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Royal Navy works with businesses on enhancing anti-submarine warfare using autonomous tech
22 April 2026
The Royal Navy’s ability to fight in the underwater battlespace took a step forward after successful demonstrations with industry experts in drone and uncrewed technology.
Small and medium enterprises were invited to showcase cutting-edge equipment that could be used in the underwater battlespace.
Sitting under the Atlantic Bastion programme, the navy is investing in advanced underwater sensors, autonomous platforms, lethality capabilities, and a digital architecture that links these systems into a cohesive operational network.
This includes the use of off-the-shelf technology and working alongside industry experts who, over the course of four months, were each given a chance to show what they could offer to complement existing Royal Navy capabilities.
The technology assessed included seabed acoustic detection systems; uncrewed surface vessels with acoustic arrays and towed arrays; remote operation centres and AI integrations; drones equipped with sonobuoys; crewed and uncrewed subsea robots operated from ashore; and gliders and acoustic floats.
All the kit had to be commercially available, off-the-shelf systems that could be employed within the anti-submarine warfare domain. The programme also sought to encourage industry partners to further develop their systems, fostering closer collaboration and partnership to suit the navy’s needs.
It comes as the Royal Navy looks to continue to evolve towards a hybrid navy, with traditional crewed warships working alongside uncrewed technology to fight threats in the sky, on the surface and below the waves.
Rear Admiral Rich Harris, Director Develop for the Royal Navy, said: “These demonstrations are about proving that the latest technology is ready to secure the North Atlantic and our nation's most sensitive waters.
“Through close partnership with industry, we are integrating crewed and uncrewed systems with digital decision-making to accelerate the Royal Navy’s transition to a hybrid navy – strengthening our readiness today and ensuring we are warfighting ready for the challenges of tomorrow."
Captain Chris Hill, Atlantic Net Programme Director, added: “With a focus on automation, sensor performance and AI, this technology demonstration programme has been pivotal in providing the Royal Navy with a focused understanding of cutting-edge developments across the anti-submarine warfare landscape, and as important, their respective readiness to deliver at pace.
“Industry support for this programme far surpassed our expectations and has left those of us developing Atlantic Bastion and wider hybrid navy capabilities with a wealth of exploitable knowledge.”