Drone submarines to enhance Royal Navy's undersea cable security
The Royal Navy will launch a fleet of 'drone' submarines to protect vital undersea cables from Russian 'shadow fleet' attacks in what Minsters have called a move to 'pre-war footing'. A prototype of the unmanned 19-tonne vessel, named Excalibur, was launched at Devonport naval base last week and will pave the way for production of an entire squadron.
They are designed to safeguard vital subsea infrastructure, according to the Ministry of Defence, and will be central to the Government's new defence plans. Underwater fibre-optic cables which lie on the ocean floor allow for global communication and internet connectivity between continents, whilst other cables are responsible for carrying electricity. Excalibur will now embark on two years of trials as the Royal Navy seeks to strengthen its capabilities in the 'underwater battlespace' amid increasingly bold incursions from Russia's 'dark fleet' which transmit false data to dodge detection.
It comes as the Government is set to reveal the results of its strategic defence review (SDR), which is expected to focus on tightening up homeland security, protecting national assets and traditional war-fighting capabilities. Ministers are expected to emphasise a need for Britain to move to a 'pre-war footing' of increased military preparedness as fears of Russia extending its attacks beyond Ukraine grow.
It is anticipated that measures to protect our undersea cables from attack will be highlighted in the SDR, including plans to introduce a volunteer 'home guard' to shield locations where the cables run on to land. A MoD spokesman said the SDR will set out 'a path for the next decade to transform the armed forces to ensure we're prepared for emerging threats, making Britain secure at home and strong abroad'. Previous attacks on key underwater infrastructure have raised concerns over the level of security in place. In 2022, a series of underwater explosions targeted the Nord Stream pipeline causing gas leaks on three out of four natural gas pipelines, rendering them inoperable.
Fears were ramped up again last year when a Russian spy ship entered an area of the Irish Sea where critical pipelines and cables located in the Baltic Sea were damaged. These two incidents saw the introduction of a 10-country push, led by the UK, to monitor suspicious Russian ships in the English Channel, North Sea and Baltic Sea. Excalibur is battery-powered and was built by Plymouth-based MSubs as part of a £15m contract.
It boasts a range of 1,000 miles and measures 39 feet long by 6.5 feet wide, making it the biggest unmanned submersible ever operated by a European navy. But it still fits into a standard 40ft shipping container, making it easier to transport. Batteries will be carried in packs down each side of the sub and it features two pressurised compartments to carry computing and control equipment. The compartments are separated by a central storage bay which could carry mines, deployable sensors and smaller underwater drones.
Excalibur will have deeper diving capabilities than any of the Navy's manned subs and is designed to allow the storage section to be doubled if necessary. For example, extra room could be added to store more batteries to extend the amount of time it can spend at sea. The Royal Navy said testing of the craft will strengthen 'efforts to remain ahead of potential foes beneath the waves, safeguarding key infrastructure, protecting British and allied ships and submarines and gathering intelligence'.
Excalibur is expected to influence the design of a hunter killer submarine which will be built as part of the Aukus security pact with Australia and the US, with representatives from both countries attending its launch last week. The new 'drone' subs will supplement the Proteus, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship used to launch smaller underwater surveillance vessels and devices which was launched in 2023.
The Government's defence plans are also set to put forward the idea of an increased role for private investment. This could encourage global tech companies to help fund the protection of the cables - which are vital to their business - with radars, sensors and underwater vehicles. Defence Secretary John Healey last week announced the establishment of a Defence Industrial Joint Council, which will coordinate public-private investment. The council will is set to meet for the first time in June.
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