Drone Carriers & the Democratisation of Naval Power Projection

The Rise of Drone Carriers at Sea

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become central to strategic power projection, and their integration into naval aviation is beginning to reshape the role of aircraft carriers. While traditional manned carrier aviation still dominates, nations are exploring the potential of UAVs for roles such as surveillance, air-to-air refuelling, and strike missions. The U.S. Navy leads in developing advanced stealthy UCAVs like the MQ-25 and X-47B, while rivals such as China and Russia are advancing their own drone-capable carriers and platforms. Meanwhile, countries like Türkiye and Iran have adopted more pragmatic or improvised approaches: Türkiye operates UAVs like the Bayraktar TB3 from its LHD TCG Anadolu, and Iran has converted a container ship into the drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri. These developments illustrate how drone carriers are emerging in diverse forms, from high-end stealth systems to cost-effective asymmetric solutions.

Despite their promise, drone carriers remain in a developmental phase. Middle powers such as South Korea and Indonesia are embracing UAV-centric vessels as cost-saving alternatives to traditional carrier designs, while Brazil and Portugal are employing drone-capable ships for non-combat missions like ISR and disaster relief. However, the full operational utility of drone carriers depends on challenges like fleet protection, integration into wider command systems, datalink stability, and platform autonomy. For now, most UCAVs lack the versatility of manned aircraft, limiting the strategic impact of drone carriers. Nonetheless, as technology matures, these vessels may become a core element of future naval power projection.

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