Overview
- The programme links Royal Navy ships, submarines, patrol aircraft and autonomous surface and underwater systems through AI‑powered acoustic sensors integrated into a “digital targeting web.”
- The Ministry of Defence frames the move as a direct response to increased Russian undersea activity, citing the spy ship Yantar and a reported 30% rise in vessels near UK waters over two years.
- Twenty‑six firms have submitted sensor concepts and about 20 have shown demonstrators, with £14 million in seed funding committed this year and public investment matched by private money at a 4:1 ratio, according to the MoD.
- Selected technologies are due to move from concept to at‑sea trials in 2026, with further investment planned to accelerate and expand the programme.
- London and Oslo have formalised closer cooperation under the Lunna House pact to operate an interchangeable fleet focused on countering submarines across the North Atlantic, even as UK leaders warn naval capacity remains stretched.