UK Unveils £90m Atlantic Net to Hunt Russian Submarines: Key Facts
Britain will spend £90m on drones, sensors and AI to help the Royal Navy track Russian submarines and protect undersea cables in the North Atlantic.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cameron Stoner
LONDON, Nov. 10 — Britain will spend £90 million ($121 million) on autonomous drones, sensors and artificial intelligence systems to help the Royal Navy hunt Russian submarines and protect undersea cables and energy networks in the North Atlantic, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday.
The system, called Atlantic Net, is the first phase of the Royal Navy's Atlantic Bastion programme to build a hybrid force of crewed and uncrewed vessels. It will link uncrewed vehicles, seabed sensors and AI-assisted analysis into one surveillance network working alongside the Navy's crewed fleet.
Key Takeaways
- £90 million ($121 million) for Atlantic Net, the first phase of the Royal Navy's Atlantic Bastion programme.
- Autonomous drones, sensors and AI will track Russian submarines and guard undersea cables and energy links.
- Ocean Infinity Solutions will deliver the system, supporting almost 200 skilled jobs.
- Russian naval activity around the UK rose 41% in the first nine months of 2026.
What Is Atlantic Net and How Will It Track Russian Submarines?
Atlantic Net will give the Royal Navy a network of autonomous systems across the North Atlantic to detect Russian submarines and other hostile activity. Uncrewed vessels will patrol the depths, while sonar feeds AI-assisted analysis that builds one picture of movement beneath the surface.
The ministry said the network will protect the nuclear deterrent and the undersea infrastructure connecting the UK and its allies, including communications cables and energy networks. Its first focus will be the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap, the narrow water between the Russian Northern Fleet's bases and the Atlantic.
| Detail | Announced |
|---|---|
| Investment | £90 million ($121 million) |
| System | Atlantic Net |
| Contractor | Ocean Infinity Solutions (Hampshire) |
| Jobs | Almost 200 skilled roles |
| First focus | Greenland-Iceland-UK gap |
| Programme | Atlantic Bastion, first phase |
Why the UK Is Investing £90 Million in Undersea Surveillance Now
The defence minister told the International Sea Power Conference in Oslo that Russian naval activity around the UK rose 41% in the first nine months of 2026. The framework was due to be signed at the conference on Tuesday.
In April, Britain deployed military vessels to deter Russian submarines that it said had spent more than a month in and around British waters, warning Moscow that any attempt to damage cables or pipelines would have serious consequences. Russia denied the allegations.
The move comes as US-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia resumed in Abu Dhabi, with the war keeping the Russian threat at the centre of allied defence planning.
What Atlantic Net Means for Undersea Cables and Energy Networks
The cables and pipelines on the seabed carry the communications, energy and financial traffic the UK and its allies depend on every day. Atlantic Net is meant to watch that infrastructure continuously, giving commanders earlier warning when a submarine moves near it.
The framework will pave the way for £90 million of investment and almost 200 skilled jobs at Ocean Infinity Solutions and its supply chain, building on the 38,700 jobs in south-east England the ministry says defence spending supports. Atlantic Bastion was a key recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review.
Britain's defence posture is also in focus closer to home: US tankers were pulled from RAF Mildenhall this week after an Iranian threat. The ministry said Atlantic Net will work alongside the Royal Navy's crewed fleet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Atlantic Net?
Atlantic Net is a network of autonomous drones, sensors and AI systems being built for the Royal Navy to track submarines and protect undersea cables and energy networks in the North Atlantic. It is the first phase of the Atlantic Bastion programme, which aims to create a hybrid force of crewed and uncrewed vessels.
How much is the UK spending on Atlantic Net?
The UK Ministry of Defence announced a £90 million investment, worth about $121 million, in new drones, sensors and AI systems for the Royal Navy. The money funds the first phase of Atlantic Bastion through a framework with Ocean Infinity Solutions.
Which company is building Atlantic Net for the Royal Navy?
Ocean Infinity Solutions, a Hampshire-based company, was selected to deliver Atlantic Net. The framework will support almost 200 skilled jobs at the company and its supply chain.
When will Atlantic Net enter service?
The ministry has not disclosed an expected date for Atlantic Net to enter service. The framework was announced at the International Sea Power Conference in Oslo on Tuesday.
The framework was announced on Tuesday in Oslo, and the ministry has not yet given a date for Atlantic Net to enter service.
