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First ever autonomous Royal Navy squadron launches as part of investment in hybrid operations
9 November 2026
The Royal Navy’s first ever autonomous squadron that will operate uncrewed boats on front-line operations has been launched – as investment into the hybrid navy continues
The 1st Autonomous Squadron was formally commissioned in a ceremony on November 5 in His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, in front of more than 200 navy personnel, dignitaries, media, families and friends.
The event included a demonstration of the uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) the squadron will operate, including the Kraken and Rattler vessels, which were manoeuvred around Portsmouth Harbour from a control hub.
The milestone moment shows the Royal Navy’s commitment to continuing to move towards a hybrid navy where traditional warships and units will integrate with uncrewed and autonomous technology. The hybrid navy is backed by £1.5bn investment over four years.
The launch of the squadron comes ahead of a major allied gathering of military and political leaders in Oslo, Norway, this week focused on the collective security of Northern Europe. The Atlantic Future Forum and the International Sea Power Conference will feature discussions on the future of Euro-Atlantic security, including the rapid development of technology.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP said: “The threat environment we are facing is fundamentally different from that of recent decades. A major determinant of military power now is who can innovate fastest.
“That’s why we are using the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War to put the latest autonomous technology in the hands of our sailors, to help them protect our shores and those of our NATO Allies.
“The more ready we are to fight and win, the less likely we are to have to. This investment strengthens our warfighting readiness and therefore our deterrence.”
Royal Navy Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Steve Moorhouse, speaking at the launch of the autonomous squadron, said: “The Royal Navy is doing something it has never done before. We are commissioning the first autonomous squadron in our history.
“That makes this a genuinely historic occasion. For generations, the Fleet has been built around ships, submarines, and aircraft, manned by sailors and Royal Marines. From today, an autonomous squadron takes its place alongside them.
“The seas are becoming more contested, more dangerous and harder to operate in.
“A hybrid navy is about giving our people better tools. It means more reach, more striking power and more options.
“It will help make the Fleet more lethal, harder to knock out of the fight and quicker to adapt. People will remain at the heart of it, as exemplified by all of you here today.”
For generations, the Fleet has been built around ships, submarines, and aircraft, manned by sailors and Royal Marines. From today, an autonomous squadron takes its place alongside them.
The 1st Autonomous Squadron, based in Portsmouth, comprises around 180 personnel – the same as a Type 23 frigate – split into two watches to sustain operations around the clock.
The squadron replaces Project Beehive, the navy’s initial programme to procure a fleet of autonomous and crewless boats as a proving ground for its hybrid navy technologies.
Commanding Officer of the 1st Autonomous Squadron, Commander Helen Coxon, said: "Today marks the start of something new for the Royal Navy, and I am proud to lead the people who will make it work. The sailors of the 1st Autonomous Squadron are building the skills, the tactics and the confidence to operate uncrewed vessels on the front line.
"Our job now is to put these vessels to work, whether on their own or as part of a task group alongside our allies, and to bring new uncrewed systems into the Fleet as quickly as we responsibly can. Working with Navy Develop, the Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office and the Capability Accelerator, we will keep learning, growing and improving.”
The 1st Autonomous Squadron will conduct a range of operations alongside other organisations and nations – both as single vessels but also as part of a task group.
And they will work on bringing new USVs into the fleet, with growth and development a key aspect of their focus.
They will work closely with Navy Develop and the navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office on the expansion of the squadron as well as the navy’s Capability Accelerator team.
Set up in 2025, the Capability Accelerator, partially funded by UK Defence Innovation, is part of the Royal Navy’s commitment to deliver autonomous and uncrewed equipment to the frontline at pace.
Its new hub in HMNB Portsmouth has been formally opened and means they can deliver more programmes to support the push towards a hybrid navy.
The Kraken and Rattler boats are an example of the team getting off-the-shelf technology built and adapted for military use on operations in a shorter time frame.
Capability Accelerator Team Leader Commander James Wagstaffe said: “The way we develop and deliver capability must evolve if we are to stay ahead of an increasingly complex and fast-changing threat environment.
“The Capability Accelerator has been established to help the National Armaments Group get new technologies into the hands of our sailors faster, reducing the time between identifying an operational need and delivering a capability that makes a real difference.”