UK’s first vessel for detecting and destroying sea mines has been delivered to the Royal Navy. The new technology enables mines to be detected rapidly and eliminates the need for sailors to enter dangerous mined areas.
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’, which will boost as Royal Navy capabilities, said UK Ministry of Defence.
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.
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 12 metres 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% of GDP from 2027, with a clear ambition to hit 3% of GDP in the next Parliament.
"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 & removing mines. It has also supported hundreds of skilled jobs across UK industry – a clear demonstration that defence is an engine for economic growth," - said Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP.
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.
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.
The UK has withdrawn accreditation for a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse, requiring them to leave the country, following the expulsion of two British officials from Russia on Monday.
A global seafarers' union has called for a transparent and internationally coordinated investigation into a collision between a fuel tanker and a container ship off the English coast that left one person presumed dead.
A mysterious collision between a U.S.-flagged chemical tanker carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military and a Portuguese-flagged container vessel unfolded off Britain’s coast on Tuesday morning, leaving both ships ablaze and prompting an urgent investigation into what went wrong
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday welcomed Ukraine’s agreement to a 30-day ceasefire proposal and said it was now Russia’s turn to end the fighting.
A tanker collision off the UK coast has raised concerns about long-term environmental damage. The Stena Immaculate, carrying jet fuel, was struck by the Solong, releasing fuel into the North Sea. Experts warn of potential harm to marine life and ecosystems.
Chinese search engine giant Baidu has launched two updated AI models—Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1—in a bid to bolster its competitive edge in the artificial intelligence market.
China has defended its recent military exercises near Taiwan as a punitive response to what it calls the island’s president’s continued promotion of separatism.
A suspected act of sabotage caused an oil spill near Oslo, with 50-60 tons leaking from a disused transformer station, Norwegian media reported. Authorities have contained much of the spill, but some oil has reached the Sandvikselva River, prompting ongoing cleanup efforts.
The Council of the EU on Monday approved an extra €3.5 billion (approximately $3.8 billion) in financial support for Ukraine, consisting of non-repayable grants and loans, according to a press release from the European Council.
A large number of countries are prepared to deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is reached, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. More than 30 nations are expected to join the "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine.
The inside of a Herculaneum delicate & ancient scroll, unseen for nearly 2,000 years, has been revealed using Artificial Intelligence.
World leaders welcomed the 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to, calling it a step toward ending the conflict with Russia.
President Donald Trump has vowed to respond to the European Union's counter-tariffs, escalating tensions over the U.S. steel and aluminum duties that have sparked a trade dispute between the two economic powers.
Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan process, we cannot forget the years of occupation, and we will not forget them, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th Global Baku Forum.
In Tuesday’s closely watched parliamentary election, Greenland’s pro-business opposition Demokraatit party took a commanding lead after over 90% of the ballots were counted.
China has defended its recent military exercises near Taiwan as a punitive response to what it calls the island’s president’s continued promotion of separatism.
A suspected act of sabotage caused an oil spill near Oslo, with 50-60 tons leaking from a disused transformer station, Norwegian media reported. Authorities have contained much of the spill, but some oil has reached the Sandvikselva River, prompting ongoing cleanup efforts.
The Council of the EU on Monday approved an extra €3.5 billion (approximately $3.8 billion) in financial support for Ukraine, consisting of non-repayable grants and loans, according to a press release from the European Council.
A large number of countries are prepared to deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is reached, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. More than 30 nations are expected to join the "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine.
China successfully launched eight satellites into space on Tuesday using a commercial Smart Dragon-3 rocket. The launch took place in waters near Haiyang city, Shandong province. All satellites were placed into their planned orbit, marking the fourth mission for the Smart Dragon-3 rocket.
Chinese search engine giant Baidu has launched two updated AI models—Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1—in a bid to bolster its competitive edge in the artificial intelligence market.
China has defended its recent military exercises near Taiwan as a punitive response to what it calls the island’s president’s continued promotion of separatism.
A suspected act of sabotage caused an oil spill near Oslo, with 50-60 tons leaking from a disused transformer station, Norwegian media reported. Authorities have contained much of the spill, but some oil has reached the Sandvikselva River, prompting ongoing cleanup efforts.
The Council of the EU on Monday approved an extra €3.5 billion (approximately $3.8 billion) in financial support for Ukraine, consisting of non-repayable grants and loans, according to a press release from the European Council.
A large number of countries are prepared to deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is reached, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. More than 30 nations are expected to join the "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine.
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