Royal Navy’s first crewless boat launched, ready for trials

BAE Systems and NavyX have launched the Pacific 24 smart boat, the Royal Navy’s first crewless boat for general duties.

Trials with the new craft begin this month, followed by integrating it into a front-line warship’s combat and navigation systems later in the year. The trials with a Royal Navy warship are expected to determine whether the UK invests in a fleet of such craft or just a few for specific missions.

More than £3m is being invested in the crewless Pacific 24 boat – and other autonomous small craft technology. The boats could operate individually – or in groups – racing over the ocean at speeds of up to 38 knots.

The Pacific 24 has been the backbone of sea boat operations from Royal Navy warships for more than a quarter of a century, with the latest variant, the Mark 4, introduced four years ago. The boats are fundamental to life-saving search-and-rescue duties, serve as the springboard for commandos and sailors on board-and-search operations looking for drugs in the Caribbean and Middle East, and ferry personnel and stores between ships or from ship to shore.

However, there may be occasions when a crewless vessel might perform the same, similar, or even entirely new missions.

“Commencing the trials of the crewless Pacific 24 boat is an important stepping stone in the Royal Navy’s development of its autonomous capability to ensure our fleet remains at the forefront of military innovation and technology, ready to meet the evolving threats of modern warfare,” Jeremy Quin, Minister for Defence Procurement, commented.

The crewless Pacific 24 is sponsored by NavyX – the specialist wing of the Royal Navy dedicated to rapidly developing, testing and trialling new technologies for use on the front line. The team has worked in partnership with BAE Systems, who build the Pacific 24 in Portsmouth, to commission the new boat.

A prototype, controlled from frigate HMS Argyll, debuted at the DSEI defence/technology showcase in London last September, since when BAE and the Navy have pressed ahead with a working model fit for the front line.

While the boat’s hull and propulsion system remain the same, the control system and sensors have been changed/added to allow for autonomous movement – a sailor should be able to give the unmanned craft generic tasking, and the boat will decide for itself how it carries out that task.

“The autonomous Pacific 24 is not just a step change for the Royal Navy in unmanned operations, it also ensures the Navy remains at the forefront of technological improvement and innovation,” Lieutenant Commander Rob Manson of the NavyX team, said.

“It’s fantastic to see the Royal Navy’s first autonomous Pacific 24 enter the water. This milestone has been a goal since we first demonstrated the unmanned capabilities of our Pacific boats to them last year,” Brooke Hoskins, Products and Training Services Director at BAE Systems, said.

“It is a key step in supporting NavyX, turning what was originally an innovative research and development experiment into a fielded capability for the Royal Navy.”

“We are proud to support the Royal Navy’s autonomous requirements, which includes increasing its operational effectiveness whilst reducing the burden on, or threat to, its sailors.”