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영국이 QE급 항모에 F-35B와 함께 무인기와 장거리 미사일을 탑재할 계획이라고 하네요. 돌고 돌아 쿠즈네초프???
1. 5줄 이내 핵심 요약
영국 해군은 F-35B 스텔스 전투기, 드론, 장거리 미사일을 결합한 ‘하이브리드 항공단’을 구축하는 계획을 공식화했다.
퀸엘리자베스급 항공모함은 기존 F-35B 중심에서, 다양한 무인기(고성능·소모성) 및 장거리 정밀미사일까지 운용할 수 있도록 점진적으로 업그레이드될 예정이다.
영국은 향후 추가 F-35B 도입, 무인기용 이함/착함 시스템, 장거리 순항미사일의 함상 발사 등 대규모 개조 및 신규 무장통합을 추진 중이다.
이 계획에는 미 해군이 추진하는 CCA(협동 전투기)형 ‘로열 윙맨’ 드론, MQ-25, MQ-28, 그리고 단일 임무 소모성 드론까지 포함된다.
기술적·재정적 도전이 크지만, 영국은 유럽 최초로 항공모함에서 드론과 장거리 미사일을 통합 운용하는 ‘하이-로우’ 항공단 도입에 박차를 가하고 있다.
2. 기사 전문 번역
영국은 미래 항공모함 항공단 구상에서, 드론과 공개되지 않은 장거리 미사일을 함상에서 운용할 계획을 공식화했다. 이와 함께 기존의 F-35B 스텔스 전투기 역시 계속 탑재된다. 지금까지 퀸엘리자베스급 항공모함에서 드론 운용을 시험하는 노력이 진행되어 왔지만, 장거리 무기와 ‘하이-로우(고·저가) 전력 조합’을 중시하는 미래 항공단 구상은 새롭게 부상한 내용이다.
유럽 최초의 ‘하이브리드 항공단’은 영국 국방부가 어제 발표한 최신 국방전략평가서(Strategic Defense Review)에 처음 명확히 명시됐다.
“영국 해군은 더 강력하면서도 저렴하고 단순한 함대를 향해 나아가야 하며, 자율성과 디지털 통합을 활용한 ‘하이-로우’ 무기체계를 발전시켜야 한다.”고 평가서는 밝힌다. “항모전력(Carrier strike)은 이미 NATO 능력의 최첨단에 있지만, ‘하이브리드’ 항공단으로의 진화가 훨씬 더 신속히 이뤄져야 한다. 여기서 유인 전투기(F-35B)는 자율 협동 플랫폼 및 일회용 드론과 조화를 이루어야 하며, 장거리 정밀 미사일 역시 항공모함에서 직접 발사할 수 있어야 한다.”
사진: HMS 프린스 오브 웨일스의 갑판에서 F-35 이륙 장면. F-35B ‘라이트닝’ 전투기(617 비행대, RAF 마햄)는 주야간 함상 운용 훈련을 마치고 최근 NATO 연합훈련 Steadfast Defender 2024에 참가했다. 이는 수십 년 만에 최대 규모의 NATO 훈련으로, 해상·육상·공중·우주·사이버 전 영역에서 수만 명의 연합군이 참가했다. 이번 훈련에서 HMS 프린스 오브 웨일스에는 CSG(항모전단) 전투참모진이 처음으로 승선했고, 이는 과거 HMS 퀸엘리자베스 운용 경험에 기초한 것이다.
F-35B는 여전히 항공단의 핵심 전력이다. 퀸엘리자베스급 항공모함은 원래 단거리 이함·수직 착륙(STOVL) 기체인 F-35B를 위한 설계였다. 그러나 영국이 실제로 몇 대의 F-35B를 도입할 것인지는 여전히 불확실하다.
과거 영국 정부는 총 138대의 F-35B 구매 계획을 밝혔으나, 실제로는 48대만 확정 계약했다. 이전 보수당 정부는 2033년까지 27대를 추가 구매 협상 중임을 확인했다.
