The Royal Navy is set to establish the first dedicated subsea drone fleet, following a trilateral agreement with the United States and Australia. The pact, formalised through the AUKUS security partnership, aims to counter growing underwater threats from state adversaries. The new fleet will consist of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) designed for surveillance, mine detection, and intelligence gathering.
Officials declined to specify deployment timelines but confirmed initial trials will occur in the North Atlantic. The move signals a strategic shift towards unmanned systems in contested maritime domains. Critics argue the technology risks escalating undersea tensions, though senior defence sources insist the capability is defensive in nature.
