UK’s First Uncrewed Mine-Hunting Vessel ‘Ariadne’ Joins Royal Navy

The UK Royal Navy has received its first fully autonomous mine countermeasures vessel, RNMB Ariadne, designed to detect and destroy sea mines without putting sailors at risk.

This advanced system replaces traditional methods with cutting-edge automation. The vessel was designed and manufactured in the UK under a £184 million contract with Thales UK.

The investment has supported more than 200 jobs across Plymouth, Portsmouth, Scotland and Somerset. Ariadne will strengthen the Royal Navy’s ability to identify and neutralise sea mines while keeping personnel out of hazardous zones.

The 12-meter-long unmanned surface vessel (USV) can be deployed from a harbor or a mother ship. It uses the Thales TSAM sonar system, one of the most advanced towed sonar technologies in the world, to locate mines on the seabed.

The vessel is expected to operate both in domestic waters and on international missions.

Officials have stated that this transition to autonomous mine warfare will improve operational efficiency and greatly reduce risks for naval personnel.

The UK government has said that this project not only boosts defence capabilities but also contributes to national economic growth by supporting skilled jobs in the defence sector.

This investment is part of a joint UK-France programme with a total contract value of £361 million, managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR).

This announcement follows the Prime Minister’s recent commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a long-term goal of reaching 3% in the next Parliament.

The Royal Navy successfully tested the prototype vessel, RNMB Apollo, in the Firth of Clyde in September 2024. Following this, personnel will undergo training with Thales UK before conducting a full operational evaluation.

The deployment of these autonomous systems will eventually replace crewed mine-hunting ships over the next five years.

Officials involved in the project have stated that the introduction of AI-powered autonomous systems is a major technological advancement in maritime defence.

The Royal Navy’s long-term goal is to use these systems to improve efficiency, reduce operational risks, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in naval innovation.

A senior defence official described the delivery of Ariadne as a significant advancement in the Royal Navy’s mine-hunting capabilities, emphasising that the autonomous technology will help protect sailors and ensure Britain’s security.

Reference: UK Gov

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