VISITS: 25

The British government’s maritime ambitions face a pivotal and challenging juncture. The recent publication of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has provided long-awaited budget figures and critical clarifications regarding the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). However, political friction within the government significantly delayed the document. Tensions mounted among ministers over how to fund the radical military objectives outlined in the SDR.


The recent British government crisis has not scaled back the role of the Ministry of Defence, which remains responsible for managing the restructuring of the British Armed Forces. The cornerstone of this strategy is the modernisation of the Royal Navy. London aims to pioneer a cutting-edge "hybrid navy" by seamlessly integrating autonomous platforms across aerial, underwater, and surface domains. To achieve the necessary operational scale, the UK is also moving toward "combined fleets" with key regional allies like Norway and the Netherlands.

The 'Atlantic Bastion' Program and the Rise of Autonomous Platforms

Securing the North Atlantic

The Royal Navy's transition toward unmanned systems gained momentum with the launch of the “Atlantic Bastion” programme. This strategic initiative deploys a substantial fleet of surface and underwater drones to act as force multipliers for existing frigates, aircraft, and submarines. The primary goal is to establish a near-continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) presence to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure in the highly contested North Atlantic.

The Next-Generation Unmanned Fleet

To secure maritime dominance into the next decade, the defence plan outlines four specialized classes of autonomous, unmanned platforms:

  • Type 91 (Arsenal Ship): An autonomous missile platform equipped with a massive Vertical Launch System (VLS) bay to expand fleet firepower without increasing crew requirements.


  • Type 92 (ASW Hub): A surface vessel optimized for long-range anti-submarine warfare, utilizing towed sonar arrays to stream real-time tracking data to command centres.


  • Type 93 "Chariot": An Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) built for covert, ultra-long-range surveillance alongside manned attack submarines.


  • Type 94 (Air Defence Drone): A large surface drone hosting elevated aerial surveillance radars to extend the fleet's early-warning missile defence umbrella.

Serving as the nerve centre for this distributed network is the Common Combat Vessel (CCV), a specialized mothership designed for coordinated drone deployment.

Financial Hurdles and the Reality of the UK Defence Budget

The Cost of Lethality

During the Combined Naval Event (CNE) conference and exhibition in Farnborough, naval leadership emphasized that transitioning to an uncrewed hybrid fleet is a strategic necessity. First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins conceded that it represents the only viable path to achieve the lethality, survivability, and persistence required to counter mounting geopolitical threats in the High North.

Procurement Reality vs. Political Timelines

However, the financial reality remains stark. Developing these unproven, high-tech naval assets requires immense capital. The DIP allocates an initial £1.3 billion (€1.5 billion) over four years for the drone fleet, alongside £240 million (€280 million) for carrier-borne, jet-powered drones under "Project Pantheon".

In financial terms, these sums represent a mere fraction of the total funding needed. Full platform production between 2030 and 2035 demands an additional £32 billion (€37 billion). By deferring these massive capital expenditures, the British government has left the financial future of the hybrid navy highly uncertain. Whether future parliaments will fully fund these theoretical allocations remains an open question.

Strategic Synergies: Building Combined Fleets with Norway and the Netherlands

Northern European Maritime Alliances

International defence cooperation forms the vital final chapter of the DIP’s naval strategy. To mitigate rising procurement costs and align manufacturing timelines, the United Kingdom is pooling its naval resources with key European partners.

  • The Anglo-Norwegian Frigate Fleet: London and Oslo plan to operate a combined anti-submarine force featuring 13 Type 26 frigates, five of which are already under construction for the Royal Navy on the River Clyde shipyards in Glasgow.


  • The Anglo-Dutch Amphibious Alliance: Cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Navy focuses on establishing a joint amphibious fleet. This initiative follows the cancellation of the overly complex Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) programme, which was deemed economically unsustainable.

Safeguarding Critical Undersea Infrastructure

While the deployment of the UK's domestic hybrid fleet faces budgetary delays, immediate tactical integration with allied navies provides a vital stopgap. This combined front ensures a persistent naval presence capable of safeguarding critical undersea infrastructure. Crucially, it delivers an immediate response to foreign submarine activity in the strategic GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-UK) Gap, positioning Norway and the Netherlands as vital gatekeepers respectively in the Arctic access corridor and the North Sea.


Featured image: A Royal Navy Merlin HM2 helicopter monitors the Russian tanker Adler, escorted by the Udaloy-class destroyer Severomorsk (061), while HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans maintain watch in the background. Photo: © Crown copyright / MOD 2026, OGL v3.0