대부분 전문가들은 두 항공모함에 각각 24대씩 배치하려면 최소 60~70대의 F-35B가 필요하다고 본다. 현재는 미 해병대 F-35B 전투기가 영국 항공모함 순항 시 숫자를 보완해주고 있다.
국방전략평가서는 “향후 10년간 더 많은 F-35가 필요하다”고만 결론짓고, 정확한 구매 대수는 명시하지 않았다. 또, 미래의 라이트닝 전력은 F-35A(통상 이·착륙형)와 F-35B(STOVL)의 혼합이 될 수 있다고 제시했다. F-35A는 항공모함 운용이 불가능하지만 가격이 저렴하고, 항속거리·무장 탑재량·기동능력(9G)에서 F-35B(7.5G)보다 우수하다. 이 언급은 F-35A를 통해 NATO 핵 공유 체제(B61-12 전술핵무기)에 참여하려는 의도라는 해석도 있지만, 문서에는 핵무기 배치 계획은 언급되지 않았다.
만약 영국이 F-35A 도입에 나설 경우, 자국 차세대 스텔스기 ‘템페스트’ 중심의 GCAP(글로벌 전투기 개발사업)에도 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 이렇게 되면 해군 항모의 F-35B 전력도 부족해져, 무인기·장거리 무기 의존이 커질 수밖에 없다.
이와 관련, 평가서는 미래 항공단 구성에 “공중 협동 무인 플랫폼, 일회용 드론”이 포함될 것임을 명확히 했다.
영국 해군은 오래전부터 무인기 통합 방안을 모색해왔다.
2023년, 해군은 퀸엘리자베스급 항모에 보조 이함/착함 시스템을 적용해 다양한 고정익 무인기와, 잠재적으로는 통상 이·착륙 유인기도 운용할 계획을 밝혔다.
“우리는 STOVL에서 STOL(단거리 이·착륙), STOBAR(단거리 이함·어레스팅 착함), CATOBAR(사출 이함·어레스팅 착함) 순으로 점진적 진화를 계획 중”이라고, 해군 항모 및 해상항공 담당 필 켈리 대령은 2023년 한 행사에서 말했다. “재정 부담을 분산시키면서 점진적으로 성능을 높이려는 전략이다.”
이미 다양한 드론 탑재를 연구해 왔으며, 중국·터키 등도 대형 상륙함·항모에 무인기를 탑재하는 추세다.
2023년 말 HMS 프린스 오브 웨일스에서 GA(General Atomics)의 Mojave STOL(단거리 이·착륙) 드론을 실제 운용하며, 별도의 사출·회수 시스템 없이 이착륙에 성공했다.
‘캣앤트랩(cat and trap)’ 방식의 드론 운용 계획은 ‘아크 로열(Ark Royal) 프로젝트’로 불린다. 실현된다면, 퀸엘리자베스급 항공모함이 경량·고성능·고성능 드론, 나아가 유인기까지 CATOBAR 방식으로 운용하는 미래를 상정한다.
Mojave 시험 이후, 아크 로열의 다음 단계는 회수 시스템 장착이다. 더 큰 고정익 드론을 운용할 수 있게 되며, 이는 해군이 추진 중인 ‘프로젝트 빅센(Vixen)’과도 맞닿아 있다.
최종적으로는 퀸엘리자베스급 함에 사출장치를 탑재, “상상할 수 있는 가장 무거운 항공기”까지 운용할 수 있게 될 전망이다. 여기엔 대형 드론은 물론, 고정익 유인기까지 포함된다. 현재는 고정익 조기경보기·공중급유기 운용이 불가해 타격작전에 한계가 있는데, 미래엔 이 부분도 CATOBAR로 대체될 수 있다.
현재 조기경보 임무를 맡는 Merlin Crowsnest 헬기는 2029년 퇴역 예정이다. 후속 조기경보기의 도입은 긴급 과제다.
