The Royal Navy’s NavyX, a division of the ‘Develop Directorate’ within NCHQ, is at the forefront of integrating new technology into the fleet. Modeled after the US Navy’s NavalX and established in 2019, NavyX comprises a small team of 22 individuals from the Civil Service, navy, and industry. Their objective is to expedite the delivery of innovative capabilities to the Royal Navy fleet by testing and trialling new technology.
NavyX’s primary focus is on developing uncrewed and autonomous capabilities, with a particular emphasis on the development of the autonomous Pacific 24 RIB (APAC24) and the Maritime Autonomous Platform Exploitation (MAPLE) information architecture.
The development of the APAC24 has been a gradual process, with the aim of using it for various missions, including anti-piracy operations, border control, intelligence gathering, maritime security, and force protection. Trials have involved land-based control and live-firing tests with the Seahawk Multi-Weapon Station. The next steps are to develop launch and recovery methods, prepare the boat for live-firing at sea, and potentially participate in upcoming exercises.
Meanwhile, the XV Patrick Blackett, acquired by the UK’s defence procurement standards, has been engaged in testing a prototype quantum sensor for enhanced navigation accuracy, as well as trials to support the RN’s Navigation Radar Programme. Additionally, Damen Group, the builder of the XV, has provided NavyX with a digital twin model of the ship, which will be crucial in exploring future technologies in a safe environment.
Looking to the future, NavyX’s long-term objective is to demonstrate that the XV Patrick Blackett can be operated autonomously. This involves a meticulous process of integrating the ship’s sensors with the MAPLE open computing environment, reducing operators on the bridge, and ultimately achieving full autonomy while adhering to international maritime regulations.
The XV Patrick Blackett has also played an active role in the annual NATO REPMUS experimental exercise, hosting trials with various equipment while being integrated into the RN’s Naval Strike Network. This September, NavyX anticipates deploying the XV to REPMUS once again to continue development trials and potentially operate the ship autonomously.
In addition to their focus on uncrewed and autonomous capabilities, NavyX is also involved in other projects such as Above Water Battlespace data exploitation, development of Tactical Data Links, and at-sea communications methods in denied environments.
In conclusion, NavyX’s efforts in introducing new technology to the Royal Navy fleet have the potential to greatly benefit the future fleet. While the team’s scale and resources are subject to debate, their multiple work streams undoubtedly contribute to the overall efficiency and capability development of the Royal Navy.