Britain Plans to Launch Large UAVs from Ford Transit Vans

The UK Ministry of Defence has launched a new program to convert civilian vans into mobile platforms for launching heavy drones, according to a report by the UK Defence Journal.

Known as VOLLEY, the initiative aims to integrate drone launch systems into Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinter vans.

The system is designed to deploy large drones weighing around 125 kilograms.

Each van would be capable of launching up to five drones within a four-minute window, with a one-minute interval between launches.

The drones are intended to return to base within ten minutes.

Additional technical specifications released by the Ministry of Defence include a minimum launch speed of 60 meters per second (over 200 km/h), an operational temperature range between −20°C and +55°C, and night-time launch capability using night vision goggles. The system will be operated by a team of one to three personnel.

Key design priorities include autonomous deployment, resistance to high heat, fuel exposure, and both visual and thermal detection. The total system weight is expected to remain under 275 kilograms.

Unlike conventional UAV systems, drones under the VOLLEY program will be launched without rocket boosters. Instead, they will rely on a mechanical system developed specifically for this project.

The program is moving on an accelerated timeline. Initial tests are scheduled for October 2025, with the first production units — approximately 20 systems — expected by January 2026.

International partners from NATO, Ukraine, and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance members have been invited to participate in the initiative.

The estimated cost per unit is around £300,000.

The announcement comes amid growing interest in drone warfare, driven in part by Ukraine’s battlefield use of unmanned systems and the precedent set by Spiderweb Operation, during which drones launched from containers targeted Russian airfields.

Militarnyi previously reported that the UK government announced a £2 billion investment in drones, citing lessons from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The plan prioritizes inexpensive one-way strike drones, more costly reusable systems, and the creation of a dedicated unmanned systems center to coordinate efforts across the armed forces.