영국 해군은 미국의 EMALS(전자기 사출기)와 자국의 전자기 발사기술 등을 검토 중이다. 대형 사출·회수 장비의 설치, 운영인력 확보 등은 여전히 도전 과제로 남아 있다.
기술적으론 함상 드론 통합 자체도 어려움이 많다. 통제 시스템, 데이터링크, 운용 매뉴얼, 갑판 내 동선까지 모두 새로 구축해야 한다. 퀸엘리자베스급은 넓은 갑판을 가졌지만, 앵글드 데크(사선 착함구역)가 없어 동시 이착륙이 제한된다. 기존 STOVL 램프에서 드론을 쓸 수 있을지도 아직 확실치 않다.
사진: HMS 프린스 오브 웨일스 정면. 2025년 영국 CSG25 작전의 핵심 전력인 이 항공모함은 8개월간 지중해·중동·서태평양을 순항하며 연합국과 대규모 연합훈련에 참가했다. 영국은 이 배치를 통해 인도·태평양 안보 공약, 연합국 협력, 산업홍보 등 다중 목표를 노리고 있다.
궁극적으로, 영국 해군도 미 해군이 추진 중인 ‘CCA(협동 전투기)’ 개념의 ‘로열 윙맨’형 드론에 주목한다. 이들 무인기는 높은 자율성을 갖지만, 초기에 유인기와 밀접 협동 운용을 목표로 한다. 미 해군은 향후 10~20년 내 항공모함 전력의 60%를 무인기가 차지하도록 추진 중이다.
작년, GA는 퀸엘리자베스급 항모에서 운용 가능한 신형 ‘갬빗’ 드론 구상을 내놓았다. 이 렌더링에서는 사출기가 설치된 HMS 프린스 오브 웨일스에서 ‘갬빗’ 드론과 STOL 키트가 장착된 MQ-9B, F-35B 등이 함께 운용되는 항공단이 묘사됐다.
GA 관계자는 “초기엔 갬빗2 기반 UCAV였지만, 최근엔 갬빗5라는 새로운 개념으로 보고 있다. ISR(정보·감시·정찰) 중심이거나, 하이브리드 임무도 가능하다”고 설명했다.
미 MQ-25 스팅레이(공중급유기), 보잉 MQ-28 고스트배트(로열 윙맨형)도 영국이 관심을 보이는 대안이다. 2025년 2월 영국 해군의 파킨 제독은 MQ-28 파생형이 퀸엘리자베스급 함상에 착함하는 이미지를 공식 발표 자료에 포함시키기도 했다.
대형 드론 외에도, ‘일회용 드론’ 역시 항공단의 일부로 거론된다. 이미 2021년 HMS 프린스 오브 웨일스에서는 QinetiQ Banshee Jet 80+ 등 소형 제트드론을 이함 시험했다. 이 드론은 휴대용 사출기로 이륙, 임무 후엔 낙하산으로 회수할 수 있다.
영국 해군은 ‘뱀파이어 프로젝트’ 하에 경량 고정익 무인기의 함상 운용을 연구 중이다. 이 범주의 실전형 드론은 타격, 전자전, 감시 등 임무에서 중요한 역할을 할 수 있다. Banshee는 이미 우크라이나 전장에서 실전 운용된 바 있다.
사진: HMS 프린스 오브 웨일스 비행갑판 위의 Banshee Jet 80+ 드론들.
무엇보다, 하이브리드 항공단은 “궁극적으로는 함상에서 발사 가능한 장거리 미사일”을 포함해야 한다고 평가서는 권고한다.
여기서 ‘미사일’이 명확히 언급된 것은, 해군이 순항미사일, 심지어 극초음속 무기, 혹은 탄도미사일까지도 고려하고 있음을 시사한다.
현재 러시아 해군만이 자함에서 순항미사일 발사능력을 보유하고 있다. 하지만 러시아의 쿠즈네초프 항공모함은 2022년 중반 이후 사실상 전력에서 이탈했다.
