Old dog, new tricks: HMS Argyll conducts Pac24 trials
The uncrewed Pacific 24 RIB and Type 23 Duke-class frigate HMS Argyll. (Photo: MoD/ Crown Copyright.)
The RN’s oldest frigate has trialled some of the service’s latest technologies at sea.
In a first for the UK RN, its Type 23 Duke-class frigate HMS Argyll successfully controlled a BAE Systems uncrewed Pacific 24 (Pac24) rigid hull inflatable boat (RIB) while at sea.
During week-long tests, aided by the RN’s autonomy accelerator NavyX and BAE Systems, the frigate commanded the Pac24 from a temporary operations centre established in the ship’s hangar.
In another first, the RIB’s control system was directly integrated into the Ops Room of the Type 23 frigate.
Argyll sent instructions to the Pac24 for the vessel to autonomously carry out basic missions, including target identification and cueing the systems camera and remote weapons station to tracked targets when operated by the trials team.
NavyX trials lead Lt Cdr Rob Manson said: ‘This was a great first step in integrating fully autonomous vessels into Royal Navy warships.
‘What we managed to do with these trials was prove that systems such as those to control autonomous and uncrewed technology can be successfully introduced into our current Fleet.’
Manson added that operating the Pac24 at sea showed the vessels can potentially deploy with the RN’s existing frigates and destroyers.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Future of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project is still unclear]()
Future of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project is still unclear
The Canadian government remains tight-lipped on the timeline and funding required for the next steps of its Canadian Submarine Patrol Project, which should offer improved capabilities for the country’s navy.
-
![Mitsubishi eyes future with Australia’s Mogami selection]()
Mitsubishi eyes future with Australia’s Mogami selection
With Australia’s selection of the Mogami-class for Project Sea 3000, Mitsubishi is investigating local production in the next decade as potential export opportunities emerge.
-
![Royal Australian Navy sizes up modernisation plans for new and existing capabilities]()
Royal Australian Navy sizes up modernisation plans for new and existing capabilities
The Australian navy is pushing ahead with its efforts to modernise its workforce and capabilities while balancing risky submarine upgrades, ageing Collins-class boats and a shrinking minehunter fleet. Head of navy capability RAdm Stephen Hughes updated Shephard on the force’s progress.
