The Royal Navy’s Atlantic Net initiative will combine autonomous underwater drones, advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to detect submarine threats and protect critical infrastructure.
The United Kingdom is investing £90 million in advanced underwater drones, sensors and artificial intelligence to detect Russian submarines and protect critical undersea infrastructure across the North Atlantic under a new Royal Navy surveillance initiative.
The investment marks the first phase of the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion programme, known as Atlantic Net, which aims to establish an integrated underwater surveillance network capable of monitoring activity beneath the sea and identifying potential security threats.
Under an agreement with Hampshire-based Ocean Infinity Solutions, the Royal Navy will combine autonomous underwater systems, advanced sensors, communications technology and AI-powered data services to strengthen surveillance across the strategically important North Atlantic region.
The new technology will operate alongside crewed warships and the Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines. The integrated approach is intended to provide earlier warnings of potential threats and improve the military’s ability to detect and track hostile submarines.
Beyond military surveillance, the initiative will focus on protecting critical underwater infrastructure, including communication cables and energy networks. These assets are essential to international communications and energy connectivity, making their protection an important part of Britain’s maritime security strategy.
The system is designed to help identify suspicious underwater activity and strengthen the ability to respond to potential sabotage and other hostile actions targeting vital infrastructure.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said the investment would improve Britain’s ability to identify emerging threats while supporting the country’s domestic defence industry.
“The threats beneath the North Atlantic are changing, and we are changing with them,” Pollard said.
The agreement is expected to support almost 200 skilled jobs, while also generating employment opportunities across Ocean Infinity’s wider supply chain.
The project is also expected to strengthen defence cooperation with NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies. The initiative comes as Britain seeks to reinforce maritime deterrence and improve collective security amid growing concerns about threats to critical infrastructure and naval activity in the North Atlantic.
By combining autonomous underwater technology with existing naval capabilities, Atlantic Net is intended to provide a more integrated approach to monitoring the region. The system will complement conventional naval operations rather than replace crewed warships and submarines.
The £90 million investment was announced at the International Sea Power Conference in Oslo, Norway, highlighting Britain’s efforts to expand its underwater surveillance capabilities and strengthen maritime security in northern Europe and the wider North Atlantic.
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