쿠즈네초프는 미 항모전단·고가치 수송선 타격을 위해 순항미사일 발사관을 장착했으나, 영국 해군은 함정의 대지(對地) 타격능력 보강을 우선할 것으로 보인다. 이중용도 미사일(대지·대함 겸용) 가능성도 있다.
순항미사일은 굳이 선체 내부에 탑재하지 않고도, 트럭·트레일러·컨테이너식 발사대에서 비행갑판 위에서 곧바로 쏠 수 있다.
현재 영국 해군은 Tomahawk 순항미사일로 아스튜트급 핵잠수함을 무장하고 있고, 향후 Mk41 VLS를 갖춘 차세대 호위함(Type 26/31)에도 Tomahawk를 도입할 예정이다. Type 45 구축함 역시 향후 개조가 가능하다. Tomahawk의 사거리는 약 1,600km(1,000마일)로, 1,000파운드 탄두를 장착한다.
영국은 독일과 함께 사거리 2,000km(1,243마일) 이상 ‘심부 정밀타격’ 신형 순항미사일을 공동 개발 중이다. 이 신형 미사일 역시 함상·지상발사 모두가 가능한 형태로 개발될 가능성이 있다.
이 모든 구상은 기술적·재정적 도전이 매우 크다. 원래 이런 운용을 염두에 두지 않고 설계된 함정에 신무기와 운용체계를 도입하는 것은 매우 복잡하고 비용이 많이 든다. 영국 내 여러 대형 방산 사업이 경쟁하는 상황에서, 이 야심찬 계획의 실현 가능성에는 여전히 의문이 남는다.
(기사 끝)
Royal Navy To Arm Its Carriers With Long-Range Missiles
Royal Navy To Arm Its Carriers With Long-Range Missiles
The plan for “hybrid air wings” combines high and low-end drones with long-range missiles and crewed F-35B stealth jets.
Published Jun 3, 2025 3:19 PM EDT
(Photo by Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)
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The United Kingdom has outlined plans for its future carrier air wing, which should include drones and undisclosed long-range missiles that would be launched from its deck, alongside the F-35B stealth fighters that currently go aboard its two flattops. While there have been ongoing efforts to trial drones aboard the two Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, the long-range weapons and the broader effort stressing the combination of “high and low” capabilities in the future carrier air wing are new developments.
What are described as “the first European hybrid air wings” are laid out in the latest Strategic Defense Review, published yesterday by the U.K. Ministry of Defense.
“The Royal Navy must continue to move towards a more powerful but cheaper and simpler fleet, developing a ‘high-low’ mix of equipment and weapons that exploits autonomy and digital integration,” the review states. “Carrier strike is already at the cutting edge of NATO capability, but much more rapid progress is needed in its evolution into ‘hybrid’ carrier air wings, whereby crewed combat aircraft (F-35B) are complemented by autonomous collaborative platforms in the air, and expendable, single-use drones. Plans for the hybrid carrier air wings should also include long-range precision missiles capable of being fired from the carrier deck.”
An F-35 is launched from the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales, with Merlin helicopters also on deck. Crown Copyright LPhot Belinda Alker
That the F-35B remains the cornerstone of the carrier air wing’s strike capability is no surprise. The Queen Elizabeth class carriers were tailored for operations involving the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jet, although there remain questions about exactly how many of these aircraft the United Kingdom will procure.
In the past, the U.K. government said it planned to buy 138 F-35Bs. So far, however, firm orders have only been placed for 48. Meanwhile, the previous Conservative government confirmed it was negotiating to buy another 27 for delivery by 2033.
Most analysts consider that many more than 48 F-35Bs would be required to meet the ambition of 24 jets available for the baseline Carrier Strike mission, across both ships. Considering training and other demands, a figure of 60-70 jets is generally thought to be reasonable. In the meantime, U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs are being relied upon to make up the required aircraft numbers during carrier cruises.
The review concludes only that “More F-35s will be required over the next decade.” However, it doesn’t put any final number on the Joint Strike Fighter buy. Moreover, it suggests that the future Lightning force could comprise a mix of conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35As and F-35Bs. The F-35A, of course, is unable to operate from aircraft carriers, but such a mix could be adopted “according to military requirements to provide greater value for money.”
