The Royal Navy has tested its Pacific 24 rigid-inflatable craft in autonomous and remote navigation modes around the Solent, marking the first such trial in UK waters.
The vessel followed pre-programmed routes and was remotely controlled by the Royal Navy’s autonomous experts, the NavyX team.
Consoles, cameras, and sensors provided live feeds to control units aboard the XV Patrick Blackett off the coast of Portsmouth.
The uncrewed craft navigated busy waterways in harsh conditions, including rough seas and snow, to evaluate its performance in realistic scenarios.
The Royal Navy stated that additional sensors and weapons could be integrated to further enhance its vessels for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, with data feedback provided in real time.
The trial “forms the backbone for further integration that future ships will have with autonomous technology,” and develops procedures “to use uncrewed systems effectively for warfighting,” said Commander Michael Hutchinson.
NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems
While these recent trials are unprecedented in the UK, the country has been participating in similar drills with NATO partners during Exercise Repmus, held annually.
In September, drills took place around the Troia Peninsula in Portugal, where participants gathered “to test the ability of autonomous systems to operate together and to increase Alliance understanding of new threats in the maritime environment,” according to a NATO statement.