UK DIP Details Platform Types to Underpin Royal Navy Hybrid Force Structure and Atlantic Fleet Series

Key Points:

• The UK Defence Investment Plan (DIP) introduces four new uncrewed platform types for the Royal Navy (RN) to form the core of its 'hybrid' force and 'Atlantic Fleet' concept, integrating autonomy and AI to enhance operational capability.
• The four platforms include the Type 92 and Type 93 uncrewed underwater vehicles supporting anti-submarine warfare under the 'Atlantic Bastion' phase, and the Type 94 uncrewed sensing and Type 91 uncrewed missile platforms supporting the 'Atlantic Shield' and 'Atlantic Strike' phases.
• The DIP commits GBP 5 billion towards uncrewed and autonomous systems, with an additional GBP 1.5 billion allocated over four years for the 'Atlantic Bastion' programme, alongside plans to introduce at least six Common Combat Vessels in the 2030s to replace Type 45 destroyers.
• The plan also emphasizes upgrading existing capabilities, including Sea Viper air-defence on Type 45s, development of directed energy weapons, and enhancing infrastructure with GBP 26 billion invested over the next decade in key naval bases like Devonport, Faslane, and Portsmouth.
• Enhancing submarine readiness is a priority, with completion of the seventh Astute-class submarine and infrastructure investments at Faslane and Devonport designed to improve availability and operational readiness, including acquisition of three floating dry docks.