Two F-35Bs land on board HMS Prince of Wales in May 2025. Crown Copyright LPhot Helayna Birkett
The F-35A is not currently operated by the United Kingdom. The F-35A is less expensive than the F-35B and, apart from STOVL, is more capable, boasting superior range and payload. The F-35A is also a 9G-capable jet, while the F-35B is cleared for 7.5G. Some commentators have taken the reference to a potential U.K. F-35A buy as evidence of plans to join the NATO nuclear sharing arrangement, under which these aircraft are provided with U.S.-owned B61-12 tactical nuclear bombs. However, the review doesn’t mention this possibility, or any plans to field tactical nuclear weapons.
A U.S. Air Force F-35A deployed to RAF Leeming in England during Exercise Atlantic Trident in 2023. Crown Copyright
Should the United Kingdom choose to buy F-35As, it might even threaten the future of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), the future air combat initiative at the heart of which is the Tempest crewed stealth fighter. Regardless of its impact on that, it would leave the Royal Navy struggling to meet its Carrier Strike demands. With that in mind, it would likely have to rely much more heavily on drones and long-range weapons. In regard to these, the review outlines “autonomous collaborative platforms in the air [and] single-use drones” as part of the hybrid carrier air wing of the future.
The Royal Navy has, for some time now, been looking at ways to integrate drones into its future carrier air wing.
Back in 2023, the Royal Navy revealed details of its intention to fit its two carriers with assisted launch systems and recovery gear, enabling operations by a variety of fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft and, potentially, also conventional takeoff and landing crewed types.
“We are looking to move from STOVL to STOL, then to STOBAR [short takeoff but arrested recovery], and then to CATOBAR [catapult assisted takeoff but arrested recovery],” Col. Phil Kelly, the Royal Navy’s Head of Carrier Strike and Maritime Aviation, told the Combined Naval Event conference in 2023. “We are looking at a demonstrable progression that spreads out the financial cost and incrementally improves capability.”
Even before this, there had been indications that the service wanted to at least explore adding different drones to its future carrier air wing. The United Kingdom is not alone in this, with China and Turkey, most notably, also increasingly putting drones aboard big-deck amphibious warfare vessels and other non-conventional-takeoff-and-landing aircraft carriers.
The Royal Navy kicked off the project with tests of the General Atomics Mojave short takeoff and landing (STOL) drone aboard the carrier HMS Prince of Wales in late 2023, as you can read about here. The Mojave’s impressive STOL capabilities mean that no launch and recovery systems were required for these tests.
A Mojave drone prepares to take off from the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales in November 2023, during trials off the East Coast of the United States. Crown Copyright LPhot Finn Stainer- Hutchins
The ‘cat and trap’ plan for drone operations aboard U.K. carriers is known as Project Ark Royal (named after the Royal Navy’s last aircraft carrier that was capable of CATOBAR operations).
If realized, the project will see the Queen Elizabeth class carriers start to operate drones that can undertake a variety of missions and then increasingly heavier, complex, and higher performance ones. Later on, full CATOBAR capability could also add fixed-wing crewed aircraft, too.
After the Mojave trials, the next phase of Project Ark Royal aims to install some kind of recovery system on the Queen Elizabeth design, allowing operations by larger fixed-wing drones. Uncrewed aircraft in this category are an aspiration that the Royal Navy is already working toward under Project Vixen, which you can read more about here.
Digitally generated concept artwork of an earlier British loyal wingman design flying alongside an F-35B. U.K. Ministry of Defense
Finally, the Queen Elizabeth class design is planned to be reworked with catapult launch gear, allowing the warships “to operate the heaviest aircraft you can imagine,” in the words of Kelly. That would include larger, high-performance drones, but potentially also crewed fixed-wing aircraft, which would be a very significant development for the Queen Elizabeth class. As it stands, the carriers are unable to operate fixed-wing airborne early warning aircraft or airborne tankers, putting limits on their offensive operations. In the future, these functions could potentially be taken on by a catapult-launched fixed-wing aircraft, whether crewed or uncrewed.
