Warships: Unmanned Marine Systems
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the development of a Type 91 uncrewed arsenal ship/missile barge.
Answered by Luke Pollard
The need for a mix of crewed and uncrewed autonomous vessels to provide Air and Missile Defence and Strike Capabilities for the Royal Navy was endorsed in the Strategic Defence Review. Technology demonstrators to support and de-risk the transition to the envisaged ‘hybrid’ Surface Fleet are underway.
The Type 91 ‘Arsenal Ship’ is being assessed for feasibility and affordability within the Concept Phase of the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) programme, with a recommendation to be made in the Outline Business Case planned for June 2026.
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