U.K. Navy to Equip Support Ship with Uncrewed Minehunting Systems

The U.K. Royal Navy will equip one of its support ships, RFA Lyme Bay, with uncrewed minehunting systems in the coming days, as part of efforts to integrate autonomous technology into operations.

The vessel, operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, was placed at heightened readiness several weeks ago. Once fitted with the equipment, it will be able to store, prepare, deploy and recover a range of uncrewed systems, including underwater drones and remote-controlled minehunting boats.

The ship is set to undergo modifications in Gibraltar, where it will be equipped with a plug-and-play Command and Control system to support mine countermeasures operations. The vessel is expected to function as a “mothership,” enabling the deployment of multiple autonomous platforms from a single crewed base.