A replacement for the carrier air wing’s airborne early warning capability will become especially urgent, with plans to retire the current Merlin Crowsnest helicopter, which currently fulfills this role, at the end of 2029.
A Merlin Mk 2 helicopter equipped with the Crowsnest airborne early warning system on the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth. Crown Copyright POPhot Jay Allen
According to previous reports, the Royal Navy has already been looking at different catapult launch solutions, including the U.S.-developed Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), the introduction of which has been far from trouble-free, as well as the U.K.-developed Electro Magnetic Kinetic Induction Technology demonstrator. Finding room for complex launch and recovery systems, as well as fielding the manpower to maintain and operate them, will be a challenge no matter how much extra space the vessels have to accommodate them.
As we have explored in the past, there are many more technological hurdles for the Royal Navy to overcome, beyond the launch and recovery systems. It will also need to develop control stations, datalinks, unique procedures, and much more to ensure the drones can be safely and effectively integrated within the carrier air group, for example. Even working out the intricacies of deck handling and flow integration involving drones combined with crewed fixed-wing jets and helicopters will be a considerable effort.
The Queen Elizabeth class has a notably wide deck, but there’s no angled landing area, which would enable simultaneous launch and recovery operations. Also unclear is to what degree drones could operate from the carriers’ existing takeoff ramps, which are required to make the maximum use of the STOVL F-35B.
A head-on view of HMS Prince of Wales. Crown Copyright POPhot James Clarke
Ultimately, however, the Royal Navy might look to a loyal-wingman-type drone, of the kind that the U.S. Navy is working on under its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. These uncrewed aircraft will be highly autonomous but still designed primarily to work closely together with crewed platforms, at least initially. In the past, the U.S. Navy has said it wants to have uncrewed platforms make up the majority of its future carrier air wings, with up to 60 percent of all aircraft on each flattop being pilotless in the coming decade or two.
The kinds of ambitions the U.S. Navy has for its CCAs would certainly seem to tally with the aspiration to field “autonomous collaborative platforms” aboard the U.K. carriers.
Last year, General Atomics presented a vision for how a new uncrewed aircraft, a carrier-capable member of its Gambit drone family, could fit into a future air wing aboard the Queen Elizabeth class carriers. A rendering, shown below, featured a catapult-equipped HMS Prince of Wales with a Gambit-series drone ready to launch. The rendering also depicts an air wing that includes carrier-capable MQ-9B drones fitted with a STOL kit, a separate concept that General Atomics unveiled in 2022, as well as F-35Bs.
GA-ASI
“We first started thinking of this as a carrier-capable version of Gambit 2, our air-to-air UCAV [uncrewed combat air vehicle] variant, so that’s what is reflected on the Farnborough booth graphics,” C. Mark Brinkley, a General Atomics spokesman, told TWZ at the time. “Lately, we’ve been thinking of it as a new concept we’re calling Gambit 5, designed for carrier launch and recovery, but weapons delivery need not be a primary requirement. It could be ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] focused, like Gambit 1, or even some hybrid.”
Other options for the Royal Navy might include a version of the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray, which is initially being developed for aerial refueling, but which could potentially be adapted for other missions, including surveillance and electronic warfare, and even strike.
As well as the MQ-25, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a loyal-wingman-type drone designed by Boeing’s Australian subsidiary, seems to have attracted some official interest in the United Kingdom. In February, Rear Adm. James Parkin, Director Develop for the Royal Navy, gave a presentation that included a slide with a Boeing rendering showing a variant or derivative of the MQ-28 with a visible tailhook landing on a Queen Elizabeth class carrier.
Ghost Bat CCAs alongside a Super Hornet. Boeing
Outside of larger drones (and potentially even CTOL crewed aircraft), the review also sees a place for “single-use drones” aboard the carriers.
