Uncrewed Aerial Systems

Royal Artillery

At a glance

  • Soldier
  • combat

Be at the heart of action – even back at the base. Fly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

  • £18,687The minimum amount you’ll earn during training
  • £23,496Your pay after completing basic trade training
  • AgeFrom 16 years & 0 months to 35 years & 6 months
  • QualificationsNo formal qualifications needed
Unmanned Aerial Systems

I've always loved technology so this job plays to my strengths, and I can't believe how much I've learnt so quickly.

Drones are uncrewed aircraft that can fly over the battlefield. Join us as a Gunner – Uncrewed Aerial Systems and we’ll teach you how to control them: how to prepare a drone for missions, how to fly it and how to read and interpret the images, videos and data - either live or when it brings them back. In time you could attempt the arduous P Company couse and join the battery which supports the Parachute Regiment. At the same time, you’ll learn skills and get qualifications that you can use in civilian life – in everything from IT to leadership. In your spare time, you’ll have the chance to play sports, enjoy Adventurous Training and hang out with your mates – who may well become friends for life.

The Royal Artillery is the heart of the action - everywhere across the battlefield - providing the British Army with its eyes, ears and firepower. Using high-tech surveillance devices and uncrewed aircraft, the Royal Artillery finds the enemy. We then monitor them before striking decisively. We do this by co-ordinated use of our guns, rockets and missiles, the Army’s attack helicopters and other weapons, including fast jets and even the guns of Royal Navy ships.

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Key Responsibilities

  • Fly remote controlled drones

  • Find enemy threats

  • Be vital to mission success

  • Protect troops in combat

Have any questions? Talk with us

Master of your craft - Gunner Crew video still

Regular (full time)

Entry requirements

  • Age:

    From 16 years & 0 months to 35 years & 6 months

  • Qualifications:

    No formal qualifications needed

  • Basic physical fitness assessment:

    • Mid Thigh Pull 50kg

    • Medicine Ball Throw 2.7m

    • MSFT (beep test) level 6.6

    More information about the fitness test

Training for the role

Step 1
Your initial military training teaches you how to be a soldier, covering everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle.

  • If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do a 23-week basic military training course at Harrogate.

  • If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the regular 14-week adult basic training.

Step 2
Then it’s off to Larkhill for 15 weeks to train as a Gunner. You do military training, sports and Adventurous Training. You also learn to drive a car and trailer and do a cross country driving course in a Land Rover. After this, you join 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill or 47 Regiment Royal Artillery, Thorney Island. At this point, you learn to control a drone (uncrewed aircraft) to help find and destroy the enemy.

Qualifications you could get after training

  • HGV truck licence

  • European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

  • Computer Literacy and Information Technology Stage 1 (CLAIT)

  • NVQ in Learning and Development

  • Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)

Pay & benefits

Earn £18,687 a year during training. When you have completed 26 weeks' service or finished basic trade training – whichever comes first – your pay will rise to £23,496.

How to Apply

Once your online application has been approved, you'll meet with a local recruiter. This is your chance to tell us about the role that you're interested in. When you go to the Assessment Centre, you'll take tests - the results will show whether you'd be suitable for this role, or should consider a different role.

More about the joining process

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