Britain Wants to Launch Large Drones from Transit Vans

The UK Ministry of Defence is seeking industry input for a new rapid-launch drone system under “Project VOLLEY”, aiming to field multiple mobile launchers capable of deploying five drones in under four minutes - with each drone launched at one-minute intervals.

Described in a newly published Prior Information Notice, the MOD states the requirement is for the “rapid launching of multiple fixed-wing Uncrewed Air Vehicles (UAV), from a single launcher, including set-up, firing and recovery time.”

The launcher must be able to “launch at least 5 reference UAVs within 4 minutes of the first UAV launch and recover within a maximum of 10 minutes from that first UAV launch, from a static and level position.”

Notably, the MOD specifies that the UAVs will be unpowered during launch, and “will not make use of any rocket assisted take off (RATO) boosters or any other launch mechanism other than the Pj VOLLEY launcher.”

Key technical requirements include:

• Launching UAVs up to 125 kg in weight at speeds of at least 60m/s (200 km/h)
• Minimal setup and manual operation by ideally one person and no more than three
• Operation in temperatures ranging from -20 to +55°C
• Functionality in day/night, gloved, and NVG conditions
• Deployment from vehicles such as a “large body Sprinter truck” or “regular Transit van”
• The full system must not exceed 275kg

The MOD emphasises that the system must be “robust, simple to assemble and capable of launching numerous UAVs without replacement of high wear / perishable parts,” and able to “withstand jet efflux, fuel spills, handling damage,” and operate with a “minimal signature (acoustic, heat, visual)… hiding in plain sight.”

Moreover, “System launch angle must be easily adjustable to account for various UAV launch/take-off characteristics; assume minimum inclination of 8 degrees and up to a maximum of 30 degrees.”

The Ministry is also clear about what it does not want. It excludes “autonomous launchers,” launchers “not operated by a human crew,” and any solution “that will not be ready for UK field demonstration / testing in October 25.” RATO-based solutions are also explicitly ruled out.

While a complete system is welcomed, the MOD says it is open to partial solutions. “If your product answers part of this VOLLEY challenge problem statement, we encourage you to participate,” the notice adds.

The timeline for industry engagement is as follows:

• Industry Day: 18 June 2025
• “Dragon’s Den” competition: 1 August 2025
• Field demonstrations: October 2025
• First deliveries: No later than January 2026

Importantly, the notice signals that “a large number (>20) of launchers are anticipated to be needed approximately 6 months from Industry Day / launch of competition.” Each production launcher must be priced under £300,000 and “be produceable at scale.”

The MOD adds that “a small number of proposals (2–5), subject to contract, will be provided funding to demonstrate the entire VOLLEY capability in Oct 25.”

International partners from NATO, Ukraine, and Five Eyes countries are also invited to participate. Registration for the Industry Day closes on 11 June 2025.

Source: UK Defence Journal