The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Navy will trial Helsing’s SG-1 Fathom underwater glider in December as part of its emerging Atlantic Bastion undersea network, but has not disclosed any order quantities.
Replying to a written question from Conservative MP James Cartlidge about how many SG-1 Fathom systems had been ordered, Defence Minister Luke Pollard instead set out how the glider fits into a wider autonomy effort.
He said that under Atlantic Bastion, announced in the Strategic Defence Review, “the Royal Navy (RN) will be exploiting new technologies through a portfolio of lean crewed, remotely operated and uncrewed/autonomous airborne, surface and sub-surface vehicles, sensors and nodes.”
Pollard confirmed that Helsing, which produces SG-1 Fathom, has been selected for a near-term trial. “Helsing who makes the SG-1 Fathom have been selected to conduct a technology demonstration for the RN which is taking place in December 2025,” he told Parliament.
The minister added that the Navy is currently running a competitive process for the first phase of Atlantic Bastion. “The RN is running a solicitation for Atlantic Net, the first phase of Atlantic Bastion, and in full adherence to commercial regulation, it will conduct a fair and transparent assessment against peer proposals, ahead of any contract award,” he said.
The answer indicates that SG-1 Fathom will be evaluated against rival concepts as part of Atlantic Net, with any procurement decision to follow once the competitive assessment is complete.
I am going to hazard a guess. None. Probably got it for free to trial in the vain hope sales will come later.
Can these gliders be caught up in fishing nets or trawled for? Better be careful foreign fisherman don’t snatch them up!
Currently, there are several UK defence projects that are procurement pending. I just wonder when we might see orders. I can envision an undersea population of remote craft numbering many thousands, as witnessed with satellites in Earth’s orbit.