The Royal Navy has completed a four-month technology demonstration programme with small and medium-sized enterprises focused on autonomous and uncrewed systems for anti-submarine warfare, as part of the broader Atlantic Bastion programme to develop a hybrid underwater capability in the North Atlantic.

According to the Royal Navy here, companies were invited to showcase off-the-shelf equipment across a range of capability areas including seabed acoustic detection systems, uncrewed surface vessels fitted with acoustic and towed arrays, remote operation centres with AI integration, drones equipped with sonobuoys, crewed and uncrewed subsea robots operated from ashore, and gliders and acoustic floats, with all systems required to be commercially available and deployable within the anti-submarine warfare domain.

Rear Admiral Rich Harris, Director Develop for the Royal Navy, said the demonstrations were “about proving that the latest technology is ready to secure the North Atlantic and our nation’s most sensitive waters”, adding that the Navy was “integrating crewed and uncrewed systems with digital decision-making to accelerate the Royal Navy’s transition to a hybrid navy, strengthening our readiness today and ensuring we are warfighting ready for the challenges of tomorrow.”

Captain Chris Hill, Atlantic Net Programme Director, said the programme had been “pivotal in providing the Royal Navy with a focused understanding of cutting-edge developments across the anti-submarine warfare landscape”, adding that industry support “far surpassed our expectations” and had left those developing Atlantic Bastion with “a wealth of exploitable knowledge.”

The programme sits under Atlantic Bastion, which is investing in advanced underwater sensors, autonomous platforms, lethality capabilities and a digital architecture to link those systems into a cohesive operational network, and forms part of the Royal Navy’s broader push toward a hybrid fleet in which traditional crewed warships operate alongside uncrewed technology across air, surface and subsurface environments.

George Allison
George Allison is the founder and editor of the UK Defence Journal. He holds a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and specialises in naval and cyber security topics. George has appeared on national radio and television to provide commentary on defence and security issues. Twitter: @geoallison

4 COMMENTS

  1. The pictured drone is an interesting design, that was reportedly quite effective at it’s role due to a focus on stability on speed. Pioneer, I think the name is (may be wrong)?

    • All well and good. But t it does not replace and a needed huge increase in naval fleet! This Country needs to get real!

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