The Ministry of Defence is continuing work with the Defence Maritime Regulator to define how uncrewed surface vessels should be regulated and classified as the Royal Navy expands its use of maritime autonomous systems.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard provided the update in response to a written parliamentary question from Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who asked what progress had been made since July on the regulatory and classification framework for uncrewed surface vessels. Pollard said: “Work continues with the Defence Maritime Regulator to implement and inform the current regulatory and classification framework for uncrewed surface vessels.”
The MOD is also working with other parts of government to ensure that Defence arrangements do not develop in isolation from the wider UK regulatory system.
Pollard also said: “All RN operated Maritime Autonomous Systems are operated within Defence Maritime Regulations as the Ministry of Defence’s health, safety and environmental framework.”
The issue is becoming increasingly important as the Royal Navy introduces more autonomous and remotely operated systems for roles including surveillance, mine countermeasures, experimentation and potentially wider operational tasks. Unlike conventional crewed warships, uncrewed surface vessels raise additional questions around classification, control, safety assurance, responsibility and how military systems interact with civilian maritime rules.
I’m concerned that we might be overreacting ourselves on this hybrid navy thing to me, a lot of the technology needed doesn’t even exist.
Soon, the RN will just be a website and 100 Adminrals with one unmanned drone ship that’s supposed to do everything
These will get captured in operation areas like Persian Gulf or almost anywhere. A single RHIB boarding party can take command.
Rules of engagement need to be carefully consider otherwise these vessels are dead once the first round is fired. Threat to life is very different to threat to unmanned vessel? Under what scenario could a USV open fire first?