The UK Ministry of Defence has placed a tender for supplying 20 unmanned boats for the Royal Navy. The British plan to conduct training on these USVs, develop tactics, as well as use them to perform missions in Britain's area of responsibility and beyond.
Among publicly announced requirements are technological readiness TRL 4/5 and open architecture for possible further modifications. Total contract value is £12,300,000 ($16.4 million).
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In other words, calculated this is $821,000 per unmanned boat, which is quite expensive considering Ukrainian USV cost likely fluctuates around $200,000. However, it should be considered that this sum includes control stations, crew training, technical support, and so on.
British company Kraken Technology announced its victory in this competition, receiving this contract. The company has several USVs in its assortment. Which specifically is planned for supply under contract remains unknown, but the most likely variant is the K3 Scout family of three representatives: Medium, Heavy, and Max.
Medium with 8.4-meter hull length has maximum speed 55 knots (100 km/h), range up to 650 nautical miles (1,200 km), and payload mass up to 600 kg. In turn, Heavy with 11.1-meter length has maximum speed 55 knots (100 km/h), range 1,000 nautical miles (1,850 km), and payload mass up to 2 tons.
The largest Max variant with 18.6-meter length has maximum speed 40 knots (40 km/h), range up to 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km), and payload mass up to 10 tons. All can be equipped with modular payload including various sensors as well as weapons.
Discussing Britain's unmanned boat procurement, Ukrainian variants should also be considered, especially given that Ukrainian USV export is already available or will be available soon.
Given that the British are seeking a medium-sized maritime platform with long range, one should look at Sea Baby unmanned boats, the latest currently known generation of which has grown in size and capabilities, likely receiving modular weapons that can be changed instantly depending on needs.
They can carry up to 2 tons payload and have range up to 1,500 km. Currently only two weapons sets have been publicly presented: with remotely controlled stabilized combat module Tavria 14.5 and two FPV drones for hunting enemy USVs, as well as a variant with 10 Grad multiple rocket launcher guide rails for ground strikes.
Naturally such weapons set is unsuitable for Britain, but other variants can likely be integrated aboard. In some characteristics Sea Baby loses to the similarly-sized K3 Scout Heavy, but its significant advantage and that of other Ukrainian USVs is that they are already combat-proven and receive regular updates based on combat experience.
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