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New uncrewed boat to boost Royal Navy minehunting operations
17 March 2025
Sailors will be able to identify and neutralise mines and other underwater threats in safer conditions thanks to the delivery of new cutting-edge countermeasure systems.
The Royal Navy now has the use of a 12m uncrewed surface vessel (USV) called Ariadne, a sophisticated payload and remote command centre – all when combined will mean mines can be rapidly detected in a more cost-effective and safer manner than previously.
This advanced technology also increases operational tempo and eliminates the needs for sailors to enter mine danger areas.
Royal Navy Motor Boat Ariadne can be deployed from a harbour or mother ship to scour the seabed for mines, using Thales Towed Synthetic Aperture Multiviews systems – one of the most sophisticated towed sonars in the world.
Developments in sensor technology and data analytics have contributed to the new systems and means the vessel can operate either fully autonomously or remote-controlled by operations in the portable remote command centre.
Fitted with AI automatic target recognition, Ariadne and other boats like her can filter and refine vast amounts of data allowing operators to speed up the process of classifying and neutralising mines.
Following the delivery of RNMB Ariadne during an event in Plymouth, Royal Navy personnel will train under Thales’ guidance, before independently conducting a rigorous evaluation of the equipment and beginning to utilise the mine counter measure systems on operational duties.
Commander Daniel Herridge, Commanding Officer of the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, said: "The arrival of RMNB Ariadne marks a major milestone in the Royal Navy's transition to autonomous mine countermeasures and brings us another step closer to delivering the capability.
"The Mine and Threat Exploitation Group will work with our industry and defence partners to operationalise this cutting-edge technology to achieve operational advantage. Ariadne, with her associated payloads, will enhance our ability to detect, classify, and neutralise underwater threats with greater efficiency and reduced risks to our sailors."
He added: "This achievement is a testament to the strength of our collaboration with the Marine Nationale. With both nations now in receipt of MMCM systems, we will drive forward the next generation of mine countermeasures operations.
"MTXG will continue to progress operational evaluation, and accelerate capability delivery to provide a modern, high-tech and relevant operational effect within the maritime environment, and safeguard the UK's interests both at home and overseas."
This achievement is fundamental to the Royal Navy’s ambition to embrace Maritime Autonomous Systems
Jonathan Reed-Beviere, Programme Director of the Mine Hunting Capability Programme in the Royal Navy, added: “This achievement is fundamental to the Royal Navy’s ambition to embrace Maritime Autonomous Systems, as the first Degree 3 autonomous vessel to be delivered into the hands of our sailors, furthering our dedication to removing personnel from the danger of operating within a minefield.”
The UK’s investment of £184M into this programme has supported more than 200 jobs in Somerset, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Scotland, through Thales and its supply chain, with both the USVs and remote command centres being manufactured in the country.
The MMCM programme was set up to deliver cutting-edge mine hunting equipment to the navies in the UK and France, with the total contract value for UK and France at €430m. The Royal Navy is set to receive its first four systems over the course of the year.
Rear Admiral Steve McCarthy, Director of Maritime Environment at DE&S, said: “This is a significant first delivery for the Royal Navy and is a proud moment for all those involved in bringing this transformative capability into service.
“This project contributes to the growth and prosperity of our nation and will strengthen UK security through enhanced maritime operations.”
In September 2024, a trial of the prototype MMCM vessel, RNMB Apollo, successfully demonstrated the potential for this capability to be deployed flexibly and at pace by the Royal Navy.
The trial took place at Scotland’s Firth of Clyde, a location which proved to be an effective testbed, paving the way for this delivery.