The Royal Navy has successfully completed a seven-year, £48 million programme to replace its fleet of small boats, with the final vessel handed over in Devonport.

The Fleet Hydrographic and Meteorological Unit, which received the first boat under Project Vahana, HMS Magpie, was also the recipient of the final craft.

This project, named after the Sanskrit word for “vehicle,” has delivered 35 new waterjet-driven boats to both front-line units and training establishments since the launch of HMS Magpie in 2018.

Commander Peter Ware, Fleet Navigating Officer, emphasised the significance of the programme: “The acquisition of Vahana craft has played an important step in the modernisation of a range of operational and enabling capabilities across the UK Defence maritime operating environment,” as quoted in the Royal Navy announcement.

“They will provide an important platform upon which we can continue to build towards further integration of autonomous systems and delivery of effect in remote environments.”

The Vahana boats, collectively known as the SEA class, vary in size from 11 to 18 metres in length and are designed with interchangeable capability modules. This design allows the Royal Navy to reconfigure the boats for different missions, including diving support, officer and rating training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth and HMS Raleigh, future mine warfare capabilities, and passenger duties for personnel transfer from ship to shore on HMS Prince of Wales.

Dorset-based firm Atlas Elektronik won the contract placed by the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) arm to provide the flotilla. This contract has sustained 60 jobs over the course of the deal.

The modular nature of the boats has also reduced training, spares, and documentation requirements for all systems. The high-tech nature of the SEA class boats also means that some of these vessels could potentially be operated remotely or autonomously in the future

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Lisa has a degree in Media & Communication from Glasgow Caledonian University and works with industry news, sifting through press releases in addition to moderating website comments.
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John
John (@guest_837230)
1 month ago

Sad they are not fitted with at least a Phalanx and a towed sonar. Adding NSM as well would be a bonus 😅

Rowan Maguire
Rowan Maguire (@guest_837260)
1 month ago
Reply to  John

Here before a certain person starts whining about lack of 50bjillion modular CAMM cells, LMM paniers that didn’t work needing to be on every last ship or how the Iranians have it right with their 3000 suicide DSHK boats, we know he’ll be here soon.

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_837359)
1 month ago
Reply to  John

The thing is the SEA class can actually be configured for ASW and there is a towed array option that Atlas sell…

Andy reeves
Andy reeves (@guest_837881)
1 month ago
Reply to  Jonathan

a ready replacement for the lucrative and now defunct inshore survey squadron

Old Tony
Old Tony (@guest_837408)
1 month ago
Reply to  John

I happen to know where we can all lay our hands on a couple of 15″ guns

Geoff Roach
Geoff Roach (@guest_837476)
1 month ago
Reply to  Old Tony

Sorry guys, but you all forgot the F35’s 🙄

Andy reeves
Andy reeves (@guest_837883)
1 month ago
Reply to  Geoff Roach

no space for a big hanger for one

Geoff Roach
Geoff Roach (@guest_838156)
1 month ago
Reply to  Andy reeves

Damn. Never thought about a hanger!!

Andy reeves
Andy reeves (@guest_837882)
1 month ago
Reply to  Old Tony

excellent idea torpe doASW

Matt
Matt (@guest_837743)
1 month ago
Reply to  John

👏👏👏😂

Andy reeves
Andy reeves (@guest_837880)
1 month ago
Reply to  John

,😁😁😁😁😁 you need to give your head a wobble;

IKnowNothing
IKnowNothing (@guest_837262)
1 month ago

Why was only PoW named for personnel transfer and not QE?

ChariotRider
ChariotRider (@guest_837265)
1 month ago
Reply to  IKnowNothing

QE’s boats predated this contract and are of a different design and, I think, manufacturer.

Cheers CR

NomDeGuerre
NomDeGuerre (@guest_837397)
1 month ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

Yes, the QNLZ PTBs were completed as part of the carrier procurement programme. The three have been swapped between the two QEC hulls to date depending on operational programme. They were Alnmartiec-139s, a near to off-the-shelf design. My understanding is that the AEUK are far superior, particularly with regards to operating parameters. The combination of the davit system and ALN-139 meant they could only be launched and recovered at sea-state 1. In two years on QE I can only recall us using them to support a single evolution which was VIP transfers for a few days whilst anchored in the Hudson. Otherwise, we contracted civvy… Read more »

ChariotRider
ChariotRider (@guest_837528)
1 month ago
Reply to  NomDeGuerre

Thanks for your insights NomDeGuerre,

Much appreciated

Cheers CR

NomDeGuerre
NomDeGuerre (@guest_837812)
1 month ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

👍

John
John (@guest_837276)
1 month ago
Reply to  IKnowNothing

Missed the news? Starmer just mothballed her.

Andy reeves
Andy reeves (@guest_837885)
1 month ago
Reply to  IKnowNothing

the Gosport ferry could do all if that stuff

Julian
Julian (@guest_837318)
1 month ago

The modular nature of the boats has also reduced training, spares, and documentation requirements for all systems. The high-tech nature of the SEA class boats also means that some of these vessels could potentially be operated remotely or autonomously in the future”

Nice. It sounds as if some very good basic principles found their way into this design.

Armchair Admiral
Armchair Admiral (@guest_837348)
1 month ago
Reply to  Julian

Apparently the sea keeping is good on these boats, so it seems to me like we should have a ready source of minesweeping vessels, in one flavour or another. Once they decide exactly what gear they are going to use, perhaps some minesweeping modules should be made up.
AA

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_837362)
1 month ago

The new 11meter and 15meter autonomous minewarfare boats are a actually SEA class as well..so the RN already has them kitted for minewarfare…

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_837361)
1 month ago
Reply to  Julian

Yes the 11 meter and 15 meter SEA class is actually the basis for the RNs autonomous mine warfare vessels..

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_837366)
1 month ago

Don’t forget the SEA class are also the basis for the RNs autonomous mine warfare capability..made up of 11 and 15 meter SEA boats…atlas are doing a lot of work for the RN.

what is interesting is that the autonomous vessels can not just be equipped for mine warfare but they come with an ASW towed array configuration…

Charles Verrier
Charles Verrier (@guest_837852)
1 month ago

“They will provide an important platform upon which we can continue to build towards further integration of autonomous systems and delivery of effect in remote environments.”

Do you think any human actually speaks like that outside of PR departments? It’s like they have to keep escalating the torture of the language because nobody tell them to stop.

Andy reeves
Andy reeves (@guest_837886)
1 month ago

where’s the ski jump? and flight deck?

Jonno
Jonno (@guest_837945)
1 month ago

These look to be useful pieces of kit. They should perhaps have access through to a bow light gun position or embarkation point. Are they named or numbered. If I recall the boats for QNLZ were named but not sure if they are HMS ‘blankety’!

Gary McKenzie
Gary McKenzie (@guest_838450)
1 month ago

Are these the class of boats moored on the River Dart that look remarkably underused?