Saab UK and Kraken tested the system ashore and at sea before the award, showing it could detect, track and classify airborne targets while operating autonomously in challenging maritime conditions. “Together with Kraken, we have moved from concept to operational adoption at an exceptional speed,” said Andy Fraser, group managing director of Saab UK.
The boats are designed to keep watch independently or alongside crewed ships, extending surveillance coverage and giving earlier warning of threats. They are intended to help protect warships, commercial shipping, ports and critical infrastructure.
“Project BEEHIVE has taken its first major step in integrating complex payloads,” said Captain Adam Ballard, the Royal Navy’s deputy commander of the Surface Flotilla. Ballard said fitting the radar to the K3 Scout would allow the Navy to spot hostile airborne targets sooner so they could be engaged.
The K3 Scout can take different payloads in the same bay, said Mal Crease, chief executive and founder of Kraken Technology Group. “Our modular bay allows the Royal Navy to re-role the boat rapidly for surveillance, counter-drone or strike, without changing the underlying platform.”
The capability was first unveiled earlier this year, and the Navy displayed it when it commissioned its first Autonomous Squadron. The contract covers further development and integration into Royal Navy operations as the service prepares to operate crewed and autonomous vessels together.
