New Royal Navy USV to Neutralize Mines
The Royal Navy now has taken delivery of a 12m uncrewed surface vessel (USV), called Ariadne, that will be used to detect mines.This advanced technology is expected to increase operational tempo, and it eliminates the needs for sailors to enter mine danger areas.Royal Navy Motor Boat (RNMB) Ariadne can be deployed from a harbor or mother ship to scour the seabed for mines, using Thales Towed Synthetic Aperture Multiviews systems.The vessel can operate either fully autonomously or remote-controlled by operations in the portable remote command center.Fitted with AI automatic target recognition, Ariadne
Babcock Hires KDC Veolia to Assist with UK’s Nuclear Submarine Dismantling
to be fully dismantled and disposed of. The project is expected to lead the way, providing a proven approach for recycling of the current UK decommissioned fleet of submarines.The submarine remains on track to be dismantled by 2026, ahead of the wider program to fully dismantle all decommissioned Royal Navy submarines, which will free up space and capacity that can be used in delivery of programs enabling submarine availability.“This is a world first. We are bringing together our experience of supporting the entire UK submarine fleet, our nuclear expertise and our ability to bring the best of
SeeByte Wins Deal to Continue UK Mine Hunting Capability Program Support
a three-year contract by Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S), part of the UK Ministry of Defense, to provide its suite of C2, mission-level autonomy, target recognition, support, and development services to the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Delivery Team and related programs in support of the Royal Navy.The contract has a three-year initial term with options to extend the duration up to two additional years. The base contract award is £2.4 million with the potential for future flexible tasking orders up to a maximum of £50 million over the full contract term.This multi-year award directly
UK Royal Navy Buys More Remus UUVs
HII, a manufacturer of underwater unmanned vehicles (UUV), announced the recent sale of three REMUS 100s and five REMUS 300s to the U.K. Royal Navy for underwater exploration, countermine and surveillance programs.Over the past 20 years, the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense has acquired a mix of REMUS 100s, Remus 300s and REMUS 600s for mine countermeasure operations. The Ministry’s first two REMUS 100s, acquired in 2001, are still in operation today, demonstrating the resilience and modernization capabilities of the HII-built UUVs.The new REMUS 100s and 300s are equipped with advanced sensors
UK to Transfer Two Minehunters to Ukraine
Britain said on Monday it would transfer two Royal Navy minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy, as it sets up a new maritime defence coalition alongside Norway to help strengthen Ukraine's sea operations.Britain said the two Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels will enable Ukraine to better counter the threat from Russian sea mines, aiming to restore Ukraine's export routes via the Black Sea.The transfer of the vessels was announced alongside the launch of the Maritime Capability Coalition set up by Britain and Norway to improve Ukraine's navy to make it more compatible with western
UK, Finland, Estonia Practice Subsea Infrastructure Protection in Baltic Sea
Command said.All three participants are members of the NATO military alliance but the exercise is taking place under their Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) defence cooperation, which encompasses the Nordic and Baltic states, the Netherlands and Britain.Britain said on Thursday it would send seven Royal Navy ships and a maritime patrol aircraft to take part in JEF patrols in the region in December.In October, Britain had said it planned to step up its military presence in Northern Europe, including deploying 20,000 troops to the region next year, to help protect critical infrastructure at a time of
Babcock Signs $916M Submarine Infrastructure Deal with UK Defense Ministry
the infrastructure required to support and sustain the UK’s submarines for decades to come.As part of the major infrastructure program underway at the Devonport site, Babcock said it would deliver substantial upgrades to existing infrastructure that will support the future capability of the Royal Navy and the UK’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise.The contract for the delivery of infrastructure to support submarine maintenance includes a dock, logistics, and modern support facilities.The contract forms part of the site-wide infrastructure upgrade programme at Devonport to enable the ongoing delivery
Converted OSV Enters Service in the UK as an Underwater Surveillance Ship
A converted offshore support vessel has taken on a new life as a dedicated underwater surveillance ship for the U.K.'s Royal Navy.Christened during a ceremony in London on October 10, RFA Proteus will be operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as a launchpad for remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) and a home to a suite of specialist capabilities similar to those found in the offshore oil and gas industry.The ship, built in 2017 as a subsea construction vessel named Topaz Tangaroa, was acquired by the U.K. Ministry of Defense in January and converted at Cammell Laird for its new role as a
BAE Systems Secures $4,81B Funding for Next-Gen Nuclear Submarine Program
awarded £3.95 billion (currently ~$4,81 billion) of funding to BAE Systems for the next phase of the UK's next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine program, known as SSN-AUKUS.According to BAE Systems, SSN-AUKUS will be the largest, most powerful, and most advanced attack submarine the Royal Navy has ever operated and will eventually replace the Astute class, which BAE Systems builds at its site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.The funding follows the AUKUS announcement in March by the leaders of Australia, the UK and the United States. This will eventually see Australia and the UK operate
February 2025
