Royal Navy uses HMS Diamond ship for drone trial

The drone inspected the state of the ship's exterior by taking high-definition stills and video

The Royal Navy is trialling the use of drones to identify defects on its ships' vast exteriors.

It is hoped the remote-controlled aircraft could save money by cutting servicing times from weeks to hours and avoid the need for scaffolding, cherry-pickers and ladders.

The "unmanned aerial vehicle" can also reach inaccessible areas at sea.

The first trial took place on the Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond at Portsmouth Naval Base.

'High-tech service'

The drone inspected the state of the ship by taking high-definition stills and video during the survey.

Cmdr Marcus Hember, Diamond's commanding officer, said: "The Royal Navy is an advanced high-tech service and the ability to reduce time and cost during these maintenance periods, as well as allowing ships to diagnose their own defects at sea, will enhance the operational capability and flexibility of the Navy deployed worldwide."

The use of drones is common within the military but they are often used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, or for launching missiles.

Their use outside the military has also proliferated, from supplying aid relief to filming pop concerts.

The trial took place on the Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond at Portsmouth Naval Base

The "unmanned aerial vehicle" can also reach inaccessible areas of the ship at sea