Royal Navy Eyes Autonomous Systems to Scale Combat Readiness

At the 2025 Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, Admiral Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom Royal Navy, delivered a strategic address underscoring the service’s pivot toward autonomous systems. With defense budgets under pressure and adversaries fielding increasingly capable technologies at scale, the Royal Navy is betting on autonomy—particularly uncrewed surface and subsurface vehicles—as a force multiplier to maintain maritime superiority.

Strategic Imperatives Driving Autonomy Adoption

Admiral Key’s remarks come amid mounting geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific and North Atlantic regions. He cited an “increasingly dangerous world” where state-based threats are resurging and peer competitors are deploying massed capabilities across domains. In this context, he argued that traditional force structures alone will not suffice to meet future operational demands.

“We need to think differently about how we deliver scale,” Key stated. “Autonomous systems offer us opportunities not just for efficiency but for resilience and reach.”

The Royal Navy’s strategic calculus aligns with broader UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) initiatives such as the Integrated Review Refresh 2023 and Defence Command Paper Refresh 2023. Both documents emphasize technological advantage—especially in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and autonomy—as critical enablers of deterrence by denial.

Operational Use Cases: From ISR to MCM

The Royal Navy has already deployed several autonomous platforms in limited roles. Examples include:

Project Wilton: A mine countermeasures (MCM) initiative using uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) such as RNMB Harrier and RNMB Hebe for sonar towing and mine detection tasks.
XLUUV Trials: The extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) “Cetus,” developed by MSubs Ltd under a £15 million contract signed in 2022, is undergoing sea trials aimed at long-endurance ISR missions.
Persistent ISR: UAVs such as Puma AE have been integrated into offshore patrol vessels for persistent surveillance over littoral zones.

The goal is not merely experimentation but operational integration. Admiral Key emphasized that these systems must be “trusted by commanders” and “interoperable with crewed platforms,” highlighting challenges around command-and-control (C2), data fusion, and AI-enabled decision support.

C2 Architecture and Human-Machine Teaming Challenges

A key barrier to scaling autonomy lies in robust C2 frameworks that can manage swarms or mixed formations of crewed-uncrewed assets across contested environments. The Royal Navy is reportedly investing in digital battle management tools that can ingest sensor data from multiple autonomous platforms while enabling human oversight at critical decision points.

This includes work on secure mesh communications networks using SATCOM alternatives like LEO constellations (e.g., OneWeb), resilient GNSS navigation via PNT hardening techniques, and edge computing nodes aboard USVs/UUVs for local processing of EO/IR or sonar feeds.

The MoD’s Defence Artificial Intelligence Centre (DAIC) is also exploring ethical frameworks for lethal autonomy boundaries—especially relevant as AI-enabled targeting becomes more viable with maritime strike drones or loitering munitions launched from USVs.

Industrial Base Engagement & Procurement Strategy

The UK defense industrial base is being reshaped to support rapid prototyping cycles under initiatives like the Naval Strike Network Accelerator. Companies such as BAE Systems Maritime Services, Thales UK, MSubs Ltd., L3Harris ASV Global, and SeeByte are actively involved in developing modular payloads for autonomous naval platforms.

This modularity enables rapid reconfiguration—from ASW payloads with synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) arrays to EW packages for signal intercept missions. The MoD has also signaled intent to adopt spiral development models with early fielding of MVPs (minimum viable products), followed by iterative upgrades based on operator feedback loops—a departure from legacy acquisition timelines.

DSEI Showcases Reflect Growing Maturity

At DSEI 2025 itself, several British firms showcased deployable prototypes including:

L3Harris’ MADFOX II USV: Designed for multi-mission roles including escort ISR and electronic warfare decoy operations.
MSubs’ Cetus XLUUV variant: Featuring upgraded lithium-sulfur battery packs extending submerged endurance beyond two weeks at low speeds.
Babcock’s Autonomous Mission Module Bay concept: Enabling Type 26 frigates or future Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS) to launch/recover UUVs without drydock retrofits.

Tactical Implications: Mass Without Manpower

The underlying logic behind this push is clear: generate tactical mass without corresponding increases in manpower or platform costs. An autonomous system can operate persistently without fatigue risk or life-support requirements—and can be attritable if necessary during high-risk missions like mine clearance or contested ISR collection near adversary coastlines.

This approach aligns with NATO concepts such as Mosaic Warfare or Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), where small autonomous nodes contribute sensing/shooting capabilities within a dispersed kill web architecture. The Royal Navy aims to integrate its own assets into this framework while ensuring interoperability with allies’ C4ISR networks via standards like STANAG 4586 or Link-22 datalinks.

Crew Training & Doctrine Evolution

A shift toward autonomy also necessitates doctrinal updates—from rules of engagement involving machine-generated recommendations to training curricula that prepare sailors for manned-unmanned teaming scenarios. HMS Collingwood’s Maritime Warfare School has begun incorporating simulation modules focused on remote platform control under degraded comms conditions—a critical skillset given expected EW contestation environments.

Outlook: From Niche Capability to Core Force Element

The First Sea Lord concluded his address by asserting that autonomy must move from “niche experimentation” into “core force design.” This vision reflects a broader trend among NATO navies—mirrored by U.S., French, Australian efforts—to build hybrid fleets blending traditional hulls with autonomous adjuncts capable of expanding presence without proportional cost growth.

If successful, this transformation could enable the Royal Navy not only to maintain relevance against peer threats but also lead coalition efforts in shaping norms around responsible military use of maritime AI systems—an increasingly urgent issue amid accelerating global adoption rates of dual-use technologies at sea.