The UK Ministry of Defence plans to acquire a fleet of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) as part of an effort to reshape the Royal Navy into a hybrid force that blends manned and autonomous maritime systems.
As part of the program, Fareham-based Kraken Technology Group has won a 12.3-million-pound ($16.4 million) contract to provide 20 USVs for the navy. The purchase supports the service’s Project Beehive, announced in November 2025, which aims to build an operational fleet of autonomous vessels.
The vessels are being developed domestically and feature a Modular Open Systems Architecture, allowing future technology upgrades and mission adaptations.
The platforms will be operated by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando, where they will function as experimental systems for training, tactical testing, and warfare development as the navy transitions toward a hybrid operational model.
Future Carrier Operations
In September 2025, Gwyn Jenkins, the First Sea Lord, announced plans to integrate both crewed and autonomous platforms on the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.
He also highlighted an effort to field the navy’s first carrier-launched jet-powered drone by 2026, which will operate alongside the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II and conduct a range of strike and support missions.
As part of its experimentation with autonomous systems, the Royal Navy conducted a 72-hour trial near Scotland in October 2025, during which remotely controlled Rattler boats successfully escorted naval vessels.
