces’ weapons systems and is developing new approaches to their use.

As part of this expansion, in April 2025, the country’s Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Viking Arms for the rapid delivery of 180 FPV drones, intended to be used by British troops for training purposes.

The value of the contract amounted to £256,000 (approximately $336,805), with delivery scheduled to be completed within 19 days. The contract included 60 drones of each size: 5 inches (12 centimeters), 8 inches (20 centimeters), and 10 inches (25 centimeters).

To date, the Ministry of Defence has supported an investment program for the development of drones for the British Army, Navy, and Air Force, allocating £4.5 billion for research, procurement, and scaling their deployment in the armed forces.

“Drones are a revolutionary and constantly evolving technology, and it is crucial that the United Kingdom continues to invest and maintain its position at the forefront of drone development in order to stay one step ahead of our adversaries,” the UK Ministry of Defence stated.

In addition to developing FPV drones, the UK is also investing significant funds and effort into the development of surface drones for a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, air defense, kamikaze drone operations, electronic warfare, and more.

Previously, the Kraken3 surface drone was presented, with capabilities ranging from kamikaze strikes to counter-drone operations, as well as cargo and personnel transport.

The drone is equipped with two separate compartments designed to carry various payloads. In Tampa, it was fitted with the Titan 4 electronic warfare system by AV, intended to counter unmanned aerial systems.

According to AV’s senior technical director, the Kraken3 is also capable of carrying “many” Switchblade 600 and 300 loitering munitions.