Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, has tested STARK’s Vanta 12 uncrewed strike boat, built near Plymouth and armed with MBDA’s Sea Venom missile, during a demonstration in Oslo, according to the company.
STARK says the 12-metre boat combines surveillance and strike in one hull, with a radar to track air and surface threats and the range to stay at sea in hard conditions for weeks at a time, so it can shadow suspect tankers through the Baltic, the Channel and the North Sea or guard cables and pipelines. It carries up to two tonnes, including Sea Venom, which is already in service on Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters, and took part in REPMUS, NATO’s largest exercise for uncrewed maritime systems, in September. The company says Vanta 12 is the first unmanned vessel to bring together anti-ship missiles, loitering munitions and surveillance, and that it is already being exported to NATO allies from shipyards in the South West. In September, the first Vanta 6 built at STARK’s Plymouth site was delivered to the German Navy as the first uncrewed surface vessel taken into service by the German armed forces.
Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “With the next generation of crewed platforms being built, we’re investing in the next generation of uncrewed platforms today. Plymouth is the national centre for marine autonomy, and the new capabilities that we’re building will keep the UK and allies safe. Plymouth should be very proud of the innovation we are building”.
Stephen Brian, director of maritime at STARK, said: “Plymouth has started to carve out a role as a centre of excellence for naval autonomy, helping to make the industrial deterrence that modern warfare increasingly demands a reality.
“Vanta 12 is a UK export success story, and is the first unmanned vessel to bring together anti ship missiles, loitering munitions and surveillance to help NATO countries face down the threat.”
STARK first revealed the Sea Venom-armed Vanta 12 earlier this year, and has also launched its Cascade and Gambit drones with a UK partner. The family also includes the 6-metre Vanta 6 harbour defence boat and the 24-metre Vanta 24, an aluminium-hulled escort carrying a 30mm gun and 3D radar with a top speed of more than 35 knots. The government announced a £50 million Defence Growth Deal for Plymouth and the South West in April to expand the National Centre for Marine Autonomy and set up a Plymouth Marine Autonomy Trials Authority. STARK, founded in 2024 in response to operational demands from Ukraine, is headquartered in Berlin.
I do wonder what happens when a Shadow Fleet tanker, anciently mind, rams on of these.
It is exactly the sort of Grey Zone warfare that the Russians will try.
Bear in mind that the Bear doesn’t care about human life or pollution.
Conversely, I am delighted to see that Sea Venom, a real weapon, is being carried.
Now RoEs need to be adapted to the Grey Zone.
You think this couldn’t avoid a tanker?
In absolute speed terms it could, of course, avoid.
However, if the tanker was being maliciously operated…..
The problem is that RN will be boxed in with ultra conservative RoE; navigation rules and general approach.