UK invests £90 million in drones and AI to hunt Russian submarines and protect undersea cables

Royal Navy’s new Atlantic Net system will deploy autonomous underwater technology across the North Atlantic to detect threats and safeguard critical infrastructure.

The UK is investing £90 million in advanced drones, underwater sensors and artificial intelligence to detect Russian submarines and protect critical undersea infrastructure across the North Atlantic.

The investment is the first phase of the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion programme, known as Atlantic Net, which will establish an integrated underwater surveillance network.

Under a new agreement with Hampshire-based Ocean Infinity Solutions, the Navy will combine autonomous underwater systems, advanced sensors, communications and AI-powered data services to monitor activity beneath the sea.

The technology will operate alongside crewed warships and Astute-class submarines, providing earlier warnings of potential threats and improving the ability to track hostile submarines.

It will also help protect vital communication cables, energy networks and other underwater infrastructure against sabotage and hostile activity.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said the investment would strengthen Britain’s ability to identify threats while supporting the domestic defence industry.

“The threats beneath the North Atlantic are changing, and we are changing with them,” he said.

The agreement is expected to support almost 200 skilled jobs, alongside employment across Ocean Infinity’s supply chain.

The initiative will also strengthen cooperation with NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, as Britain steps up maritime deterrence amid growing security concerns in the North Atlantic.

The investment was announced at the International Sea Power Conference in Oslo, Norway.