Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has welcomed the creation of the Royal Navy's first autonomous squadron, a new unit dedicated to operating uncrewed boats on frontline operations.
The 1st Autonomous Squadron, based at Portsmouth Naval Base and formally launched there last week, brings together around 180 personnel to operate two types of craft: Rattler training vessels and Kraken K3 Scout boats. Rattlers have already been trialled escorting warships in Scotland while being piloted remotely from 500 miles away, while the K3 Scout, with a range of 600 miles that can be extended to 1,100 miles, has been tested off the south coast in force protection, surveillance and reconnaissance roles.
The squadron is part of the Royal Navy's move towards a "hybrid navy", with £1.5 billion earmarked for the programme over four years.
Wes Streeting: 'Who can innovate fastest'
"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," Wes Streeting said.
"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."
'More reach, more striking power'
Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Steve Moorhouse said the new squadron would take its place alongside the ships, submarines and aircraft the fleet has been built around for generations. "A hybrid navy is about giving our people better tools. It means more reach, more striking power and more options," he said. "People will remain at the heart of it."
