The Royal Navy has opened an early market engagement for a fleet of 20 uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), marking a step toward a hybrid naval force. The programme, named Project Beehive, is intended to support training, tactics, warfare development and provide an experimental platform for autonomous systems. The Surface Flotilla (SURFLOT) will operate the vessels in UK and overseas exercises, using them as testbeds for emerging technologies and new operational concepts.
According to a Ministry of Defence notice, the platforms will be utilised for training, tactic development, warfare development, capability development, and operations in the UK Area of Responsibility and beyond. The initiative will be run as a spiral development programme, with the first USVs expected to reach Technology Readiness Levels 4‑5 and feature open‑architecture systems to allow future upgrades.
The Ministry of Defence said the USVs are “key to maintaining operational relevance against peer threats.” The new fleet will enable the Navy to trial advanced autonomous and hybrid capabilities under its ongoing “Hybrid Navy” transition, which aims to combine crewed and uncrewed systems across surface, subsurface and air domains.
Work on the project will be concentrated in the southern and southwestern regions of the UK. Engineering support for integration with original‑equipment manufacturers and for spiral upgrades will be part of the procurement process. The contract is valued at £10 million, including VAT, with funding provided partly by UK Defence Innovation. The MOD added that, despite the participation phase moving forward, no tender will be issued until final spending approval is granted.
The announcement follows a major trial in which five remotely piloted uncrewed boats, operated from more than 500 miles away, surrounded HMS Tyne during a three‑day demonstration off the Scottish coast. The exercise — led by the Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technology Office and the Fleet Experimentation Squadron — was described by the Royal Navy as a milestone in its drive towards a hybrid force.
Live data and video from the 7.2‑metre “Rattler” vessels were streamed to controllers aboard the research ship Patrick Blackett in Portsmouth, allowing real‑time coordination with HMS Tyne, HMS Stirling Castle, HMS Biter and a Merlin helicopter. Commander Michael Hutchinson, who leads the Fleet Experimentation Squadron, said it was “a really important moment for the Royal Navy as we progress towards a Hybrid Navy of crewed and uncrewed platforms.”
Brigadier Jaimie Roylance, the Royal Navy’s Chief Technology Officer, described the test as “the first time we have been able to field a capable, mission‑ready, deployable uncrewed system at sea.” He called it “an important moment in the history of the Royal Navy” and said that uncrewed platforms will be crucial for preserving the UK’s maritime edge against evolving threats.
Operational Update: Britain looking to buy 20 new naval drone vessels
The Royal Navy has launched early market engagement for a new fleet of 20 uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) as part of its shift toward a hybrid naval force, according to a Ministry of Defence notice published on 5 November.
Known as Project Beehive, the initiative aims to support training, tactics, and warfare development while providing an experimental platform for autonomous systems.
The vessels will be used by the Surface Flotilla (SURFLOT) in UK and overseas operations, serving as testbeds for emerging technologies and new operational concepts.
According to the notice, “these platforms will be utilised for training, tactic development, warfare development, capability development, and operations in the UK Area of Responsibility and beyond.” The project will be run as a spiral development programme, with the first USVs expected to reach technology readiness levels 4 to 5 and to feature open architecture systems for future upgrades.
The Ministry of Defence stated that the USVs are “key to maintaining operational relevance against peer threats.” The new fleet will allow the Navy to trial advanced autonomous and hybrid capabilities under its ongoing “Hybrid Navy” transition, which aims to combine crewed and uncrewed systems across surface, subsurface, and air domains.
Work on the project will focus primarily in southern and southwestern regions of the UK. Engineering support for original equipment manufacturer integration and spiral upgrades will form part of the procurement process. The estimated value of the contract is £10 million, including VAT, with funding to be drawn partly from UK Defence Innovation. The MOD added that while the participation phase is moving forward, no tender will be issued until final spending approval is granted.
Royal Navy ship ‘surrounded’ by drone boat swarm
This follows a major trial in which five uncrewed boats, remotely piloted from over 500 miles away, surrounded HMS Tyne during a three-day demonstration off the Scottish coast. The exercise, led by the Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technology Office and the Fleet Experimentation Squadron, marked what the service called a milestone in its move toward a Hybrid Navy of crewed and uncrewed platforms.
During the trial, live data and video from the 7.2-metre Rattler vessels were transmitted to controllers aboard the research ship Patrick Blackett in Portsmouth, enabling real-time coordination with HMS Tyne, HMS Stirling Castle, HMS Biter, and a Merlin helicopter. Commander Michael Hutchinson, who leads the Fleet Experimentation Squadron, said it was “a really important moment for the Royal Navy as we progress towards a Hybrid Navy of crewed and uncrewed platforms.”
Brigadier Jaimie Roylance, the Royal Navy’s Chief Technology Officer, described the event as “the first time we have been able to field a capable, mission-ready, deployable uncrewed system at sea.” He called it “an important moment in the history of the Royal Navy” and said that uncrewed systems will be vital for maintaining the UK’s maritime edge against evolving threats.
