The announcement follows the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins’s address at the International Seapower Conference, which highlighted the Royal Navy’s leadership in European maritime technology. To meet this direction, Babcock has revealed ARMOR Force, a structure of disaggregated systems linked by advanced digital technology and designed for independent operations.
The plan is being developed with HII, the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, and defence technology firm Arondite. Together, the companies aim to create a Type 31 Common Command Vessel able to control a connected group of large autonomous vessels and systems central to the Navy’s Atlantic Bastion, Atlantic Strike and Atlantic Shield operations.
Babcock said ARMOR Force is defined by an adaptable and resilient design that includes large uncrewed surface vessels, mission pods for rapid deployment and an autonomous mission system planned for use by the end of 2026. The company added that this approach supports dispersed anti-submarine, air defence and strike roles across the fleet.
HII is supplying the ROMULUS family of unmanned surface vessels, which are engineered for long endurance, rapid production and open ocean autonomy. Babcock will produce the handling system that loads and unloads mission pods on the ROMULUS platforms to widen their operational use.
Arondite’s Cobalt Operating System will act as the autonomy and mission management layer across ARMOR Force, bringing crewed and uncrewed platforms into unified fleets. Babcock and Arondite are working together on AI-enabled maritime systems intended for use by UK and international forces.
Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Marine sector, said: “ARMOR Force is our response to the First Sea Lord’s call for a re-imagined Hybrid Navy. ARMOR Force and the partnerships we are creating with HII and Arondite represent a bold step forward. We are combining advanced autonomy, modular systems, and digital innovation to create a fleet that is more agile, resilient, and ready for tomorrow’s challenges. What we are proposing will keep the Royal Navy at the forefront of global maritime security for decades to come and redefine what is possible at sea.”
Chris Kastner, President and CEO of HII, said: “HII is proud to be part of this game-changing industry initiative to deliver a hybrid Navy concept for the Royal Navy and international markets. Partnering with Babcock strengthens HII’s ability to deliver ROMULUS for the ARMOR Force and to support the Royal Navy’s vision for the future fleet. The ROMULUS family of USVs brings scale, autonomy, and real operational advantage, and HII adds world-leading expertise across land, sea, and air – as well as the capacity to innovate at scale with a platform already in production.”
Will Blyth, Co-founder and CEO of Arondite, said: “The future of maritime power will be defined by an adaptable blend of crewed and uncrewed systems, leveraging disaggregated sensors and effectors. We have built Cobalt to tackle exactly this challenge. We are proud to combine our autonomy and mission orchestration capabilities with the world-leading integration, design and build expertise of Babcock and HII, to rapidly deliver the Royal Navy’s vision of a Hybrid Navy.”
Babcock said ARMOR Force is built on open commercial and NATO standards to ensure compatibility with allied forces. The company added that its Rosyth facility, equipped with digital dockyard capabilities and focused on autonomy, simulation and mission system integration, is well positioned to support development and delivery of the new technologies.
Source: Babcock (press release).
