UK SME to lead Atlantic Net programme

An SME has been selected to manage the delivery of drones and sensors for the UK Royal Navy's Atlantic Net programme in a new GBP90 million deal. 

Ocean Infinity Solutions, a UK-based subsidiary of the wider Ocean Infinity Group, headquartered in the US, was selected as the 'Commercial Mission Partner' for the new deal. Within the UK Ministry of Defence, a Commercial Mission Partner is the organisation responsible for owning, operating, or maintaining required technologies or services. 

The SME will work with specialist partners to deliver the drones and sensors. Together, the systems are intended to provide a “single surveillance service” for submarine-hunting warships and Astute-class submarines. 

First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins of the UK Royal Navy announced at the International Sea Power Conference in Oslo, Norway on 10 November that the systems will be operational “within months”. 

Atlantic Net marks the first operational phase of the wider Atlantic Bastion programme, which seeks to create a hybrid naval force to counter the threat of adversary submarines. It is also expected to support NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force efforts. 

A hybrid navy 

Atlantic Bastion is part of a broader strategy for the Royal Navy to transition to a more hybrid fleet. 

To support this shift, the First Sea Lord additionally announced that the navy will integrate a counter-UAS capability into its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessels from UK defence company Kraken Technology.

This is intended to provide “lower-cost and adaptable” air defences and is scheduled to take place in 2027.

The First Sea Lord also highlighted the formal opening of the Royal Navy Capability Accelerator Hub in early November.

Based in Portsmouth, UK, this hub will bring “operators, capability teams, engineers, and industry together under one roof,” he said. It will rapidly test “proven or near-ready” technologies to accelerate the delivery of new capabilities.