Royal Navy commissions first uncrewed-boat squadron

The Royal Navy says its 1st Autonomous Squadron entered active service at Portsmouth Naval Base on 5 November 2026, creating a dedicated unit to operate uncrewed boats on the front line. It replaces Project Beehive, an experimental programme that procured and tested such vessels.

The navy says the squadron has about 180 personnel, divided into two watches so it can operate around the clock. Through Project Beehive, it had obtained 20 uncrewed boats from UK-based Kraken Technology Group, The Register said.

Boats for operations and training

Kraken’s K3 Scout is the squadron’s main operational vessel. For training, the unit will use the Rattler, the navy’s name for SYOS Aerospace’s SM400. At the commissioning event, a K3 Scout was demonstrated in Portsmouth Harbour; a Forces News reporter described the demonstration as a touch pedestrian.

The Register reports that the K3 Scout is 8.4 metres long, reaches 55 knots and carries up to 600 kilograms, with a range of up to 650 nautical miles and endurance of up to seven days. Forces News instead gives its length as 8.5 metres and payload as up to 400 kilograms, and reports a weight of 2.5 tonnes and the same top speed. Squadron operations officer Reece McCarthy says the boats can operate in groups of four, reach 55 knots, range 650 nautical miles and stay at sea for up to 30 days. The Register reports that the Rattler is 7.2 metres long, with a 500-kilogram modular bay and a range of up to 950 nautical miles.

In a 2025 demonstration, five Rattler boats were remotely piloted as they escorted the patrol ship HMS Tyne and the mine-countermeasures support ship HMS Stirling Castle. Kraken describes potential K3 Scout missions ranging from anti-ship and anti-submarine operations to detecting drones and evacuating casualties.