Babcock Unveils ‘ARMOR Force’ to Lead Royal Navy Into a New Era of Autonomous Warfare

Babcock has unveiled a major new technology programme aimed at accelerating the Royal Navy’s shift toward a Hybrid Fleet, positioning the UK as a European leader in naval autonomy and AI-enabled maritime operations. The announcement comes as the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, used the International Seapower Conference to call for a decisive transformation in how the Navy integrates crewed and autonomous platforms.

The initiative—branded ARMOR Force (Autonomous and Remote, Maritime Operational Response – Force)—is a new architecture made up of disaggregated autonomous systems and platforms capable of independent operations, all linked by advanced digital command networks. Babcock says this distributed, modular approach will help the Royal Navy deploy more resilient, persistent, and scalable maritime forces across the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific.

Royal Navy Pushes Ahead With Hybrid Warfare Concepts

The Royal Navy has increasingly stressed the need to merge traditional naval assets with large uncrewed vessels, AI-driven decision tools, and multi-domain sensors. Jenkins’ remarks outlined that this fusion is essential for the UK to stay ahead of adversaries reshaping maritime warfare.

ARMOR Force is designed to directly support the Navy’s Atlantic Bastion, Atlantic Strike, and Atlantic Shield operational concepts—missions that rely on autonomous systems for anti-submarine warfare, air defence, strike capabilities, and long-range surveillance across NATO waters.

Type 31 Frigates to Become Command Hubs

At the core of the plan is a new Type 31 Common Command Vessel (CCV) concept. Developed by Babcock, the CCV would allow the Royal Navy’s newest frigates to command swarms of autonomous vessels and mission systems.

The enhanced Type 31s would control:

• Large Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs)

• Autonomous mission pods (PODS) for rapid role changes

• A networked force of sensors and effectors

• Distributed, AI-equipped surveillance platforms

Babcock says this configuration will allow a single frigate to direct a much larger maritime footprint than traditional ships can manage.

Partnership With HII Brings ROMULUS USVs Into UK Service

A central component of ARMOR Force is the introduction of the ROMULUS family of unmanned surface vessels, developed by U.S. shipbuilding giant HII. These AI-enabled USVs offer long endurance, modular payloads, and repeatable mass production—attributes the Royal Navy sees as vital for 2030s operations.

The ROMULUS vessels are built for open-ocean autonomy, carrying sensors or weapons for anti-submarine, surveillance, or strike missions. Babcock will design and build the handling systems required to load and deploy mission modules onto ROMULUS platforms.

HII President and CEO Chris Kastner said the partnership “brings scale, autonomy, and real operational advantage” to the Royal Navy’s future fleet.

Arondite to Provide the AI Brain

Another key partner is Arondite, a UK-founded defence technology firm whose Cobalt Operating System will serve as the central autonomy and mission-orchestration layer for ARMOR Force.

Cobalt will integrate:

• crewed and uncrewed vessels

• heterogeneous sensors

• distributed effectors

• shore-based and ship-based command nodes

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,” adding that Cobalt was engineered precisely for this challenge.

Autonomous Mission System Expected by Late 2026

Babcock plans to deliver the first deployable autonomous mission system under ARMOR Force by the end of 2026, a timeline that aligns with NATO’s push for rapid adaptation to autonomous naval technologies.

NATO-Ready, Export-Focused Design

ARMOR Force is built on open commercial and NATO standards, allowing interoperability with allied fleets. Babcock also emphasised that the system is designed to be exportable, providing a scalable autonomy solution for navies seeking rapid modernization.

Rosyth Positioned as Autonomy Integration Hub

Babcock’s Rosyth facility—already home to a digital dockyard concept—will lead integration and testing for ARMOR Force. The site is equipped for:

• autonomous mission-system development

• real-time AI model training and simulation

• remote operations

• multi-platform system integration

• production of modular PODS

Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Babcock Marine, said ARMOR Force is “a bold step forward,” adding that the initiative “will keep the Royal Navy at the forefront of global maritime security for decades to come.”

A New Phase in UK Maritime Power

The unveiling marks one of the most ambitious moves yet in Britain’s naval modernization effort. By combining large autonomous vessels, AI mission control, modular payloads, and upgraded surface combatants, the Royal Navy is preparing for a future where hybrid fleets dominate maritime operations.