Royal Navy commissions first autonomous boat squadron at Portsmouth

The Royal Navy has formally commissioned the 1st Autonomous Squadron, its first squadron made up entirely of uncrewed boats, at a ceremony at HMNB Portsmouth on November 5.

The squadron and its vessels

The 1st Autonomous Squadron comprises around 180 personnel, split into two watches to sustain operations around the clock. It will operate Rattler and Kraken K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessels. Both are built in Fareham. The 7.2m SYOS Aerospace Rattler has been used mainly for operator training and to develop tactics for remotely controlled boat swarms. The larger 8.4m Kraken K3 Scout is the Royal Navy’s operational USV, capable of 55 knots with a 600kg modular payload bay and a standard range of about 600 miles, extendable to 1,100 miles.

The squadron replaces Project Beehive, the navy’s initial program to procure autonomous and crewless boats as a proving ground for hybrid navy technologies. It will operate both independently and as part of a task group, and will focus on expanding the Royal Navy’s uncrewed surface vessel fleet.

Roles and capabilities

The uncrewed boats can be used for surveillance, force protection, and reconnaissance. They can carry cameras and radar for surveillance and be fitted with weapons. Trial firings of a UK-built counter-drone interceptor have been completed, and the first launches from the K3 Scouts themselves will follow shortly. Each interceptor costs between £5,000 and £10,000. Payloads in the Scout’s 600kg bay can be swapped in about 90 minutes.

Official statements

Defence Secretary Wes 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.”

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.”

Commanding Officer of the 1st Autonomous Squadron, Commander Helen Coxon, said: “The sailors of the 1st Autonomous Squadron are building the skills, the tactics and the confidence to operate uncrewed vessels on the front line.”

Hybrid navy investment

The creation of the squadron is part of a move towards a “hybrid navy” with £1.5 billion being earmarked for the initiative over four years. The commissioning coincided with a showcase of the Capability Accelerator Hub at Portsmouth Naval Base, which helps move new equipment from industry into fleet service.

Why it matters

The commissioning marks the first time an autonomous squadron has been made a permanent part of the Royal Navy fleet, shifting uncrewed boats from experimentation to operational service. The squadron is expected to carry out its first operational deployment in the coming months.

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Sources

• bbc.com: Royal Navy welcomes unmanned boat squadron
• scotsman.com: Royal Navy announces first autonomous squadron of uncrewed boats
• independent.co.uk: Royal Navy launches its first autonomous squadron of uncrewed boats | The Independent
• navaltoday.com: Royal Navy establishes first autonomous squadron as hybrid fleet takes shape - Naval Today
• navylookout.com: Royal Navy commissions its first autonomous boat Squadron - Navy Lookout
• yahoo.com: Royal Navy welcomes unmanned boat squadron

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.