Palantir tech to boost warship building with Babcock

Babcock and Palantir have unveiled a new phase of their partnership aimed at reshaping how warships are built and supported, using the US firm’s Warp Speed manufacturing platform.

The system, already integrated into the Arrowhead 140 programme, gives production teams real-time oversight of build schedules, supply chains and workflows. The companies argue it will cut delays, predict bottlenecks and make naval shipbuilding more resilient in the face of market pressures.

Sir Nick Hine, CEO of Babcock Marine, described it as a “step-change in how we build and support warships,” claiming the integration of data-driven decision making will deliver “a smarter, faster, and more resilient form of naval production.”

Palantir, which has long been a controversial presence in defence and intelligence sectors, says the move marks the first time its Warp Speed system has been adopted by a UK or European manufacturer. Guy Williams, Head of International Defence & National Security at the company, said the technology would “supercharge Babcock’s production and operational efficacy and foster a new era of UK maritime strength.”

The partnership began in 2023, initially combining modular ship design with predictive maintenance tools. It has since grown into a wider effort to create a single digital environment linking Babcock’s engineers, operators and leaders with suppliers.

For Babcock, the tie-up is about keeping pace with the Royal Navy’s demands for faster programmes such as Type 31 and future support ships, while also improving through-life support once vessels enter service. For Palantir, it offers a high-profile European demonstration of Warp Speed at a time when governments are under pressure to strengthen supply chains and industrial resilience.

The collaboration reflects a broader trend in defence shipbuilding: digital tools are no longer add-ons but central to how navies expect industry to deliver capability at speed.