Royal Navy Builds Drone as Testbed for Sensors & Payloads

The 20kg octo-quadcopter named Walrus is undergoing rigorous testing at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose By Caroline Rees / 30 Dec 2022

Quadcopter Drones

Discover cutting-edge solutions from 22 leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
700X NAVAL AIR SQUADRON BUILD THEIR OWN DRONE
Follow UST

Personnel from the UK Royal Navy’s 700X Naval Air Squadron have built their first remotely-piloted air system that, once tested, could be used as a testbed for sensors and delivering other payloads.

The 20kg octo-quadcopter is named Walrus after the flying boats pioneered by 700 Naval Air Squadron and flown from cruisers and battleships during the Second World War.

“This is the first time the navy has built its own air system using basic components,” said Lieutenant Kristian Lilley, who is overseeing the testing of the drone. “It’s an important step in our recognition of endorsed manufacturer status with the Military Aviation Authority. 

“Built to high, aviation standards, the Walrus will be used specifically as a testbed for sensors and other sensitive payloads. It will be our independent test and evaluation platform. As we’ve built it, we know the system and exactly what it’s capable of.

“We’re now testing it using a rigorous regime [at RNAS Culdrose] in a controlled environment. When we’re confident it’s operating correctly and safely, we’ll conduct our first flying tests, probably in the new year.”


700X Naval Air Station is the Royal Navy’s expert unit in the research, training and deployment of remotely piloted air systems. The squadron is a mix of Royal Navy personnel of various branches, Royal Marines, civil servants and contractors, and is based at RNAS Culdrose, UK. It uses nearby Predannack Airfield as a center of expertise for flights and training.

“This project is just one strand of our work in researching, evaluating and deploying RPAS technology at the forefront of Royal Navy operations,” said Lieutenant Commander Martin Howard, the squadron’s commanding officer. “It’s an important step in gathering knowledge and expertise in this ever-evolving field. As a squadron, we already train personnel across defense in the use of RPAS. We have flights which deploy the Puma air system to warships around the world and we are constantly testing and evaluating new systems from industry. This work will serve to strengthen all our outputs and is an important step forward for the Royal Navy.” 

According to the Royal Navy, this announcement is another example of the importance being placed on emerging drone technology. 


Posted by Caroline Rees Caroline co-founded Unmanned Systems Technology and has been at the forefront of the business ever since. With a Masters Degree in marketing Caroline has her finger on the pulse of all things unmanned and is committed to showcasing the very latest in unmanned technical innovation. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Advanced AI-Powered Drone, Autopilot & Hardware Solutions

Airvolute's open-architecture NVIDIA-based autopilots and UAS platforms have been utilized by NATO members as well as some of the world’s leading aerospace and defence companies

Apr 25, 2025
Most Read Articles on UST This Week

Here’s our round-up of the five most read articles on UnmannedSystemsTechnology.com this week

Apr 25, 2025
Nanomotion’s Velox Gimbal Enhances Border Surveillance Capabilities

Discover how Nanomotion’s Velox gimbal is enhancing drone surveillance with unmatched coverage, stability, and tracking—ideal for advanced border security operations

Apr 25, 2025
How NDAA Compliance Is Influencing UAV Component Sourcing

Mejzlik Propellers explains how evolving regulations and trade rules are leading UAV manufacturers to pursue more secure, compliant sourcing strategies for components

Apr 25, 2025
Nearthlab Joins Red Cat Futures Initiative to Advance Drone Technology

Nearthlab has partnered with Red Cat Holdings, joining the Red Cat Futures Initiative to advance next-gen uncrewed aircraft systems and contribute to U.S. defense and security innovations

Apr 25, 2025
Klein Marine Systems Integrates Exail Navigation Solution into Side Scan Sonar

Klein Marine Systems has integrated Exail’s advanced AHRS into its 5900 sonar, enhancing accuracy, stability, and efficiency for demanding underwater mapping missions

Apr 24, 2025

Featured Content

Apollo & Moonrock Launch $122.5m Drone, eVTOL Insurance Facility

Apollo and Moonrock take the lead on new $122.5m drone, eVTOL and aviation innovation insurance facility

Apr 22, 2025
ParaZero Unveils Advanced Parachute Recovery System

ParaZero launches the SafeAir M4, an advanced parachute recovery system designed for the DJI Matrice 4, enhancing drone safety, compliance, and mission readiness

Apr 17, 2025
Compact High Resolution MWIR Zoom Lens Released for UAV & ISR Platforms

MKS Instruments introduces the Ophir SupIR 10-135mm f/1.8 zoom lens, engineered for compact MWIR systems demanding long-range detection and high-resolution thermal imaging

Apr 17, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.