OSLO, — The Royal Navy has awarded British defence technology company Arondite a multi-million-pound contract to deploy its Cobalt artificial intelligence software across the UK Commando Force (UKCF). Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton announced the agreement aboard HMS Prince of Wales during the Atlantic Future Forum in Oslo.
Cobalt is a mission orchestration platform that combines data from sensors, autonomous platforms and intelligence sources into a single system. Its AI capabilities are designed to speed up mission planning and decision-making in contested environments. Its open architecture also allows new hardware and AI tools to be integrated. The system will support coordination between British forces and NATO partners.
Arondite Expands into Norway
Alongside the contract, Arondite announced its first international office in Oslo, backed by a planned £35 million (approximately NOK 430 million) investment over five years. The investment will support cooperation with the Norwegian Armed Forces, local industry and European allies.
British and Norwegian units will jointly test Cobalt during upcoming maritime deployments under the Joint Expeditionary Force's Northern Navies Initiative. Arondite CEO Will Blyth said Norwegian forces regularly operate alongside UK commandos, making compatible technology important for joint missions.
This is Arondite's second major military contract announcement in 2026, following the deployment of Cobalt across the British Army's 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team. The company expects to double its workforce to 150 employees by summer 2027. UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan and Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard welcomed the expansion and growing demand for British defence technology.
£100 Million for UK Commando Force
The software deployment comes as the UK Ministry of Defence provides an additional £100 million to the UK Commando Force under the Defence Investment Plan. The funding will strengthen special maritime and amphibious warfare capabilities for operations in the High North.
The force includes nine units, among them 40, 42, 43, 45 and 47 Commando, supported by dedicated artillery and engineer regiments. Norwegian Joint Headquarters chief Vice Admiral Rune Andersen said the Royal Marines are adapting their training and operational planning to prioritise the region.
The additional funding forms part of the UK's wider £298 billion defence investment plan over four years.
UK-Norway Defence Cooperation
The Ministry of Defence also highlighted the Lunna House agreement and the joint Type 26 anti-submarine frigate programme as key parts of bilateral defence cooperation. The Type 26 programme supports approximately 4,000 jobs across the UK supply chain, including more than 2,000 in Scotland.
The Cobalt deployment and Norwegian expansion are aimed at improving interoperability and operational readiness between British and Norwegian forces on NATO's northern flank.
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