The Royal Navy continues to advance its autonomous maritime mine hunting technologies, with new capabilities being integrated into its fleet, according to Defence Minister Maria Eagle.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, Eagle confirmed that the Royal Navy has made “significant progress” in this domain since the introduction of the WILTON mine hunting system in 2020.
“WILTON has been assimilated into the wider Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, which is delivering a rolling programme of unmanned surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles for use by Royal Navy mine warfare specialists,” she stated.
The Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme represents a shift away from traditional mine countermeasure vessels to a more modern, flexible, and scalable unmanned system approach.
The Royal Navy’s autonomous mine hunting and sweeping systems are equipped with high-tech sonar and sensor suites, enhancing their ability to detect and neutralise mines rapidly. These systems are designed to operate autonomously, reducing the need for human divers and traditional mine countermeasure ships to enter dangerous waters.
Eagle noted that these unmanned platforms are not just being used in UK waters but are also actively deployed globally to support allied operations.
With the MHC programme delivering a fleet of autonomous vessels, the Royal Navy is expected to phase out its existing Sandown and Hunt-class minehunters, replacing them with next-generation unmanned solutions.
3-2-1 and the motherships are?
And these little fibreglass um pleasure boats can operate in what sea states precisely?
This is all very well for clearing the SSBN route out of Faslane but I’m not seeing how this works in the open sea?
The usual spin.
I’m not seeing what the new capability is?
Wilton has existed for some time, as have UUV from MCMVs.
As you say, mother vessels are needed, plus an actual asset to move said RNMBs to where they’re needed.
And we’re not exactly blessed with spare ships or spare Atlas are we.
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Sea state 4 so moderate…. I would say that was one of the big weaknesses of the new model autonomous based systems… what about mine warfare in the North Sea in winter ?
If I recall Harbour Defence Vessels were 72′ and Inshore mine sweepers and Seaward defence vessels 110′ (in old money). The 110 footers are the sort of boats that could stand out to sea in anything short of a Hurricane and those winds are increasingly likely.
They will also need mother ships for the smaller boats which are the equivalent of Pinnaces. The old navy knew about these things until we decided to disarm ourselves and pretend we had no enemies.
My current boat was the first and only echo sounding boat on the River Clyde 1941-44, 37′ oa; so bigger than the Auto boats.