Britain is accelerating its investment in drones and driverless speedboats as it looks to strengthen its defences and support allies in an increasingly volatile global security environment.
Officials have confirmed that the UK is ramping up purchases of autonomous military technology, including unmanned vessels designed to protect shipping lanes and counter hostile drones at sea. However, some defence experts warn that relying too heavily on these systems could risk weakening Britain’s more traditional military capabilities.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed it will speed up production of British-built Octopus interceptor drones, which are already being used by Ukraine in its defence against Russia and could potentially be deployed in future operations involving Iran.
At sea, the Royal Navy has ordered 20 unmanned speedboats capable of tackling hostile drones. The move reflects what naval leaders describe as a shift towards a “hybrid navy”, where conventional crewed vessels operate alongside autonomous systems.
Central to this transition is a £12.3 million fleet of Kraken uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). These driverless boats will be operated by the Royal Marines and the Coastal Forces Squadron for operations, training and further development of autonomous warfare capabilities.
While officials have not confirmed whether the vessels could be deployed during the current Middle East crisis, the technology is well suited to countering Iranian drone threats in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping corridor that Iran is currently blocking too much of global maritime traffic.
Concerns Over Britain’s Traditional Military Strength
Despite the technological push, several military figures have cautioned that autonomous systems should complement, not replace, conventional forces.
Alan West, better known as Lord West of Spithead and a former First Sea Lord, stressed that while investing in uncrewed technology is important, it should not come at the expense of traditional capabilities.
“You need to move rapidly into lots of uncrewed and cheaper capabilities,” he said, but added that this should not mean abandoning investment in more conventional equipment.
Former Conservative defence minister Tobias Ellwood was even more blunt, arguing that the UK is currently “in reactionary mode”, attempting to catch up with modern warfare by rapidly buying technology off the shelf.
Labour MP Calvin Bailey, a member of the House of Commons Defence Committee and a former RAF wing commander, emphasised that the systems capable of projecting real power remain traditional platforms, warships, submarines and advanced aircraft such as the F‑35 Lightning II.
He explained that autonomous systems can increase the reach and lethality of those platforms but cannot replace them entirely.
“They allow a single ship, submarine or aircraft to project much greater effect,” Bailey said. “But they are not a substitute for traditional military capability. You still need the ships, aircraft and submarines that provide strategic reach.”
Naval Capacity Under Scrutiny
Concerns about Britain’s naval readiness have grown following criticism over the delayed deployment of the destroyer HMS Dragon, which set sail for the Eastern Mediterranean more than a week after conflict in the region began because it was undergoing maintenance.
At the same time, former national security adviser Peter Ricketts warned that Britain’s military resources are becoming “very stretched”, particularly with commitments linked to both the war in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East.
Growing Tensions Around the Strait of Hormuz
The strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz has intensified in recent days after Donald Trump urged Britain and other allies to send warships to help reopen the shipping route.
However, Tehran has issued a stark warning.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that any British naval presence attempting to reopen the strait would be viewed as “complicity in the crime of aggression”.
According to Baghaei, Iran would respond if British vessels were sent to the area.
Meanwhile, the UK government says it is discussing possible actions with international partners.
An MoD spokesperson confirmed that officials are currently considering “a range of options” to ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the region, including the potential deployment of mine-hunting drones.
Air Forces Already Active in the Region
While decisions about naval deployments continue, British aircraft are already operating across the Middle East.
Fighter jets including the Eurofighter Typhoon and F‑35 Lightning II have been conducting defensive patrols over Cyprus, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Bahrain.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told reports that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is “very important”, adding that the government is working intensively with allies to address the situation.
The Bigger Strategic Debate
For many defence analysts, the rise of autonomous warfare technology is reshaping how conflicts are fought, but it also raises difficult questions about balance.
Driverless vessels and cheap drones can change the economics of war, allowing countries to deploy large numbers of relatively inexpensive systems. Yet destroying those systems often requires extremely costly missiles and defences.
For Britain, the challenge will be finding the right mix of innovation and tradition, ensuring that autonomous technology enhances its military power rather than quietly replacing the capabilities that underpin it.
