Key Takeaways:
- The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced the Atlantic Bastion programme to defend the country’s undersea cables and pipelines using autonomous vehicles, AI, warships, and aircraft.
- The programme is in response to increased Russian submarine and underwater activity, including the presence of the spy ship Yantar in UK waters.
- The project has received a combined investment of £14m from the MoD and industry, with 26 firms submitting proposals for the project.
- The technology is expected to be deployed next year, with the goal of protecting critical undersea infrastructure that carries 99% of international telecommunications data and vital energy supplies.
Introduction to the Atlantic Bastion Programme
The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has unveiled plans for a multimillion-pound programme to defend the country’s undersea cables and pipelines. The Atlantic Bastion programme, announced as part of the Strategic Defence Review, will combine autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence (AI) with warships and aircraft to identify and defend against threats to underwater structures. This initiative is a direct response to the resurgence of Russian submarine and underwater activity, including the presence of the spy ship Yantar in UK waters last month.
The Threat to Undersea Infrastructure
The MoD has emphasized the importance of protecting the UK’s undersea infrastructure, which carries 99% of international telecommunications data and vital energy supplies such as electricity, oil, and gas. The undersea cables and pipelines are critical to the country’s connectivity and economy, and any disruption to these systems could have significant consequences. The MoD has stated that the Atlantic Bastion programme is necessary to counter the growing threat posed by Russian submarines and underwater activity, which has increased in recent years.
The Technology Behind Atlantic Bastion
The Atlantic Bastion programme will utilize a range of technologies, including autonomous vehicles, AI, and warships, to detect and respond to threats to undersea infrastructure. The programme has attracted a combined investment of £14m from the MoD and industry, with 26 firms from the UK and Europe submitting proposals for the project. Some of the early technology that could be used as part of Atlantic Bastion includes the SG-1 Fathom, an underwater glider; Rattler, an unmanned remote-controlled boat; a model of an autonomous anti-submarine helicopter called Proteus; and an uncrewed experimental submarine called Excalibur.
Defence Secretary’s Comments
Defence Secretary John Healey has emphasized the importance of the Atlantic Bastion programme, stating that "people should be in no doubt of the new threats facing the UK and our allies under the sea, where adversaries are targeting infrastructure that is so critical to our way of life." He added that "this new era of threat demands a new era for defence, and we must rapidly innovate at a wartime pace to maintain the battlefield edge." The Defence Secretary’s comments highlight the seriousness of the threat posed by Russian submarine and underwater activity and the need for the UK to develop new technologies and strategies to counter this threat.
International Cooperation
The launch of the Atlantic Bastion programme coincides with a speech from the First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins at the International Sea Power Conference in London. Sir Gwyn is expected to emphasize the importance of maritime security and the need for the UK to act to protect its undersea infrastructure. The UK has also signed a defence agreement with Norway, allowing their navies to operate a combined fleet of warships to protect critical undersea cables. This international cooperation demonstrates the recognition of the importance of protecting undersea infrastructure and the need for collective action to counter the growing threat posed by Russian submarine and underwater activity.
Conclusion
The Atlantic Bastion programme is a significant initiative by the UK’s Ministry of Defence to protect the country’s undersea cables and pipelines from the growing threat posed by Russian submarine and underwater activity. The programme will utilize a range of technologies, including autonomous vehicles, AI, and warships, to detect and respond to threats to undersea infrastructure. With a combined investment of £14m and the submission of proposals from 26 firms, the programme is an important step towards protecting the UK’s critical undersea infrastructure and maintaining the country’s connectivity and economy.