Overview
- The programme links autonomous surface and underwater vehicles, AI-enabled acoustic sensors, warships, submarines and aircraft into a digital targeting web across the North Atlantic.
- A combined £14 million in MoD and industry seed funding has been committed, with private investment reported at a 4:1 match, and 26 firms submitting concepts alongside demonstrators such as Rattler, Excalibur, SG‑1 Fathom and Seabed Sentry.
- UK officials point to recent operations by the Russian ship Yantar, including a laser incident involving RAF pilots, a reported 30% rise in Russian vessel activity near UK waters, and Defence Intelligence warnings that Moscow is modernising to threaten cables and pipelines.
- The First Sea Lord set near-term milestones that include initial Atlantic Bastion sensors in the water in 2026, contracts for an ‘Atlantic Bastion as a service’ model next year, an autonomous escort within two years, and a carrier-launched fast‑jet drone demonstrator next year.
- The effort spans from the Mid‑Atlantic Ridge to the Norwegian Sea and is opening to allies, with Norway intending to join and a new UK‑Norway pact establishing joint North Atlantic anti‑submarine operations.