The UK government has announced initial works on Atlantic Bastion, a new undersea warfare initiative intended to counter increased Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic.
Defence Secretary John Healey disclosed the programme during a visit to HM Naval Base Portsmouth.
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Healey stated that the effort will integrate Royal Navy ships, patrol aircraft, and an array of autonomous vehicles. All these assets will be linked through an AI-based acoustic monitoring technology scheduled for operational deployment next year.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and industry have already committed an investment of £14m ($18m) this year in the programme for testing and development.
Atlantic Bastion is a “direct response” to Russian naval movements near UK waters, including activities involving the intelligence-gathering vessel Yantar, a MoD statement said.
It will establish a hybrid naval force designed to protect the UK and NATO allies from evolving dangers.
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By GlobalDataThe programme will allow the UK to detect, monitor, and, when necessary, respond to adversaries over large expanses of ocean.
Healey said: “Our pioneering Atlantic Bastion programme is a blueprint for the future of the Royal Navy. It combines the latest autonomous and AI technologies with world-class warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid fighting force to detect, deter and defeat those who threaten us.”
The development of Atlantic Bastion has been revealed for the first time as the UK government moves to implement the objectives set out in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
Published in June 2025, the SDR sets out priority areas for the UK’s defence and security in response to emerging threats, following a ten-month review process.
According to MoD, 26 companies from the UK and Europe have submitted sensor concepts, while 20 firms have proposed prototype developments.
In the coming weeks, selected companies will advance their development work from concept to operational use, with capabilities expected to be deployed at sea next year.
Additional investment to accelerate and expand the programme is planned for the following year.
Recently, the UK and Norway signed a new defence agreement to protect critical infrastructure from Russian submarines by enabling their navies to jointly operate in the North Atlantic.