Already, the Royal Navy has conducted trials involving smaller, jet-powered drones, with the QinetiQ Banshee Jet 80+, best known as a target drone, being launched from HMS Prince of Wales in 2021. An adaptation of this, or a similar drone, could fulfill this role.
The Banshee can be launched using a portable catapult from the deck of the carrier, and — provided it’s not expended — it can be recovered via parachute and land in the water after completing its mission.
The Royal Navy’s experiments with smaller carrier-based drones are being carried out under Project Vampire, which specifies the use study of “lightweight, fixed-wing carrier-borne crewless autonomous systems,” for which the twin-jet-engine-powered Banshee provides a useful surrogate. Operational drones in this class could provide the carrier air wing with important new vectors for carrying out missions, including strike, electronic warfare, and surveillance. Notably, after its appearance on the Prince of Wales, an operationalized version of the Banshee appeared in combat in Ukraine, as you can read about here.
Banshee Jet 80+ drones on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales. Crown Copyright LPhot Ben Corbett
Most intriguingly, the hybrid air wing should, “eventually,” also feature “long-range missiles capable of being fired from the carrier deck,” the report recommends.
The explicit mention of a missile (rather than a drone) suggests that the Royal Navy is looking at the option of launching a cruise missile from the carrier, perhaps even a hypersonic weapon. A ballistic missile is also a possibility, albeit less likely.
Currently, only the Russian Navy operates a carrier with provision to launch its own cruise missiles, something you can read about in depth here. However, in recent years, there have been questions about whether the P-700 missile tubes on the Admiral Kuznetsov were still active, let alone whether they were filled with live rounds of the anti-ship missiles. This is more or less academic now, anyway, with the Admiral Kuznetsov out of operational service since mid-2022 and little sign that this will change anytime soon.
An extremely rare photo of the Kuznetsov firing a P-700 anti-ship missile. Uncredited
While the Admiral Kuznetsov was outfitted with cruise missiles to maximize the offensive weapons that could be directed against U.S. Navy Carrier Battle Groups and high-value convoys, the Royal Navy would likely be looking to add an additional land-attack capability to its carriers. On the other hand, a dual-use missile could also be a possibility, especially with a resurgence of interest in anti-surface warfare.
Long-range cruise missiles would also not have to be stowed in below-deck launchers, as in the Admiral Kuznetsov, which would require significant changes to the internal layout of the boat, but could instead be fired from the flight deck using a truck, trailer, or container-based launcher.
A composite image showing a pair of U.S. Marine Corps Long Range Fires (LRF) launch vehicles. These uncrewed trucks are capable of firing Tomahawk missiles. U.S. Marine Corps
Currently, the Royal Navy uses conventionally armed Tomahawk cruise missiles to arm its Astute class nuclear-powered attack submarines. However, it also plans to provide a Tomahawk capability on its forthcoming Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, via the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). The current Type 45 destroyer also has the potential to be retrofitted with a Tomahawk capability. The Tomahawk has a range of around 1,000 miles with a 1,000-pound unitary warhead.
The Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute fires a Tomahawk cruise missile in 2011. U.S. Navy PO(Phot) Paul Punter
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is increasingly looking at new long-range strike weapons, notably a “deep precision strike” weapon with a range of over 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) that it is pursuing with Germany. While details of the missile are yet to be finalized, it could well be developed with the option to be fired from carrier decks as well as ground launchers.
Whatever happens, there’s no doubt that these plans for the so-called hybrid air wings are full of technological challenges. Not only will it be complex to introduce these new capabilities on vessels that were not originally designed for them, but it will be a very costly endeavor. Coming at a time when there are many competing high-profile U.K. defense programs, it remains unclear how realistic these aspirations are from a fiscal perspective.
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Thomas NewdickStaff Writer
Thomas is a defense writer and editor with over 20 years of experience covering military aerospace topics and conflicts. He’s written a number of books, edited many more, and has contributed to many of the world’s leading aviation publications. Before joining The War Zone in 2020, he was the editor of AirForces Monthly.

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