Royal Navy to receive £75m for combat drones and mine-hunting robots, Defence Secretary announces
Gavin Williamson said two autonomous mine-hunters will be developed to detect devices and deploy unmanned subs to destroy them
ROYAL Navy Top Brass will get £75m for combat drones and mine-hunting robots in a bid to “turbocharge” the service, the Defence Secretary yesterday announced.
Meanwhile a new unit called NavyX - drawing in military experts, civil servants and entrepreneurs - will get some of the cash to identify and buy cutting edge drone war gear to fast track into the hands of sailors and marines.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson made the announcement during a visit to Portsmouth, where he witnessed a host of drones that could one day be on the Navy’s order books.
He said: “Our competitors are moving fast - so we need to move faster.”
Speaking about mine-hunting, which will benefit from the extra cash, he said: “Imagine a world in which autonomous surface vessels tow ultra modern synthetic aperture sonars at speed to detect those deadly devices then deploy unmanned underwater vehicles to destroy them.
“In many ways it sounds like science fiction. But this is a reality we will make happen.”
He added: “We’ve got to be ambitious, we’ve got to be bold, we’ve have to be the revolutionaries. The Royal Navy has always been at its best when it has been willing to embrace new technology. When we do it the world will look to us to lead as the global Britain we truly are.”
In many ways it sounds like science fiction. But this is a reality we will make happen.
Gavin Williamson, Defence Secretary
Some of the money will go on developing two new autonomous mine-hunters. The vessels will be able to search further and faster for longer, while reducing risk to sailors.
Currently mine-hunters are operating in the Gulf keeping shipping clear. And Williamson said the new drone variants could be in service doing the same job within three years.
Williamson said the world was becoming more perilous, citing the greats from global terror, mass migration, climate change and the rise of “aggressor nations.”
But he said the new investments would keep the Navy, “ahead of the curve”.
The boost comes from a £160m Transformation Fund set aside from the defence budget for modern new kit.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones, said: “From the invention of the steam catapult and aircraft carrier, to the first use of sonars and torpedoes, the Royal Navy has a strong pedigree in the development, testing and introduction of new technologies that help us keep our country safe.
“Across the generations, our willingness to embrace innovation has kept us one step ahead of our adversaries, and to assure our continued success on operations into the future it is vital that the Royal Navy continues to be equipped with the latest cutting-edge capabilities we need to address the rapidly evolving challenges that pose a threat to our national interests around the globe.”
During a visit to QinetiQ’s Portsdown Technology Park, Williamson saw hoverbikes, wave gliders and Gravity’s ‘Ironman’ flying suit.
The £340,000 suit was flown by 23-year-old engineer Alex Wilson, from London, who said it flying it was, “like riding a bike.”
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Williamson later rubbished suggestions just one of Navy’s two aircraft carriers would come into service after The Sun revealed the Treasury had been asking questions about running costs.
He said: “It would be bizarre and stupid to look at canning one of those air craft carriers after that multi billion point investment.”
He confirmed both will, “sail across the globe flying the flag for Great Britain.”
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