Royal Navy to fly Talon CCA from QE-class carrier in 2027

Northrop Grumman's Talon CCA will fly from the deck of HMS Prince of Wales in 2027 as part of wider trials aimed at progressing the Royal Navy's hybrid air wing ambitions. (Northrop Grumman)

The UK Royal Navy (RN) is to fly a Northrop Grumman Talon collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) from the deck of one of its two Queen Elizabeth (QE)-class aircraft carriers in 2027, the service chief said on 10 November 2026.

Speaking at the International Sea Power Conference in Norway, First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said that the jet-powered CCA will be trialled aboard HMS Prince of Wales.

“In two days' time [on 12 November 2026], on this carrier, I will sign a statement of intent with … Northrop Grumman to prepare their Talon demonstrator for trials with the Royal Navy under Project Vanquish,” Gen Jenkins said at the conference which was being held aboard the ship docked in Oslo. “Through that agreement, we will work towards a demonstration in UK waters in 2027, including a launch from the carrier.”

As noted in the First Sea Lord's keynote speech, the Talon trials will give the RN the evidence it needs to understand how unmanned combat aircraft can operate safely and effectively alongside the existing air wing. “Then we learn, adapt and keep moving forward,” he said.

Project Vanquish is the technical demonstration of the RN's Fixed-Wing Short Take Off and Landing Autonomous Collaborative Platform (FW STOL ACP) effort, which is part of the service's wider Maritime Aviation Transformation (MATX) strategy. Under MATX, the RN is developing a road map for the transition of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) to a largely uncrewed aviation force by 2040.