The UK Ministry of Defence has announced a £90 million investment in new drones, sensors and AI systems for the Royal Navy, under the first phase of its Atlantic Bastion programme. The system, known as Atlantic Net, will build a network of autonomous systems across the North Atlantic to work alongside the crewed fleet in hunting Russian submarines and protecting the nuclear deterrent and critical undersea infrastructure.

The framework with Hampshire-based Ocean Infinity Solutions is expected to support almost 200 skilled new jobs and its immediate supply chain, according to the announcement. The autonomous sensors and uncrewed systems are intended to create a single surveillance service that gives submarine-hunting warships and Astute-class submarines earlier warning of threats. The framework was due to be signed on 10 November 2026 and was announced at the International Sea Power Conference in Oslo, Norway.

Atlantic Bastion is the Royal Navy's plan for a hybrid force of crewed and uncrewed vessels, a key recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review. The ministry said the work would be carried out alongside NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force allies to strengthen protection against interference, sabotage and hostile activity.