Unmanned Marine Systems: Procurement
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, page 26, what is the full scope of the autonomous seabed warfare systems capability he intends to procure in order to protect critical national infrastructure.
Answered by Luke Pollard
The Defence Investment Plan includes investment in seabed warfare capabilities as part of the Royal Navy’s wider Atlantic Bastion programme and Hybrid Navy transformation. This includes enhancements to RFA PROTEUS and the introduction of new capabilities to protect critical undersea infrastructure and deter hostile underwater activity in and around UK waters.
The programme will include investments in uncrewed underwater systems, including Type 92 uncrewed underwater sensing platforms and Type 93 extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles.
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