UK announces £90 million (about $119.9 million) for Atlantic Net

The UK Ministry of Defence announced the £90 million (about $119.9 million) investment at a sea power conference in Oslo. Ocean Infinity said it had been selected as the Royal Navy’s commercial mission partner for a network intended to provide sustained surveillance in the North Atlantic. The ministry said the framework would pave the way for the investment and was due to be signed that day.

Atlantic Net is the first operational pillar of Atlantic Bastion, the Navy’s wider plan to combine crewed and uncrewed vessels to track submarines and protect underwater infrastructure. The announcement funds development of that capability; it does not establish that the network is already operating.

How the network is intended to work

Ocean Infinity will help develop and operate the network, bringing maritime systems together with underwater sensors, communications, remote operations and data services. The Royal Navy will direct the resulting surveillance capability.

According to gCaptain, the planned system will combine sensors and uncrewed platforms with superintelligence (SI) analysis of data to detect and track potentially hostile submarines. The ministry says the service will give submarine-hunting warships and Astute-class submarines earlier warning and a clearer picture of activity underwater.

The ministry says the program addresses Russian undersea threats and is intended to help protect shipping routes, communications cables, energy networks and Britain’s nuclear deterrent. The wider program will work alongside NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force allies against interference, sabotage and hostile activity, with Atlantic Net intended to increase the scale and resilience of underwater surveillance. Defense Minister Luke Pollard said the investment would also support British business and strengthen undersea deterrence in support of the nuclear deterrent.

Trials and next steps

Ocean Infinity’s remotely controlled vessel Armada 86-06 took part in Atlantic Net trials in early 2026, Janes said. In an August 27 interview, First Sea Lord Gwyn Jenkins said a preferred consortium had been selected and forecast a contract later in 2026 and that the first sensors would be in the water by the end of 2026.

The ministry expects the framework to support almost 200 new skilled jobs at Ocean Infinity and in its immediate supply chain. Defense Minister Luke Pollard expects Atlantic Net to become operational in 2027, gCaptain said, citing his Oslo speech.