Royal Navy announces first autonomous squadron of uncrewed boats

The Royal Navy has announced the creation of its first autonomous squadron dedicated to operating uncrewed boats on frontline operations. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the creation of the force is in response to the changing face of modern warfare. The 1st Autonomous Squadron, based at Portsmouth Naval Base, comprises about 180 personnel who will operate two craft – Rattler training vessels and the Kraken K3 Scout boats. A navy spokesman said that the Rattlers are designed to perform a range of operations and have been trialled escorting warships in Scotland while being remotely-piloted from 500 miles away.

The Kraken K3 Scout, with a range of 600 miles extendable to 1,100 miles, had also been tested off the south coast “in force protection, surveillance and reconnaissance roles”, the spokesman said. Mr Streeting said: “The threat environment we are facing is fundamentally different from that of recent decades. A major determinant of military power now is who can innovate fastest. “That’s why we are using the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War to put the latest autonomous technology in the hands of our sailors, to help them protect our shores and those of our Nato allies.

“The more ready we are to fight and win, the less likely we are to have to. This investment strengthens our warfighting readiness and therefore our deterrence.” The creation of the new squadron, is part of a move towards a “hybrid navy” with £1.5 billion being earmarked for the initiative over four years. Royal Navy Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Steve Moorhouse said: “For generations, the Fleet has been built around ships, submarines, and aircraft, manned by sailors and Royal Marines.

From today, an autonomous squadron takes its place alongside them. “The seas are becoming more contested, more dangerous and harder to operate in. “A hybrid navy is about giving our people better tools. It means more reach, more striking power and more options. “It will help make the Fleet more lethal, harder to knock out of the fight and quicker to adapt. People will remain at the heart of it.” The Scotsman revealed last week how troubled Ferguson Marine shipyard is looking into building autonomous warships for the defence sector.

Board minutes show the "autonomous vessel market" was discussed "in some detail" by bosses over the summer, with plans for further scoping work to be undertaken. There have long been concerns over the future of the state-owned Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow, which is at the centre of the CalMac ferry fiasco. The Scotsman recently attended a demonstration of how a hybrid navy fleet might work at Babcock’s dockyard in Rosyth. The defence giant is currently building five Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy, which it describes as “state-of-the-art warships”.

Sir Nick Hine, chief executive of its marine sector and the former Second Sea Lord, has championed plans for a hybrid navy using autonomous, unmanned vessels. He said he would like to deliver HMS Venturer, the first Type 31, together with a large “uncrewed surface vessel” in 2028.