New mine-hunting motherships to be bought for Royal Navy from Norway amid Strait of Hormuz pressure
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Focus is geared around increasing the number of autonomous systems, particularly when dealing with explosive threats
New mine-hunting motherships are to be procured for the Royal Navy from Norway.
The Defence Investment Plan confirmed that £90m will be set aside for the programme. It said investment will be made into “the autonomous mine-hunting programme to procure offshore support vessels (OSVs) in conjunction with Norway”.
The wider Mine-Hunting Capability programme is worth roughly £1.3bn over the next four years. Most of this, £1.1bn, is going towards the next phase of the autonomous system the UK is procuring alongside France. The Dip said the long term goal is developing “a transformed mine hunting capability based on uncrewed systems and AI.”
The Royal Navy has already showcased such technology. HMS Stirling Castle, officially commissioned into the fleet earlier this year, was bristling with new technology and equipment when she transported the capabilities to RFA Lyme Bay.
Baroness Davidson of Lundin Link, the ship’s sponsor, previously said: “Without ships like Stirling Castle to deliver the embarked teams and equipment to the minefield, there is no way to deploy autonomy and un-crewed systems at range. With this ship informing the operation of future Royal Navy mine counter measures support vessels, with new and evolving un-crewed systems, and with highly trained and deeply experienced sailors operating the equipment, the future of mine countermeasures is bright.”
RFA Lyme Bay is currently in the Middle East and has already linked up with the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon. The pair may be expected to be heavily involved in a multinational operation to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, alongside France and other Nato allies.
The strategic waterway, where 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil and liquified natural gas flows through, was blockaded by Iran during the conflict with the US-Israeli coalition. Mines were laid in the area and commercial ships were hit with drones and missiles.