The Royal Navy's blueprint for a drone-filled future is set to send shockwaves through Scotland's shipyards, as the UK government pours billions into modernising its armed forces. A £5 billion investment in "drone transformation" marks a seismic shift towards a hybrid fleet of crewed and uncrewed vessels – a move driven by the harsh lessons of recent conflicts, where conventional warships proved vulnerable to swarms of cheap anti-ship missiles and drones.
For decades, Glasgow's BAE Systems and Rosyth's Babcock International have been at the heart of British naval construction, churning out iconic surface fleets like the Type-26 frigates. But the new Defence Investment Plan introduces a wrenching change in future procurement: instead of relying on expensive, crewed warships, the Royal Navy will rely on cheaper, more agile vessels – and uncrewed assets to augment them.
The impetus for this revolution stems from sobering truths gleaned from Ukraine's daring attacks on Russia's Black Sea fleet. First Sea Lord Sir Gwyn Jenkins has highlighted the efficacy of drones and uncrewed vessels in modern naval warfare: nearly a third of Russia's warships were damaged or destroyed using these relatively inexpensive tools, forcing a rethink in strategy.
The hybrid fleet will comprise larger drone ships designed as missile platforms or sensors, alongside submersible and airborne drones. These unmanned assets will be remotely controlled by "motherships" – Common Combat Vessels (CCVs) – with at least six planned to replace the existing Type 45 destroyers. Concept designs for these uncrewed warships, measuring up to 100 metres in length, are already being developed.
Babcock International is eager to secure contracts for the CCVs, arguing that they represent a natural progression from the Type-31 frigates currently under construction at Rosyth. With no contracts yet awarded, the company is positioning itself for a pivotal role in this new era of naval construction – one that will significantly shape the future of Scottish shipbuilding and potentially diversify their workload beyond traditional crewed warships.
The Defence Investment Plan's £5 billion "drone transformation" fund has left industry insiders scrambling to adapt. With the government yet to award contracts for the CCVs, the future of Scotland's shipyards hangs in the balance – and the winners will be those who can pivot quickest towards this brave new world of unmanned naval warfare.