On Wednesday, April 9, the Royal Navy issued a Request for Information (RFI) inviting industry stakeholders to propose solutions for the integration of new airborne early warning capabilities aboard its Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. This initiative comes in anticipation of the planned retirement of its Merlin helicopters in 2030. According to the official statement, the Royal Navy seeks a platform capable of operating from the carrier 24 hours a day, with robust capabilities to detect both air and ground threats.
In the institution’s official words: “The aim of the RFI is to understand the capability and readiness of the industrial base to meet this requirement. The implementation options in the RFI are not prescribed, so we are interested in hearing from all stakeholders on what the best solution might be (…) The primary objective of the system will be to provide the Carrier Strike Group (…) with sufficient warning of air and surface threats, including modern guided anti-ship weapons and strike aircraft, to enable effective counter-action.”
Expanding on known program details, although there is no immediate acquisition expected, the Royal Navy indicated that it envisions awarding a contract by 2027, with initial platform deliveries anticipated in the early 2030s. Additionally, it has been mentioned that the estimated value of the program could range between £1 billion and £1.2 billion.
Finally, while the specific type of platform to be acquired has not been confirmed, there is strong speculation about the potential incorporation of General Atomics’ Mojave reconnaissance drones. In 2023, the Royal Navy conducted a series of trials with the Mojave aboard HMS Prince of Wales during a deployment off the U.S. coast, demonstrating the drone’s capability to operate from the ship’s flight deck. This is a significant point, considering that due to the absence of CATOBAR systems, British aircraft carriers cannot operate early warning platforms such as the E-2 Hawkeye used by the U.S. Navy.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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