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The United Kingdom has announced new drones, sensors and AI systems to protect undersea cables and energy networks, hunt submarines under an ‘Atlantic Net’ project.
The UK government has announced more than 90 million pounds in investment for new drones, artificial intelligence and sensors to protect undersea cables and hunt Russian submarines in the North Atlantic.
The new framework with British company Ocean Infinity Solutions, will strengthen the Royal Navy’s ability to protect crucial shipping routes and undersea infrastructure. OIS has been selected as the Royal Navy’s Commercial Mission Partner for the Atlantic Net project.
The advanced system, known as Atlantic Net will see the Navy equipped with a new network of autonomous systems operating across the North Atlantic.
These will include advanced sensors, which will help detect Russian submarines and nefarious activity and uncrewed systems, which will be able to patrol the depths of the seas, hunting down threats.
The high-tech net will create a single surveillance service that will provide submarine-hunting warships and Astute-class submarines with earlier warning of threats and a clearer picture of activity beneath the surface.
The framework was signed as part of the Royal Navy’s wider Atlantic Bastion programme to create a hybrid naval force of crewed and uncrewed vessels; a key recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review - and was announced today at the International Sea Power Conference in Oslo, Norway.
“The threats beneath the North Atlantic are changing, and we are changing with them. This investment gives the Royal Navy new technology to find threats earlier and protect our critical infrastructure, while also backing British business,” according to Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard.
“It shows that we’re getting on with the job of investing in our Armed Forces and strengthening our deterrence under the sea, to support our ultimate, nuclear deterrent.”
Atlantic Bastion is the Royal Navy’s plan to create a hybrid naval force to hunt and track enemy submarines and protect the vast network of critical underwater infrastructure that connects and powers the UK and its allies, including communications cables and energy networks.
Working alongside NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, it’s planned to strengthen protection against interference, sabotage and hostile activity, with Atlantic Net increasing the scale, persistence and resilience of underwater surveillance.
The Royal Navy and Ocean Infinity Solutions will bring together maritime systems, underwater sensing, communications, remote operations and data services into a single capability directed by the Royal Navy.
“The Royal Navy has been exploring how to move beyond traditional, heavily crewed fleets towards a broader mix of robotic and lean-crewed platforms. Atlantic Net is that idea coming to life. It is a significant step forward in how naval capability can be delivered, using uncrewed and autonomous systems at a scale that has not been seen before,” according to Ocean Infinity President of Solutions, Joe Robinson.
“Being selected for Atlantic Net reflects the confidence customers have in our ability to deliver complex, technology-led programmes, building on the credibility Ocean Infinity has established over the past ten years.”
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