Forces Briefing: Royal duties for 1 RHA and drones trialled

Navy trials Chilmark made drone

The Nyan drone on sea trials. (Image: Royal Navy)

The Royal Navy has successfully conducted landmark trials by launching the Nyan One Way Effector strike drone from the deck of the experimentation ship XV Patrick Blackett while underway off the south coast of England.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in the UK's transition towards a "Hybrid Navy" that seamlessly integrates traditionally crewed warships with uncrewed technology.

Personnel from Larkhill-based 26 Regiment Royal Artillery worked alongside the ship’s company of Patrick Blackett to deliver the trials.

By successfully adapting this land-tested autonomous system made by Callen-Lenz Associates Limited, based in Chilmark, for maritime deployment, the trial demonstrates a rapidly accelerating capability to deploy one-way strike drones from ships at sea.

Redcaps celebrate centenary

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester sat in the front row of a group photo with senior officers of the Royal Military Police at Southwick Park in Fareham. (Image: Cpl Christian P Delice)

The Corps of Royal Military Police (CRMP) has commemorated its centenary and 80th anniversary since being awarded the Royal Prefix at a special event held at their Regimental Headquarters in Hampshire.

In her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Adjutant General’s Corps, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester attended the event at Southwick Park, which brought together the wider RMP community with current serving personnel and veterans coming to mark these two historic milestones.

Brigadier Sarah Pringle-Smith, Provost Marshal, said: "The royal prefix is one of the most prestigious, and greatest honours that can be bestowed on a military organisation, and for us it was awarded for our service during the Second World War."

The RMP have a special bond with Salisbury, as they were granted the Freedom of the City on June 13, 2018.

Salisbury City Council bestowed the prestigious honour to formally recognise the RMP's outstanding service and commitment to the local area for more than a 100-year period.

Royal duties for 1 RHA

1 RHA Guard at the Tower of London. (Image: 1 RHA)

For the past month, soldiers from 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery RHA have taken over the role of guarding London’s Royal palaces from the Household Division.

Their duties included mounting the King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London.

Two weeks ago, 1 RHA took centre stage during the King’s Birthday Parade as they formed the King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace.