Interview: Captain James Hall on Crewed–Uncrewed Teaming and Maritime Aviation Readiness

Ahead of the International Military Helicopter conference taking place next month, I sat down with Captain James Hall, Commanding Officer of RNAS Culdrose, to discuss how maritime aviation is adapting to an increasingly contested and technology-driven operational environment.

With more than two decades of experience spanning frontline operations, force generation, carrier strike transition, and strategic roles within the UK Ministry of Defence, Captain Hall brings a uniquely holistic perspective to the challenge of integrating crewed and uncrewed capabilities. Currently responsible for the force generation of Merlin helicopters and Maritime Uncrewed Air Systems, as well as leading the Royal Navy’s contribution to the National Drone Hub in Cornwall, he is at the centre of the UK’s efforts to deliver credible, agile, and interoperable maritime aviation capability.

In this interview, Captain Hall shares insights on operational readiness, crewed–uncrewed teaming, NATO interoperability, and the cultural and organisational shifts required to ensure naval aviation remains ready to warfight in an era of technological change.

1. You’ve had a remarkably diverse career, including ASaC operations in Afghanistan and leading the Merlin Helicopter Force. How have these experiences shaped your current approach to operational readiness and capability development at RNAS Culdrose?

It has, as you say, been a very diverse career that I have had the privilege to experience and serve the Nation so far. I have always worked to a mantra that every day is a learning day. As the world around us constantly evolves - becoming more competitive, more uncertain, and in many ways more contested - I think that, as leaders within defence and the maritime environment, we have to keep learning and embracing a creative culture for our people to thrive.

However, I do not think we necessarily learn simply from experience alone; we learn by reflecting on our experience. That reflection is what helps keep people at the forefront of delivering operations. That mindset has really shaped how my career has developed, and I have been fortunate to have opportunities both within and beyond maritime aviation that have reinforced that approach.

2. Your early work involved integrating Airborne Surveillance and Control capabilities and improving interoperability with allies such as the French Navy. How have those lessons influenced today’s efforts to integrate crewed and uncrewed platforms?

We have very close relationships with many of our NATO allies and partners, but in particular, I have been fortunate to spend time on both UK and French aircraft carriers during my career. It is perhaps not widely known, but the closest air station to RNAS Culdrose is actually in France, not RNAS Yeovilton, which is our sister air station. The French Naval Air Station at Landivisiau in Brittany, where the French carrier air wing is based, is our nearest neighbour.

Because of that proximity, we have always had a close relationship with our French counterparts. We continue to work very closely across the Channel on force generation and training, and that has built a strong relationship between the Royal Navy and the French Navy.

With the advent of uncrewed systems, that collaboration has continued. We operate the same uncrewed platform - the Camcopter S-100 - and even in recent weeks, we have had Royal Navy remote pilots flying alongside their French counterparts, sharing experiences and operational reflections. We work as closely as we possibly can with our NATO and international allies.

3. As the Royal Navy advances its uncrewed aviation programmes, what do you see as the key operational advantages that drones bring when paired with rotary-wing assets?

There are certainly similarities between crewed aircraft and uncrewed systems, but one key opportunity is the pace of technological change. The pace of change will never again be as slow as it is today - it will only accelerate.

We see this very clearly in the operational use of uncrewed systems. Software, hardware, and systems can change over a matter of weeks, whereas with helicopters and traditional rotary platforms, change has historically been much slower. That pace drives us to find something that works, test it, evaluate it, and then put it quickly into the hands of the warfighter so it can be used operationally. That ability to move at speed is a major opportunity presented by uncrewed systems.

4. One of the themes of your talk is helping deployed crews understand where drones can genuinely support warfighting capability. What are the biggest challenges you’re seeing on the frontline in making that assessment?

The maritime environment gives us a very strong foundation because it offers freedom to test that you do not necessarily have in a land-based environment, particularly when operating among civilian populations. Over the ocean, that freedom allows experimentation and learning in a way that is harder elsewhere.

However, the challenge is supporting teams once they are deployed. That means ensuring the rear base - or home base - has the capacity to move quickly. I would describe it as the support team needing to run faster than the deployed team, so that those forward can focus on using the equipment they already have. Meanwhile, at the rear, you test new equipment and new procedures and then flow those improvements forward.

There is also a logistical challenge in ensuring the right equipment, information, and data reach deployed teams operating in the maritime environment.

5. Culdrose now plays a major role in both Merlin helicopter force generation and Maritime Uncrewed Air Systems. How are you balancing the development of these two capabilities so they complement rather than compete with each other?

We are deliberately bringing the two together. When we generate a Merlin helicopter to conduct an anti-submarine warfare role and deploy it aboard a Royal Navy ship, we are also working on a plan to upskill those same personnel to operate uncrewed systems.

This gives the commander - whether that is the ship’s captain or someone external - the option to deploy a Merlin or Wildcat helicopter and an uncrewed system depending on the mission and task. Many of the skills involved, whether engineers, aircrew, or enablers such as aircraft handlers and controllers, can transfer across crewed and uncrewed systems. We have already been very successful with the Peregrine UAS capability operating from HMS LANCASTER in the Middle East and by teaming this with a crewed asset in 5the shape of a Wildcat helicopter.

It is about making best use of the skill base we already have and giving people a broader range of experiences. Ultimately, this brings the two capabilities together in a hybrid context, contributing to a Hybrid Navy that is ready to warfight when required, and which is exactly what is required for operational success today.

6. Given your experience in both strategic planning and near-term operational delivery within the MoD, where do you think the biggest gaps still exist in enabling effective crewed-uncrewed teaming across the maritime domain?

I would not describe these as gaps, but rather as ongoing challenges and opportunities. One key challenge is being ready to iterate and move on quickly. If we identify an improved capability that works when placed in the hands of a warfighter, it is essential to capture operational validation and the associated data.

Access to that data allows us to analyse performance properly. If a particular uncrewed system proves effective, we then need to understand how to work with industry partners to scale that capability and move forward at pace. So rather than gaps, I would characterise these as opportunities that we should continue to address proactively.

7. The Royal Navy’s partnership with the National Drone Hub in Cornwall is a significant step. What practical outcomes or innovations are you hoping this collaboration will deliver for the fleet over the next few years?

The National Drone Hub is extremely exciting. We have an industry partner helping to enable the output, but its real value is in bringing together an ecosystem of Royal Navy personnel, other military users, industry partners, academia, and regulators—all operating within the same environment.

It is almost like everyone sitting around the same conference table. Through proximity, shared experience, and collaboration, everyone can move faster, learn more effectively, and deliver better outcomes. If we tried to do this separately, activity would risk becoming stovepiped, with less shared learning.

The Hub enables that ecosystem approach, bringing together operators, industry, academics, regulators, and enablers to support the whole system working as one.

8. What insights are you most looking forward to at this year’s International Military Helicopter conference?

The world is constantly changing, and many of the global challenges we face require a collaborative approach. If militaries, allies, partners, and industry work together, we can lead the development of uncrewed systems, embrace emerging technologies, and confront global threats more effectively.

That collaboration helps ensure we are ready to fight when required to defend the Nation below, above, on and from the sea. It also fosters the culture and mindset we need - one that is innovative, agile, and focused on winning when the time comes.