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U.K 

The UK Royal Navy has welcomed a new addition to its fleet, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship, RFA Stirling Castle, aimed at bolstering the nation's defenses against mine threats in British waters.

Part of the Defense Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) Mine Hunting Capability program, the vessel is equipped to host unmanned surface and underwater systems, employing modern autonomous solutions to enhance the navy’s mine countermeasures units.

With a focus on localizing, identifying, and defeating mines and other sub-surface explosives, the RFA Stirling Castle also undertakes critical data gathering and analysis tasks. It boasts capabilities for preparing, storing, and launching drones and boats for mine warfare and hydrographic survey missions.

Central to its operations is a remote command center that facilitates command and control of autonomous systems onboard.

Originally operating as the MV Island Crown, a 6,000-tonne offshore oil rig support system, the vessel underwent conversion in Devonport, Plymouth, in 2023 after being procured by DE&S. It now stands as the first reconfigured RFA system for minehunting deployments.

With a crew of 27 personnel, including 15 minehunting specialists, the RFA Stirling Castle can accommodate up to 100 additional sailors depending on mission requirements.

Gareth Morris, RFA Stirling Castle Procurement Lead, expressed his satisfaction with the vessel's transformation, emphasizing its crucial role in defending the UK and its surrounding waters.

Trials for the maritime autonomous systems onboard are set to commence, with the Royal Navy anticipating its deployment later this year. DE&S plans to acquire up to three more RFA ships in the mid-2020s for the Mine Hunting Capability program.

Andy Lapsley, DE&S Mine Hunting Capability Team Leader, highlighted the significance of the trials in shaping the future maritime capability of the UK Defense, anticipating valuable feedback from the missions to inform subsequent developments.