Thales UK and Kongsberg Maritime have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an autonomous submarine-hunting vessel for the Royal Navy’s Type 92 requirement. The proposed capability will combine Kongsberg’s Arctic Hunter uncrewed surface vessel with Thales’ underwater sensors, tactical planning tools, and secure communications systems. The partnership is focused on anti-submarine warfare operations in the North Atlantic and High North, which both companies identified as priorities for UK-Norwegian defense cooperation and NATO maritime security. The collaboration will support the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy plans, which envisage crewed warships operating alongside uncrewed vessels as part of an interconnected force. Rather than operating independently, the platforms will share sensor information to help naval forces detect, track, and respond to underwater threats. Kongsberg’s Arctic Hunter will serve as the autonomous surface platform carrying underwater sensors, while Thales will contribute sonar expertise, acoustic modeling, tactical planning tools, and secure communications. AI-assisted analysis from Thales’ cortAIx will help process underwater sensor data, while secure communication links will enable the vessel to exchange information with other naval assets. The proposed Type 92 collaboration builds on Thales’ existing underwater detection work for the Royal Navy, including sonar systems supplied for the Type 23 and Type 26 frigates. Last year, Thales and BAE Systems also expanded their partnership to develop next-generation sonar capabilities for British submarines. Building on more than 20 years of cooperation, the agreement aims to improve the delivery of new sonar technologies to the fleet and accelerate the introduction of upgrades into service.
