The Royal Navy is poised for a technological transformation, with robots, drones, and uncrewed vessels expected to take centre stage in future maritime operations. As military technology advances, these innovations are set to become the norm, prompting naval leaders to prioritise retention and recruitment of specialised personnel over increasing manpower.
Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, has highlighted the shift, noting that the Navy’s future will likely require fewer sailors as crew sizes continue to shrink. “We can ask for all the numbers we like, but the government doesn’t keep fully trained sailors in the cupboard ready for issue,” remarked a naval insider, underscoring the pragmatic approach to workforce planning.
Testing the Waters of Automation
The move toward automation is already underway. In a recent trial, the Royal Navy deployed an uncrewed inflatable rib, the Pacific 24, in the Solent. This vessel, typically used for interceptions and rescues, operated autonomously for a week, performing preprogrammed tasks through challenging conditions, including rough seas and snowfall.
While a fully automated warship may still be years away, the Pacific 24 trial signals the Navy’s intent to integrate hybrid systems crewed and uncrewed into its fleet. Insiders suggest uncrewed vessels could eventually become the default in maritime operations, aligning with global trends in military innovation.
Lessons from Ukraine
The potential of uncrewed technology is evident in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. Despite starting the war with no navy to speak of, Ukraine has successfully deployed uncrewed sea drones to damage Russia’s Black Sea fleet, sink enemy warships, and even strike the naval base at Sevastopol. These successes underscore the operational advantages of automated systems in modern warfare.
Challenges in Recruitment
Amid this technological revolution, the Navy continues to face recruitment hurdles. For the past five years, naval recruitment targets have been missed, with the current number of trained sailors and Royal Marine commandos standing at 28,125 below the target of 30,450 set in previous defence reviews.
The issue isn’t confined to the Navy; the British Army has also struggled with recruitment and retention. Its troop numbers are projected to fall below 70,000, the lowest level in 300 years, compared to the target of 73,000.
Strategic Defence Review
The ongoing five year strategic defence review is expected to focus on how to balance these challenges with evolving military priorities. Naval leaders are fine-tuning spending bids, aiming to secure resources for technology integration while recognising the constraints of current personnel levels.
One proposal under consideration is the creation of a reserve “homeland defence force,” ready to be deployed in the UK during major international crises, freeing regular forces for overseas operations.
Balancing Budgets and Ambitions
The defence review also takes place in the context of economic pressures, with rising borrowing costs and debates over NATO defence spending. UK defence expenditure currently stands at 2.33% of GDP, and while Labour has pledged to increase this to 2.5%, no timeline has been confirmed.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump’s call for NATO members to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP has added further complexity to the discussion, though it remains unclear how serious these demands are.
Looking Ahead
As the Royal Navy embraces the era of automation, it faces a dual challenge: harnessing the potential of cutting edge technology while addressing recruitment and retention challenges. What is certain, however, is that the maritime force of tomorrow will look very different from today, combining human expertise with technological prowess to meet the demands of a changing world.
