Exclusive: British Royal Navy Tests Unmanned Boat in UK Waters for the First Time.

An unmanned boat has successfully sailed through UK waters, showcasing advanced remote and autonomous navigation capabilities in a significant achievement for the British Royal Navy. A Pacific 24 rigid-inflatable craft – the mainstay of small boat operations by the Royal Navy such as rescues, intercepting drug runners, and moving sailors from ship to shore – was both remotely and autonomously piloted from the experimentation ship XV Patrick Blackett while the pair sailed off the coast of Portsmouth.
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British Royal Navy unmanned Pacific 24 boat operating near HMNB Portsmouth, piloted remotely and autonomously from the experimental ship XV Patrick Blackett.  (Picture source: British Royal Navy)

This success highlights the growing importance of unmanned patrol vessels in modern naval operations, where they enhance versatility, reduce risks to personnel, and extend the reach of maritime surveillance and defense.

The Pacific 24 is a versatile, high-performance craft designed for challenging maritime operations. Measuring 7.8 meters in length and capable of speeds exceeding 40 knots, it is powered by twin diesel engines with waterjet propulsion, ensuring rapid maneuverability and reliability in a variety of sea conditions. The craft has a robust hull structure for enhanced durability and stability, enabling it to operate effectively in rough waters. Its spacious deck and modular design allow for the integration of advanced sensors, communication systems, and weapons, making it suitable for a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, interception, and reconnaissance.

The week-long trials in the Solent pushed the Pacific 24, nicknamed APAC (Autonomous PACific), to its limits. While the craft had been previously trialed abroad, including during NATO’s Exercise Repmus in Portugal, this was the first time it underwent such testing in UK waters. The challenging conditions of the Solent – complete with rough seas and snowfall – provided an ideal proving ground for its systems and capabilities.

During the trials, the unmanned boat operated in two distinct modes. In autonomous mode, it was pre-programmed to execute specific maneuvers and directions. A Royal Marine aboard the XV Patrick Blackett controlled the craft in remote mode using a console. The APAC successfully navigated the busy Portsmouth Harbour, adeptly avoiding ferries, private vessels, and other Royal Navy ships.

Equipped with cameras and sensors, the APAC transmitted live feeds to control units and computers on the experimentation ship, providing data for real-time analysis. Additional sensors and weaponry could further enhance these systems, highlighting the vessel's potential for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

The trials, orchestrated by the Royal Navy's autonomous innovation team NavyX, showcased the uncrewed vessel’s resilience and versatility. The APAC demonstrated its ability to operate under adverse weather conditions, reaffirming its potential to perform like its crewed counterpart while expanding the scope of naval operations. This technological breakthrough marks a significant step forward in the British Royal Navy's integration of unmanned boat systems into its fleet, promising enhanced operational capabilities in the future.

As naval forces adapt to emerging threats and operational challenges, the integration of unmanned patrol vessels and aircraft is becoming increasingly critical. These systems are designed to respond to the evolving demands of maritime security, including countering piracy, illegal fishing, and drug trafficking, while also addressing state-based threats such as surveillance of hostile forces and intelligence gathering in contested zones. The ability to deploy unmanned systems reduces the exposure of personnel to high-risk environments and provides continuous monitoring capabilities, crucial for modern naval strategies. TheBritish  Royal Navy’s focus on autonomous and uncrewed technologies underscores a broader shift towards smarter, more efficient, and safer naval operations, ensuring readiness against a wide range of threats in an ever-changing global landscape.