An uncrewed drone has flown on and off a Royal Navy aircraft carrier for the first time, a milestone in naval aviation and a vital step towards operating crewless aircraft safely alongside F-35 Lightning jets and naval Merlin and Wildcat helicopters.

The W Autonomous Systems (WAS) pilotless plane flew from the Lizard Peninsula and on to the deck of HMS Prince of Wales off the Cornish coast, delivered supplies, and then flew back.

This flight is a milestone in naval Aviation and a vital step along the way to operating crewless aircraft safety alongside F-35 lightning jets and naval Merlin or Wildcat helicopters.