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Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel showcase latest innovations at hub opening
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10 July 2026
Drones used for surveillance and underwater vessels specialising in finding mines were just some of the kit on display at a showcase of a new uncrewed hub.
Royal Navy and UK Commando Force personnel delivered a demonstration of autonomous and crewless equipment at the launch of the Uncrewed Systems Centre, in Swindon.
Teams from across the Senior Service and Royal Marines were on hand alongside others from Defence and industry to speak about the technology and how it is being used on operations.
Personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron, 40 Commando, 47 Commando, HQCF and SURFLOT were able to share their technical expertise in the various systems and also their roles in frontline deployments across the globe.
Some of the equipment on show included drones such as the remotely-piloted Puma; the Malloy T150 quadcopter; DeltaQuad Evo fixed-wing drone and the Skydio X10D uncrewed aerial system. Kraken’s K3 Scout uncrewed boat (operated by 47 Cdo and SURFLOT) was also on show alongside underwater minehunters Remus and Video Ray systems.
Elements of the Royal Marines’ strike network were displayed too – showing the technology that enables Commandos and the technology to work together seamlessly on missions.
Explaining the equipment and how the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are using it is a key step forward in further adoption of autonomous and uncrewed systems.
The Uncrewed Systems Centre brings together Defence, industry and frontline users to accelerate innovation, helping us develop and field capabilities that increase our combat effectiveness, improve resilience and better protect our people.
So far, the Puma has been used for intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance all over the world including flying alongside Wildcat helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm’s 815 NAS, off the flight decks of various warships both in home waters and abroad and at autonomous wargames in Portugal.
Malloy quadcopters have deployed with both Fleet flagship HMS Prince of Wales during its Carrier Strike Group deployment in 2025 (where it delivered spare parts between the carrier and Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless) and with Royal Marines where it has been brought into service recently operating successfully in Norway.
Meanwhile, Kraken craft have undergone thorough testing in UK waters while Remus and the Video Ray system are currently on RFA Lyme Bay which is acting as a mine-hunting mothership in the Middle East.
Brigadier Chris Haw MC RM said: "Uncrewed systems are no longer a future concept for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines; they have been delivering operational effect for the past four years and are in service today.
“The Uncrewed Systems Centre brings together Defence, industry and frontline users to accelerate innovation, helping us develop and field capabilities that increase our combat effectiveness, improve resilience and better protect our people."