Undersea data, not platforms, now limiting NATO capability

The constraint on scaling undersea autonomy is no longer platforms, it is data, and that came through clearly during a panel on North Atlantic operations where senior naval officers and industry figures pointed to data volume, access and handling as the real limiting factors.

Submarines to face tighter freedom of manoeuvre

Submarines are not disappearing from the North Atlantic battlespace, but they are likely to operate with less freedom than in the past as more sensors, more platforms and more connected systems are pushed into the water.

Thales targets subsea sensing as uncrewed shift gathers pace

At #UDT2026, Ian McFarlane of Thales spoke to UK Defence Journal about the shift to uncrewed platforms and growing demand for subsea sensing and infrastructure protection
Two black speedboats race across choppy green water near rugged rocky islets with a distant red-and-white lighthouse on the horizon.

Royal Navy to use Beehive drones for training and ops

The Royal Navy's fleet of 20 uncrewed surface vessels under Project Beehive will be used for operations, training and development, Defence Minister Luke Pollard has confirmed.

Naval support project extension on track, minister says

The extension of the Royal Navy’s Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) is on track, according to Defence Minister Luke Pollard.
Silhouetted naval ships sailing in calm ocean at sunset, with a large vessel visible on the horizon.

Hybrid ASW push raises command, comms and legal challenges

David Shutt & Andrew Martin, QinetiQ, outlined hybrid ASW challenges at #UDT2026, warning comms, control and legal issues still need resolving.
Low-poly 3D render of a large naval destroyer and two smaller escort ships cruising on calm blue sea under a clear sky.

BMT shares more detail on MODUS uncrewed ship concept

BMT outlines thinking behind MODUS uncrewed vessel concept for ASW and seabed roles, focused on modular design and long-endurance ops. #UDT2026
Solar-powered boat with a large solar sail, number 715 and a red kangaroo logo, cruising near Sydney Harbour Bridge with a city skyline in the background.

Uncrewed Bluebottle vessels push persistent maritime surveillance

Ocius CEO Robert Dane tells UKDJ how Bluebottle USVs deliver months-long, low-cost maritime surveillance and emerging ASW capability. #UDT2026

Autonomous vessels outperform crewed surveys, UDT hears

Autonomous systems outperformed crewed vessels in survey trials, delivering high-quality data on time even as a crewed ship broke down, Rear Adm Angus Essenhigh told UDT 2026. #UDT2026

Thales: collaborative naval combat ‘still in early stages’

Navies face mounting pressure to improve the resilience and lethality of their forces but remain far from achieving the collaborative combat capabilities needed to meet modern threats, according to Thales's Naval Defence Advisor Eric Chaperon.