Overview

• General Sir Gwyn Jenkins set a four-year target to restore warfighting readiness under a principle of using uncrewed systems wherever possible and crewed platforms only where necessary.
• He aims to field the first uncrewed escort ships alongside Royal Navy warships within two years, with Type 26 frigates envisioned operating as three-ship groups with two AI-enabled escorts.
• A jet-powered collaborative drone is planned for carrier launch next year as a concept demonstrator to accelerate a revamped, mixed crewed–uncrewed air wing.
• The Atlantic Bastion concept will begin deploying its first sensors within a year to build a networked underwater defense from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to the Norwegian Sea.
• Near-term people reforms include leadership assessment trials within 100 days and refreshed training, while industry was urged to speed delivery despite acknowledged program delays and a forthcoming Indo-Pacific carrier deployment expected to include unmanned vessels.