The Royal Navy has outlined its plans for a “hybrid navy” and expanded use of uncrewed systems during a visit by United States Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll to Portsmouth.
Driscoll, who oversees modernisation and resource allocation for around one million US Army personnel and 250,000 civilian staff, met First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins and senior Royal Navy leaders. The discussions focused on how the UK intends to adapt its force structure, integrate autonomous platforms and remain “warfighting ready” as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review.
The visit included a tour of the experimental vessel Patrick Blackett, where the Navy demonstrated equipment and systems currently in trial. This included Malloy T-150 quadcopters used for resupply to ships and hard-to-reach locations, Puma remotely piloted surveillance aircraft and scale models of uncrewed platforms such as the XV Excalibur submarine and the Proteus rotary-wing drone.
Malloy aircraft recently saw operational use in the Indo-Pacific, transferring stores between HMS Dauntless and HMS Prince of Wales during the 2025 carrier strike group deployment.
Royal Marines and 700X Naval Air Squadron personnel also briefed the US delegation on frontline use of small uncrewed systems and how these are shaping tactical concepts.
Jenkins said: “It is an honour to welcome the US Secretary of the Army to Navy headquarters and showcase how the Royal Navy is driving innovation and adopting agile practices to evolve into a modern hybrid force. The Royal Navy is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our US partners as they lead ground-breaking initiatives shaping the future of the US Army.”
The visit reflects ongoing alignment between the UK and US on uncrewed maritime systems, digital warfare and undersea infrastructure protection, alongside AUKUS cooperation on submarine technology.
Given the US vice president is actively calling for nuclear disarmament of the UK perhaps it’s time to stop inviting US administration figures to the UK.
Trump administration figures must begin to feel some sanction every time they shoot their mouths off. JD Vance in particular.
I don’t think its because Vance hates the UK, its because he is appalled at the direction of Britain’s demographics due to successive government’s stupid immigration policies. Its a concern that many of us share tbh.
The UK has a 6% Muslim population, Russia has a 15% Muslim population, JD Vance says that Russia doesn’t pose a threat to the USA but some how the UK does pose a threat due to its Muslim population.
Can you explain that to me please, perhaps you view things through a different lense.
The current US government seem to believe that social media is real life, rather than a very distorted view fuelled by special interest groups.
However, we have not helped ourselves by refusing to act robustly on issues related to mass immigration (e.g pull factors, boat people, grooming gangs etc).
Robust action to address each of these issues at the time they first arose would have lead to a far more harmonious modern Britain.
Unfortunately moral cowardice has lead us to where we are today
He’s Probably thinking “Boys and their Toys” .
As a trump appointment is he actually qualified to be able to ‘think’?
I wouldn’t share anything with these bastards anymore than I’d be willing to share with Putin. They are effectively the same thing these days.
Certainly the current administration is and an increasingly large proportion of the GOP. The Democrats have their own anti UK agenda. Severing all ties seems like the safest option.