Project Vixen

Lore & Background

The Royal Navy operates two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) configuration, limiting them to STOVL aircraft such as the F-35B Lightning II, tiltrotors, or helicopters. This has restricted options for air-to-air refuelling, carrier on-board delivery, and airborne early warning missions, which are better suited to heavier CATOBAR aircraft. Fixed-wing UAVs, being lighter, have been considered for these roles. In 2012, Defence Minister Philip Dunne stated that the Royal Navy expected to use UAVs from the Queen Elizabeth-class during their 50-year lifespans, and in 2016, Defence Minister Earl Howe described them as an 'operational advantage', noting that the carriers had extensive flight decks, hangars, and engineering support facilities. The Royal Navy evaluated capability concept demonstrators with Joint Forces Command in 2015, and in January 2021 it was reported that the navy was seeking a heavy lift UAV for logistics.

Project Vixen was first revealed on 24 March 2021, examining UAV use in strike and air-to-air refuelling missions. Under Project Ark Royal, the Royal Navy plans to install catapults and arrestor equipment on both carriers. In March 2021, the MOD issued a Request For Information for electromagnetic catapults and arrestor cables capable of launching and recovering aircraft with maximum weights of 24,948 kg and 21,319 kg respectively, with installation within three to five years. The system is considered somewhat underpowered for manned fighters like the F-35C, making it more likely for UAVs. The Royal Navy's Future Maritime Aviation Force publication from December 2020 states the aim to replace the Merlin HM2 Crowsnest helicopter-based AEW platform with a fixed-wing UAV, named Vixen, by 2030, also for surveillance, air-to-air refuelling, electronic warfare, and strike roles.

In September 2021, the Royal Navy launched a fixed-wing UAV from an aircraft carrier for the first time, using a Qinetiq Banshee Jet 80+ launched via catapult and recovered by parachute under Project Vampire. The W Autonomous Systems UAV and General Atomics Mojave were trialed in September and November 2023 respectively. Potential designs for Vixen included the Spirit Mosquito from the RAF's LANCA programme, but Project Mosquito was cancelled in June 2022. Royal Navy briefings have used the MQ-28 Ghost Bat adapted with a tail hook as a representation, and in July 2024 General Atomics proposed its Gambit 5 UCAV.

Reader's Guide

Project Vixen represents a significant shift in Royal Navy aviation, aiming to integrate fixed-wing UAVs into carrier operations traditionally limited to STOVL aircraft. By evaluating UAVs for strike, air-to-air refuelling, surveillance, electronic warfare, and airborne early warning, the programme seeks to address capability gaps that heavier CATOBAR aircraft cannot fill due to the carriers' configuration. The parallel Project Ark Royal, installing electromagnetic catapults and arrestor gear, underscores the navy's commitment to enabling UAV operations, though the system's weight limits suggest it is tailored for unmanned platforms rather than manned fighters. The cancellation of the related Project Mosquito in 2022 introduces uncertainty about Vixen's final design, but the use of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat in briefings and the proposal of the Gambit 5 indicate ongoing industry engagement. The programme's timeline, targeting a Vixen AEW platform by 2030, and the successful trials of various UAVs from 2021 to 2023 demonstrate incremental progress toward a future where uncrewed systems play a central role in carrier aviation, potentially influencing naval doctrine and procurement for decades.

Did You Know?

• The first fixed-wing UAV launch from a Royal Navy carrier occurred in September 2021 using a Qinetiq Banshee Jet 80+.
• The Royal Navy aims to replace the Merlin HM2 Crowsnest AEW helicopter with a fixed-wing UAV named Vixen by 2030.