Key Developments
On 10 November 2026, HM Government announced £90 million for Royal Navy drones, sensors and AI under Atlantic Bastion, with the stated aim of protecting undersea cables and improving the hunt for Russian submarines in the North Atlantic.
Key Statistics
- £90 million committed for Royal Navy drones, sensors and AI under Atlantic Bastion, according to HM Government
- Nearly 200 skilled jobs expected through the Ocean Infinity Solutions partnership, according to HM Government
- 38,700 existing jobs supported in the related industrial base, according to HM Government
Main Body
On 10 November 2026, HM Government announced a £90 million investment in drones, sensors and AI systems for the Royal Navy under the Atlantic Bastion programme. The government said the package was intended to strengthen protection of undersea cables and improve efforts to detect and track Russian submarines in the North Atlantic.
The HM Government announcement said the work would involve Ocean Infinity Solutions and would create nearly 200 skilled jobs. It also linked the investment to 38,700 existing jobs, framing the programme as both an operational capability upgrade and an industrial measure for the UK defence sector.
The move followed other UK defence technology measures announced in recent weeks. On 27 October 2026, HM Government said a UK-Poland defence agreement would cover air defence, drone technology and cyber security on Europe’s eastern flank. On 30 October 2026, HM Government said 12 Ukrainian manufacturers had demonstrated uncrewed systems at Larkhill Garrison under UK-Ukraine defence industry cooperation.
The Atlantic Bastion investment mattered because HM Government tied new autonomous and AI-enabled tools to maritime security tasks that affect national resilience, military readiness and North Atlantic deterrence. The programme also showed how the UK was using procurement to connect operational needs with domestic defence employment and allied security priorities.
