BAE Systems and Royal Navy provide a first look at autonomous sea boats of the future
BAE Systems and the Royal Navy announced a £3.2 million autonomous boat contract that will increase the Navy’s capabilities while protecting sailors’ lives.
The autonomous capabilities of BAE Systems’ Pacific 24 (P24) Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), a staple in the Royal Navy surface fleet, could significantly enhance the Royal Navy’s ability to protect its sailors at reach, as the upgraded sea boat can execute its missions without crew and be run from a warship.
Such missions could include anti-piracy operations, border control, persistent intelligence gathering, maritime security, and force protection, all while keeping a sailor safe from harm.
The autonomous P24 has been procured under the Royal Navy’s autonomy and lethality accelerator program, Navy X, which aims to deliver new technology into the hands of sailors and marines at pace. Commencing the trials of the crewless Pacific 24 boat is an important stepping stone in the Royal Navy’s development of its autonomous capability to ensure our fleet remains at the forefront of military innovation and technology, ready to meet the evolving threats of modern warfare.
Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin said: “Commencing the trials of the crewless Pacific 24 boat is an important stepping stone in the Royal Navy’s development of its autonomous capability to ensure our fleet remains at the forefront of military innovation and technology, ready to meet the evolving threats of modern warfare.”
Brooke Hoskins, Products & Training Services Director at BAE Systems, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Royal Navy’s first autonomous Pacific 24 enter the water during this challenging time. This milestone has been a goal since we demonstrated the autonomous capabilities of this sea boat last year. “It is a key step in supporting Navy X, turning what was originally an innovative research and development experiment into a fielded capability for the Royal Navy.
The success of these trials could determine whether the Royal Navy decides to upgrade or procure an entire fleet of such craft. This could include their adoption of future classes of warships, such as the Type 26 or Type 31 frigate.