It was designed and manufactured in the UK under a £184m deal with Thales UK, supporting over 200 jobs in Somerset, Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Scotland.
In a statement, Phil Siveter, CEO of Thales UK, said: “With the introduction of AI and advanced sensor technology, this innovation represents a new era in maritime defence technology and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that enhance the capabilities of our defence forces. The Royal Navy will now have a powerful tool to safeguard national interests and maintain security at sea.”
The Royal Navy will receive its first four systems over the course of the year. Each system includes an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), an advanced towed sonar (TSAM) with multivision sonar (SAMDIS), a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), and e-POC, its lightweight operations centre.
Thales said its sonar analysis application, Mi-Map, will process sonar data up to four times faster, allowing for precise detection and classification of seafloor mines.
The delivery of the USV - RNMB ARIADNE - gives the Royal Navy a capability that can be deployed from a harbour or mother ship to hunt the seabed for mines using TSAM.
The programme forms part of a joint UK-France initiative with a total contract value of £361m, managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR).
The delivery is part of the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S)-led Mine Hunting Capability Programme, which aims to transition from conventional Mine Counter Measures Vessels to Maritime Autonomous Systems.
Rear Admiral Steve McCarthy, director of Maritime Environment at DE&S, said: “This is a significant first delivery for the Royal Navy and is a proud moment for all those involved in bringing this transformative capability into service. This project contributes to the growth and prosperity of our nation and will strengthen UK security through enhanced maritime operations.”
Following trials of the prototype vessel RNMB APOLLO in the Firth of Clyde in September 2024, Royal Navy personnel will now undertake training with Thales’ support before conducting an Operational Evaluation and deploying Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) systems on active duty.
The Royal Navy plans to gradually phase out conventional crewed mine hunting vessels as additional autonomous systems are delivered over approximately the next five years.
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