Royal Navy commissions its first all-robot boat squadron

The Royal Navy has commissioned its 1st Autonomous Squadron, the first unit made up entirely of unmanned boats to be made an official part of the fleet. The ceremony at HMNB Portsmouth included a demonstration of the Kraken K3 Scout vessels in action. Senior officers say the new capability will help defend the UK against rapidly changing threats as the Navy builds a fleet mixing manned and unmanned ships.

Capt Adam Ballard, deputy commander of the surface flotilla, framed it as a step toward a hybrid force. He told the BBC: “This is about a Navy that is truly hybrid, and so you take the benefits of both types — the amazing capability and flexibility of these systems along with a carrier strike group.” His verdict on the mix: “It’s a really, really potent fighting force.”

The Kraken K3 Scout boats are built in Fareham, Hampshire, and reach a top speed of around 60mph. They are remotely operated and can take on surveillance, force protection and precision strikes, working alongside manned warships and helicopters. Cameras and radar can be fitted for surveillance, and the boats can also be armed.

Lt Reece McCarthy of the 1st Autonomous Squadron called driving the craft “100% a young person’s game,” explaining that crews steer them with Xbox and PlayStation controls. He credited “some of the most genius sailors in the Navy fresh out of training” with running them. The squadron is expected to head out on its first operational deployment in the coming months.

Fleet Cdr Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse said he was “genuinely excited” by the milestone. “Even two or three years ago, if you’d have tried to say this is what we’d be doing today I think both you and I would have thought we were being slightly bonkers,” he said. “That’s the pace at which we’ve gone, and the focus on it, and where technology has taken us, so it’s hugely exciting.”