Kraken Autonomous Boats for UK Navy: The Royal Navy is adding uncrewed boats to its fleet as part of its future plans. The UK Ministry of Defence will buy 20 uncrewed surface vessels that can operate remotely or with autonomous technology.
Kraken Technology Group from Fareham won the £12.3 million ($16.4 million) contract to build the vessels. The purchase is part of Project Beehive announced in November 2025. These boats will help test new naval technologies and will use Modular Open Systems Architecture so they can be upgraded easily in the future.
Training and Operations
The new USVs will be used by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines. These units will use the boats for training exercises operational missions and technology testing.
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The aim is to help the navy learn how to combine traditional warships with uncrewed systems. This mix of crewed ships and autonomous vessels is known as a Hybrid Navy. The new boats will act as test platforms where sailors and marines can develop new tactics and improve future naval operations.
Second Sea Lord Paul Beattie said the investment is an important step for the service.
“The Royal Navy’s investment in uncrewed surface vessels marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a Hybrid Navy,” he said.
He also added that combining modern autonomous systems with existing ships will help the navy stay advanced in maritime warfare.
“By integrating cutting-edge autonomous technology with our existing capabilities, we are ensuring that our forces remain at the forefront of maritime innovation and warfighting effectiveness.”
Royal Navy’s Hybrid Future
The Royal Navy is moving quickly to build what it calls a Hybrid Navy. This means future fleets will use normal warships together with drones autonomous vessels and other unmanned systems.
In September 2025 the navy’s First Sea Lord Gwyn Jenkins shared plans for this new approach. He explained that crewed and uncrewed systems will work together even on large ships like the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.
The navy also plans to launch its first jet powered drone that can take off from an aircraft carrier by 2026. This drone will operate alongside the F-35B Lightning II fighter jet. It will be able to perform many types of missions including combat operations and intelligence tasks.
The navy has already tested some of these ideas. In October 2025 remotely controlled Rattler boats worked together with Royal Navy ships during a 72 hour exercise near Scotland. These boats successfully escorted warships and showed how unmanned systems can support normal naval operations.
At the time the Royal Navy’s Chief Technology Officer Jaimie Roylance described the trial as an important achievement for the navy’s technology programme.
“It is the first time we have been able to field a capable, mission ready, deployable uncrewed system at sea and it is the first major success for the Disruptive Capabilities and Technology Office,” he said.
Protecting Waters
The Royal Navy is also building this hybrid fleet because of growing security threats. Last year the navy launched a new hybrid force called Atlantic Bastion. This force focuses on protecting undersea cables and pipelines around the UK.
The programme came after the government reported that there had been a 30% increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters. The rise in submarine and underwater activity has pushed the navy to invest more in modern maritime technology.
According to Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard these new vessels will work together with traditional warships to keep the country safe.
“We are building the Royal Navy of the future right now in the face of threats seen around the world,” he said.
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“Autonomous vessels will complement our world-class warships, protecting UK waters and helping keep sailors safe on global deployments.”
Kraken Technology Group’s founder and CEO Mal Crease also welcomed the project. He said the contract shows confidence in the company’s maritime technology.
“We are delighted to partner with the MOD to support the Royal Navy’s mission to transform to a hybrid fleet,” he said, reported Forces News.
“The award of Project Beehive is a major validation of our maritime capabilities and our ability to enhance maritime defence through the introduction of disruptive technologies.”
The Royal Navy already has experience with autonomous underwater vehicles and remote controlled surface boats. In one recent exercise sailors and Royal Marines controlled experimental vessels from the research ship XV Patrick Blackett while the vessels operated about 500 miles away.
