UK joins Norway to build drone ships that hunt mines for NATO

The UK has officially committed £90 million to buy three new mine-hunting 'motherships' under a defense cooperation agreement with Norway. These vessels, based on Norway's P1118 Standardized Vessel design, will serve as platforms to deploy unmanned systems for detecting and clearing naval mines, keeping human crews safer. The first ship is expected to arrive by 2031, with an option for three more.

This investment directly addresses the growing threat of naval mines, particularly in strategic choke points like the Strait of Hormuz, where recent operations have disrupted global energy trade. By integrating autonomous technology, the UK aims to enhance NATO's anti-submarine and mine countermeasure capabilities on its northern flank, representing a tangible shift toward unmanned naval warfare for protecting critical sea lanes.