The Royal Navy is testing fleets of small autonomous sailboats as part of an effort to strengthen Britain’s ability to detect and track Russian nuclear submarines, according to reporting by The Telegraph.
The vessels, known as Oshen C-Stars, are currently undergoing early-stage trials with the
UK Ministry of Defence. Each drone measures roughly four feet in length and weighs about 50 kilograms, making them small enough to be difficult to spot in heavy seas.
Eyes and Ears in the Atlantic
Developers envision deploying large “picket lines” of the wind- and solar-powered vessels across strategic stretches of the North Atlantic, particularly between Iceland, Greenland, and the United Kingdom. The goal would be to provide early warning of movements by Russia’s Yasen-M class nuclear submarines, which are among the quietest and most advanced in Moscow’s fleet.
The drones would act as a forward sensor network, feeding acoustic data back to the Navy, which could then task warships or aircraft to investigate potential contacts. The system is designed to complement the Navy’s future Type 26 frigates, which are expected to enter service in the 2030s.
Atlantic Bastion and Unmanned Warfare
The trials form part of the Royal Navy’s broader Atlantic Bastion concept, which aims to integrate hundreds of unmanned surface and underwater vehicles alongside traditional warships. The programme reflects growing concern within the defence establishment about increased Russian naval activity near UK waters.
Senior naval figures have warned that incidents involving Russian warships and submarines around Britain have risen sharply in recent years, placing greater strain on existing patrol and surveillance capabilities.
Technology Developed by Oshen
The C-Star vessels were developed by Oshen, a UK-based autonomous systems company founded by aeronautical engineers Anahita Laverack and Ciaran Dowds. According to the company, the drones can deploy hydrophones at varying depths, allowing them to detect the distinctive acoustic signatures of submarines operating below the surface.
The boats’ small size and low cost are seen as key advantages. A fleet of around 1,000 vessels could reportedly be built for a fraction of the cost of a single major warship, and damaged units could be replaced quickly.
Proven in Extreme Conditions
While the military trials are still at an early stage, the technology has already demonstrated its resilience in civilian applications. Oshen’s vessels were previously used in a research project with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where they successfully collected and transmitted data from within a Category 5 hurricane.
During that deployment, several of the autonomous boats sailed directly into the storm’s eye, surviving extreme winds and towering waves while sending back real-time environmental data.
Growing Concern Over Russian Activity
The push to expand unmanned surveillance comes amid heightened concern over Russian naval operations near Britain. In recent months, suspected Russian spy ships and submarines have been tracked close to UK waters, prompting the Navy to deploy escort vessels and monitoring aircraft.
Defence officials argue that autonomous systems like the C-Star could provide persistent, wide-area monitoring at a scale that would be difficult to achieve using crewed ships alone.
Looking Ahead
While the technology is not expected to replace traditional naval forces, defence planners see it as a force multiplier that could help Britain maintain situational awareness in the Atlantic. If the trials prove successful, fleets of small, low-cost drones could become a permanent feature of the Royal Navy’s submarine-hunting toolkit.
