Why the Royal Navy is turning to jet-sized drones to boost British firepower

HMS Prince of Wales will strike out on major deployment to Japan and the Indo-Pacific next year .

The mission will use two thirds of the UK ’s operational F-35 jets and a large proportion of available surface ships too.

Meanwhile, the service is still battling a recruitment crisis that left the Royal Fleet Auxiliary unable to crew a tanker needed for Nato exercises last month .

The ongoing defence review is expected to examine whether unmanned drones can provide a boost to the carrier's arsenal.

Remote-controlled drones have been tested on HMS Prince of Wales' flight deck.

The Navy has been looking at whether such systems could be retrofitted to a Queen Elizabeth -class carrier, under a scheme known as “Project Ark Royal” The work would involve adding an extended, angled runway delivered using sponsons protruding platforms.

The Royal Navy continues to work on the drone carrier plans, but it is unclear whether ministers will endorse the idea.

A Navy spokesman says the service “continues to embrace new technology through a variety of projects” as pressure grows on its limited fleet and crews.