The Royal Navy has begun industry engagement to understand how commercial systems could be used to conduct anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic.

The Royal Navy has begun industry engagement to understand how commercial systems could be used to conduct anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic. Any acquisition of these capabilities would be subject to outcomes of the Strategic Defence Review, funding and open competition.

The Ministry of Defence continuously evaluates its capabilities, including potential enhancements to the Royal Navy's fleet.

All future capability plans for the Royal Navy will be part of the Strategic Defence Review.

The Royal Navy has been operating a range of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to detect sea mines since 2005. In the past three years, we have increased our pool of Remus 100 and 300 UUVs and deployed them to globally-deployed frontline Royal Naval units to survey the seabed and detect sea mines. Uncrewed and autonomous systems are already transforming operational capability, acting as force multipliers for our sailors and a catalyst for military and commercial innovation. The Royal Navy has an ambition to accelerate, scale and develop these systems by harnessing UK industry and the thriving Science and Technology sector to produce world-leading capabilities.

The Royal Navy has been operating a range of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to detect sea mines since 2005. In the past three years, we have increased our pool of Remus 100 and 300 UUVs and deployed them to globally-deployed frontline Royal Naval units to survey the seabed and detect sea mines. Uncrewed and autonomous systems are already transforming operational capability, acting as force multipliers for our sailors and a catalyst for military and commercial innovation. The Royal Navy has an ambition to accelerate, scale and develop these systems by harnessing UK industry and the thriving Science and Technology sector to produce world-leading capabilities.

Royal Navy Motor Boat (RNMB) ARIADNE is currently undergoing trials and testing prior to transition to operations. The Royal Navy does not comment on future availability and the dates of Initial Operating Capability and Full Operating Capability will be reached in due course.

The Royal Navy (RN) purchased one M500 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to support the initial capability investigation into autonomous mine hunting concepts leading into Project WILTON in 2015. WILTON informed the capability requirements for the RN's transformation of Mine Countermeasures, under the Mine Hunting Concept (MHC); the first elements of MHC will enter service this year.

Project CABOT is the Royal Navy’s plan to develop remotely operated and autonomous Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities, aiming for a “Digitalisation of the North Atlantic”.

Project CABOT was launched on 5 of March 2025, and the Royal Navy is now working with industry, academia, allies and Defence partners to seek out potential technologies that could provide a suitable capability. Scaling of any capability identified under Project CABOT is dependent on the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.

CETUS is undergoing Integrated Test, Evaluation and Acceptance trials which are expected to complete in the summer, before handover to the Royal Navy. This is six months later than planned because of an amendment to the original design of the vessel. CETUS will continue progressive experimentation and capability demonstration activities until late 2027.

CETUS is a capability demonstrator, so will enable greater understanding of how this type of vehicle can be operated, maintained and commanded - it is not intended to enter operational service and therefore does not have a target in-service date.

CETUS is undergoing Integrated Test, Evaluation and Acceptance trials which are expected to complete in the summer, before handover to the Royal Navy. This is six months later than planned because of an amendment to the original design of the vessel. CETUS will continue progressive experimentation and capability demonstration activities until late 2027.

CETUS is a capability demonstrator, so will enable greater understanding of how this type of vehicle can be operated, maintained and commanded - it is not intended to enter operational service and therefore does not have a target in-service date.

CETUS is undergoing Integrated Test, Evaluation and Acceptance trials which are expected to complete in the summer, before handover to the Royal Navy. This is six months later than planned because of an amendment to the original design of the vessel. CETUS will continue progressive experimentation and capability demonstration activities until late 2027.

CETUS is a capability demonstrator, so will enable greater understanding of how this type of vehicle can be operated, maintained and commanded - it is not intended to enter operational service and therefore does not have a target in-service date.

The Royal Navy has made significant progress in developing autonomous maritime mine hunting technologies, since the delivery of the WILTON mine hunting system in 2020.

WILTON has been assimilated into the wider Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme which is delivering a rolling programme of unmanned surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles for use by Royal Navy minewarfare specialists.

The mine hunting and sweeping systems being delivered through the MHC Programme, employ high technology sonars and sensors to improve the Royal Navy's ability to detect and dispose of modern mines quickly and autonomously. Autonomous mine hunting systems are in regular use, both in the UK and globally.

Integrating uncrewed systems with our crewed platforms is a critical part of ensuring the Royal Navy can effectively respond to competition, crisis and conflict in the future. Delivering uncrewed systems will feature heavily in the design specifications of the Multi-Role Support Ships – the next generation of amphibious ships to support the Commando forces. The Ministry of Defence is collaborating with industry to assess the merits of uncrewed systems with trials and spiral development, while learning operational lessons from Ukraine.

Project COOKSON is in the early stages of development and there is no firm target date for its deployment.

We are engaging with industry partners to understand what new capabilities may exist that would support our concept for a small, fast attack vessel equipped with modular payloads and capable of operating in challenging environments.

In order to inform the next stages of Project COOKSON, we held an industry Challenge Session in January and plan to launch a competitive procurement process in early 2025, for demonstrations in late 2025 or early 2026.

The Snapper system is a new uncrewed maritime system, which has been rapidly developed specifically to support Ukraine. The system is currently undergoing final testing and further details will be set out in due course.

The Wasp system is a new uncrewed maritime system, which has been rapidly developed specifically to support Ukraine. The system is currently undergoing final testing and further details will be set out in due course.