The UK Ministry of Defence has begun exploring options for a new micro–Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) designed to support covert special operations and protect critical undersea infrastructure, the UK Defence Journal understands.
A newly issued prior information notice invites industry to present systems that meet the MoD’s minimum viable requirements. Officials stress that the notice is an early market engagement exercise, not the launch of a competition.
According to the department, Alpha Squadron of the Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) is increasingly tasked with missions that rely on discreet, long-range underwater reconnaissance. These range from safeguarding UK subsea cables and pipelines to supporting maritime special operations abroad, often from small craft with limited launch equipment.
The MoD says this has created a capability shortfall in ultra-light, diver-deployable AUVs that can be launched covertly without specialist support. The engagement aims to determine which commercial platforms already available could meet naval needs and which might form the basis for future development alongside original equipment manufacturers.
The requirement centres on a portable, single-operator system capable of environmental data collection, seabed surveying and autonomous exploratory missions. The MoD has outlined several baseline performance expectations:
- Depth: operation to at least 300 metres
- Portability: single-person deployment and recovery without dedicated launch systems
- Endurance: multi-hour missions
- Navigation & communications: standard autonomous AUV capability
- Modularity (desirable): capacity for future payloads or upgrades
Officials emphasise that the work “is not an evaluative exercise” and will not restrict any supplier from entering a future tender. Instead, it is intended to map available technology and gauge industry readiness for a rapid procurement.
The planned acquisition would bolster the UK’s ability to conduct covert special operations, coastal and offshore reconnaissance, and the protection of underwater infrastructure. The programme is expected to run between February 2026 and February 2027, with a potential contract value of up to £500,000.
