The UK’s Royal Navy has officially formed its first autonomous squadron, equipped with crewed vessels, including the Kraken K3 Scout and Rattler, to perform naval operations.
The Royal Navy announced the new unit’s formation.
The official launch ceremony for the 1st Autonomous Squadron was held at Portsmouth Naval Base.
During the event, the Kraken K3 Scout and Rattler uncrewed boats were demonstrated. Operators remotely controlled them from a shore-based control center as they navigated the waters of Portsmouth Harbour.
The newly established unit has approximately 180 personnel, roughly the same number as the crew of a British Type 23 frigate. The personnel are divided into two shifts to ensure round-the-clock operations. Helen Coxon commands the squadron.
The unit’s primary mission will be to deploy uncrewed maritime platforms both independently and as part of naval task groups operating alongside allied forces.
The squadron will also integrate new uncrewed systems into the Royal Navy, develop operational tactics for their use, and train operators.
The new unit replaces the experimental Project Beehive program, under which the Royal Navy procured and tested uncrewed boats to develop a hybrid fleet concept.
The UK plans to invest £1.5 billion in developing its hybrid fleet concept over the next four years.
Unscrewed boats of the British Royal Navy
The newly established squadron will operate K3 Scout boats, manufactured by British company Kraken Technology Group, and Rattler vessels produced by SYOS Aerospace.
In March 2026, the Royal Navy announced the procurement of 20 uncrewed boats from Kraken Technology Group under a £12.3 million contract. The vessels were intended for the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines, as well as for training exercises, testing new technologies and operational missions.
The K3 Scout is 8.4 meters long and can reach speeds of up to 55 knots (approximately 102 km/h). It can carry a payload of up to 600 kg. Its modular design allows the boat to be fitted with various surveillance systems and mission-specific equipment, depending on operational requirements.
In October, Kraken Technology Group and Saab UK integrated the Giraffe 1X radar system onto the uncrewed K3 Scoutboat. In July, Kraken and Capewell, with support from the Royal Navy, successfully conducted the first aerial deployment of a K3 Scout from an A400M military transport aircraft into the water.
The other type of uncrewed boat, the Rattler, is 7.2 meters long. It has mainly been used to train operators and develop tactics for coordinating the deployment of multiple uncrewed platforms.
In October 2025, the Royal Navy announced it had been conducting trials of seven such boats over several months.
During one phase of the exercises off the coast of Scotland, five boats were remotely operated from Portsmouth, approximately 800 km from the trial area.
The uncrewed surface vessels practiced escorting HMS Tyne and HMS Stirling Castle, which simulated foreign naval vessels. They also tested data transmission from their onboard surveillance systems.
In November 2025, Militarnyi reported that SYOS Aerospace delivered uncrewed surface vessels to Ukraine.
Source: Militaryni
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