Britain Strengthens Its Navy with Drones: 24 Unmanned Vehicles Worth £150 Million
In the era of remotely operated weaponry, Britain is increasing its defense spending to enhance its military capabilities—particularly in drone technology—to counter a range of emerging threats. According to The Telegraph, the UK is set to acquire a fleet of underwater drones worth £150 million, designed to detect naval mines and respond to potential Russian threats.
These advanced unmanned underwater vehicles will be used to clear mines in conflict zones such as the Black Sea, off the coast of Ukraine, and to protect undersea cables and gas pipelines from sabotage.
Initially, the Ministry of Defence will procure up to 24 drones, with the option to order more under a newly signed contract. The exact model of the drones has not yet been disclosed, as the Royal Navy continues to test a range of systems—from small underwater gliders to larger, submarine-like unmanned vessels.
Given the value of the contract, each drone could cost around £6 million. The purchase is part of the Royal Navy’s wider mine countermeasure program, traditionally involving manned ships equipped with high-precision sonar and divers or remotely operated vehicles for explosive disposal.
With most of its mine-hunting ships expected to be retired within this decade, the Royal Navy is gradually replacing them with unmanned systems capable of conducting these operations more efficiently and safely.
A defense source told The Telegraph: “Whether it’s detecting deadly mines left by Russian forces or monitoring hostile activity near critical infrastructure, underwater drones are an essential component of modern warfare.” The source added: “We are calling on the defense sector to bring forward its best innovations to ensure Royal Navy sailors have access to the most advanced underwater technology, ready for deployment from the North Sea to NATO operations. This puts the United Kingdom at the forefront of defense innovation and fulfills our strategic defense review.”
A Clear Strategic Objective
The primary mission of these drones will be covert detection of underwater mines in conflict areas such as the Black Sea, where widespread mine-laying has occurred amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. However, they will also patrol British and NATO waters to identify suspicious seabed activity following recent concerns about Russian ships operating near vital undersea infrastructure.
Last year, NATO forces were placed on high alert after a series of cable and pipeline disruptions in the Baltic Sea, incidents later linked to a tanker suspected of belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
Currently, the Royal Navy is testing a variety of unmanned surface and underwater vessels as part of its transition toward a “hybrid fleet.” According to the Ministry of Defence, these unmanned vessels are “faster and offer greater precision than the manned ships traditionally used for mine-hunting operations.”
