Britain is examining ways to strengthen underwater security around naval bases and ports as part of a broader effort to protect critical maritime infrastructure, according to new parliamentary answers from the Ministry of Defence.
In response to written questions from Conservative MP James Cartlidge, ministers confirmed that the MOD currently has no live contracts with Sonardyne or its subsidiary ECS Special Projects, despite earlier public work highlighting the potential of underwater robotics and sensing technologies to protect pipelines and subsea cables.
Defence minister Luke Pollard told Parliament that “the Department has not awarded any contracts to Sonardyne or ECS Special Projects since 5 July 2024”, and that there are “no live contracts with Sonardyne” at present.
However, the answers make clear that the MOD has previously worked with Sonardyne on maritime security capabilities, including diver detection. Pollard noted that the department has completed earlier contracts, “such as those related to Diver Tracking and Detection”, including a £67,691 agreement, active until 2024, for the procurement of a diver tracking system.
Sonardyne’s Sentinel diver detection sonar, the minister said, is “widely recognised and utilised for safeguarding naval bases and ships”, underlining its established role in underwater force protection even in the absence of current contracts.
Pollard said that as part of its future strategy and increased use of technology, the department is considering a range of measures, including “expanding port and submarine base protection” and “improving protection against hostile divers, swimmers, and underwater saboteurs”. The MOD is also exploring the use of automation and data processing to strengthen maritime defence, including “leveraging AI-enabled anomaly detection on sonar feeds” and integrating new capabilities into “the wider Maritime Protection System for UK critical infrastructure”.
So no contracts in place, non being put in place, we may think about it at some point but probably not as we have no money !
Same for just about everything else to do with Defence.
I’m just waiting for a pro active announcement that due to budget constraints they are investing in language courses for all Military Staff, Civil Servants and Politicians.
A High Ranking Officer with a CS staff of 00’s and budget of millions called “Project Ivan” on how to say “Don’t shoot I’m British” in Russian !😏
Don’t expect anything to happen soon – Labour a in turmoil with the Mandelson revelations.
It also, unhelpful, cuts the New Labour cord.
This is lurch to the left stuff.
Starmer is useless but those trying to oust him are worse.