British drones ‘to monitor traffic jams and deliver medicine to remote islands’

The plan will be unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow, which returns for the first time since 2018 in a boost for the UK aerospace industry

Electric drones could be deployed to fly over traffic jams under plans set to be outlined today at a major airshow.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will announce £273million of government and industry cash to boost Britain’s aerospace industry when he attends the Farnborough International Airshow.

The money will be pumped into developing solar-powered planes, flying cars, unmanned aircraft dropping off medicines to remote places and drones to monitor motoring incidents, according to the Business Department.

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Mr Kwarteng will also set out a “Drone Ambition Statement” at the famous, bi-annual aerospace bash in Hampshire – the first to be held since 2018 thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

He said last night: “The return of the Farnborough International Airshow after a four-year absence is a clear example of the aerospace and aviation sector’s recovery.

“Today’s package of support will further this recovery and help the sector seize on the enormous opportunities for growth that exist as the world transitions to cleaner forms of flight.

“Through funding for the latest in green technology, such as solar and hydrogen-powered aircraft, and setting out our vision for the fast-growing market for commercial drones, we are once again placing the aerospace sector directly at the centre of our plans to deliver jobs and grow the economy.”

Schemes to benefit include Open Skies Cornwall, which will receive £2.4m to work with Royal Mail and NHS Kernow to use drones to provide Isles of Scilly residents with reliable deliveries of post and medical supplies.

Reading-based Skyway will get “£12.9m to use drones to quickly and efficiently survey infrastructure, such as motorways and ports, reducing the need for costly transport system closures and improving delivery times”.

Other projects “include making motorways safer and improving journey times by using electric drones to survey hazards, to using electric drones to distribute medical treatments across Scotland, including to cancer patients”, according to the Government.

Drones have already been used in Africa to deliver Covid-19 vaccine doses in Ghana.

Officials said projects supported by the money could create more than 8,800 jobs.

Transport Minister Robert Courts said: “The steps we have set out today will ensure our aviation sector remains world-leading and fit for the future, helping to deliver on our ambitious climate change goals and boost high-skilled job opportunities.

“Integrating drones into our transport system will play a huge part in better connecting communities, from potentially delivering vital NHS treatments in isolated communities to capturing high quality aerial imaging for rescue teams.”