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The United Kingdom Royal Navy has stood up its first autonomous squadron, 1st Autonomous Squadron, to operate uncrewed boats on front-line operations.
The 1st Autonomous Squadron was formally commissioned in a ceremony on 5 November at His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, in front of more than 200 navy personnel, dignitaries, media, families and friends. The squadron, based in Portsmouth and comprising 180 personnel, will operate Kraken K3 Scout and Rattler uncrewed surface vessels.
The event included a demonstration of the uncrewed surface vessels the squadron will operate, including the Kraken and Rattler vessels, which were manoeuvred around Portsmouth Harbour from a control hub.
“Today marks the start of something new for the Royal Navy, and I am proud to lead the people who will make it work. The sailors of the 1st Autonomous Squadron are building the skills, the tactics and the confidence to operate uncrewed vessels on the front line,” said Commander Helen Coxon, commanding officer of the 1st Autonomous Squadron.
“Our job now is to put these vessels to work, whether on their own or as part of a task group alongside our allies, and to bring new uncrewed systems into the fleet as quickly as we responsibly can. Working with Navy Develop, the Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office and the Capability Accelerator, we will keep learning, growing and improving.”
The milestone moment shows the Royal Navy’s commitment to continuing to move towards a hybrid navy where traditional warships and units will integrate with uncrewed and autonomous technology. The hybrid navy is backed by £1.5 billion in investment over four years.
“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,” Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said.
“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 squadron replaces Project Beehive, the navy’s initial program to procure a fleet of autonomous and crewless boats as a proving ground for its hybrid navy technologies and will work closely with Navy Develop and the navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technology Office on the expansion of the squadron as well as the navy’s Capability Accelerator team.
“The Royal Navy is doing something it has never done before. We are commissioning the first autonomous squadron in our history,” said Royal Navy Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Steve Moorhouse, speaking at the launch of the autonomous squadron.
“That makes this a genuinely historic occasion. 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, as exemplified by all of you here today.”
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