New drone carrier to bring the power of UAVs to the oceans

This is the Multi Purpose Support Ship 9000 from international shipbuilders Damen Group.

Drones are revolutionising naval warfare and the new Multi-Purpose Support Ship 9000 is designed to play a key role.

This 130-metre-long vessel, primarily a drone carrier, will support submarine rescue, diving operations, and helicopter missions.

Equipped with a helicopter hangar, flight deck, and drone runway, it will house both fixed-wing and VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) drones, with 60-metre boarding boats on either side.

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[RJM]

Looks like a baby version of HMS Ocean.

[txwombat]

That would be scary - a full sized Aircraft Carrier -just for Drones.

[AtariPCnet]

This old computer gamer is getting Carrier Command vibes.

[guilhermemonteiro]

What the news is missing is that originally this is a 100% Portuguese Project, designed and created by our navy some 2/3 years ago. The navy proposed to our own naval builder, Westsea to build it but they declined stating they didnt have the necessary know-how to deliver. So an international tender was issued and DAMEN won. They took the project and the right to promote it, while the catch will be building it for our Navy at a somewhat discount price...not a bad deal, but still its a pitty it is not being built here and promoted as a 100% Portuguese product...

[john_in_phoenix]

This seems like a good idea. In particular, littoral home waters. Dipping sonar on drones seems like a really good idea.

[Talshere]

Not the first time this has been suggested. BAE modeled the UXV Combatant, a T45 varient designed as a drone carrier way back in 2007 which was never picked up. Never accuse the British armed forces of being ahead of the curve.

[wartmcbeighn]

Interesting indeed...if this concept gets into production...first purpose built drone carrier, second or third to be in service.

[Chappers.Gaming]

Dam its finally happening... Drone vs drons soon may as well start building the Terminators.

[lashutterbug]

All hail Skynet. The day is almost here.

[Yuki_Ika]

It is awesome that it could house CB90 boats if i heard correctly

[nunocorreia]

This is the Portuguese navy new project. Damen win the project..
But is a civil ship hydrografic ship.

[michaelmcclellan]

This is really a good idea....given how effective drones can be don't know if the US Navy has any or building any of these ships

[DanH-uf]

Aircraft and sea drone carriers will rule.

[specracer]

Ive been waiting for someone to build a drone carrier.

[josephmccafferty]

At last, some forward thinking at the MOD.

[arnold-fx]

It would be cool if these carriers had an EML.

[StonedNT]

They’re navy drones, PteroDynamics X-P4 and Skyways V2.6’s. Also None have crashed. They have been flying here for months, people didn’t notice them until it started getting dark earlier and they could see the lights against a darker sky.

[GaryLee]

It looks like a toy, except it's not. It's a robot killing machine

[jenseninsulation]

Use the plans for the Invincible Class carriers and you have an existing basis for a drone carrier instead of re-inventing the wheel at great expense.

[ENGBriseB]

Surely they can build them a bit bigger. So they can carry helicopters plus Royal Marines as well.