UK's Project ‘Volley Launcher' to explore rapid launch of UAVs using vans

A file photo of a Mercedes Sprinter van of the type that the UK MoD is looking to transport/launch UAVs from under Project ‘Volley Launcher'. (Crown Copyright)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a prior information notice (PIN) to industry for the development of a rapid launch capability for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using vans.

Posted on 4 June, the PIN is geared at a new capability to be developed under Project ‘Volley Launcher' and delivered in early 2026. “[The] system must be transportable by vehicle – [a] large body [Mercedes] Sprinter truck (threshold) or regular [Ford] Transit van equivalent (objective),” it stated.

Project ‘Volley Launcher' seeks to launch five fixed-wing UAVs within four minutes of each other, and to then recover them within a maximum of 10 minutes from that first launch. The PIN stated that this must be done “from a static and level position”.

The launch mechanism must have minimal acoustic, heat, and visual signatures, so as to be “hiding in plain sight” as the MoD termed it. This suggests that the UAVs may be launched from inside a van, rather than just being transported to the launch site by one.

As noted in the requirement, the reference UAV will have a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of no more than 125 kg, a wingspan of approximately 3.3 m, a length of 2.5 m, and a height of 0.5 m. It should also be able to launch air vehicles smaller than this. The UAV itself will not contribute any thrust to its take-off, and it should not make use of any rocket-assisted take-off (RATO) boosters or any other launch mechanism other than Project ‘Volley Launcher'.