First autonomous UK mine-hunting vessel takes to the seas

British defence jobs have been boosted and British sailors will be better protected following delivery of the first end-to-end autonomous UK mine-hunting vessel, known as ‘Ariadne’.

The vessel was designed and manufactured in the UK under a £184 million deal with Thales UK, which supports more than 200 jobs across Somerset, Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Scotland. 

This represents another example of the government delivering on its Plan for Change, by supporting jobs and boosting economic growth, whilst improving the UK’s defence capabilities. 

The autonomous system, which includes the unmanned surface vessel (USV) RNMB ARIADNE, enables the
Royal Navy to locate and destroy sea mines faster and more efficiently, without putting personnel at risk. 

RNMB ARIADNE is 12m long, the same size as an average bus, and can be deployed from a harbour or mother ship to hunt the seabed for mines using the Thales TSAM system, one of the world’s most sophisticated towed sonars. It is likely to be used both at home and overseas. 

This announcement comes following the Prime Minister’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP from 2027, with a clear ambition to hit three percent
of GDP in the next Parliament.   

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, said: “This delivery marks a significant milestone in our mine-hunting capabilities and the autonomous technology will keep Britain and our Royal Navy sailors safer by identifying and removing mines.   

“It has also supported hundreds of skilled jobs across UK industry – a clear demonstration that defence is an engine for economic growth.”

The programme forms part of a joint UK-France initiative with a total contract value of £361 million, managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament
Co-operation (OCCAR). 

The delivery is part of the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S)-led Mine Hunting Capability Programme, which aims to transition from conventional Mine Counter Measures Vessels to Maritime Autonomous Systems. 

Following successful trials of the prototype vessel RNMB APOLLO in the Firth of Clyde in September 2024, Royal Navy personnel will now undertake training with Thales’ support before conducting a thorough Operational Evaluation and beginning to deploy MMCM systems on active duty. 

Phil Siveter, CEO of Thales in the UK, said: “We are incredibly proud to deliver this world-first autonomous mine hunting system to the
UK Royal Navy. 

“With the introduction of AI and advanced sensor technology, this innovation represents a new era in maritime defence technology and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that enhance the capabilities of our defence forces. 

“The Royal Navy will now have a powerful tool to safeguard national interests and maintain security at sea.”

The Royal Navy plans to gradually phase out conventional crewed mine-hunting vessels as additional autonomous systems are delivered over the next five years or so. 

This transition represents a fundamental shift in naval operations, creating additional skilled employment opportunities in the maritime technology sector while establishing the UK as a leader in autonomous maritime systems.