27 May 2026
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The Royal Navy has successfully docked its crewless mine-hunting system in its mothership for the first time after extensive trials ahead of a potential operation to make safe the Strait of Hormuz.
The 12-metre uncrewed surface vessel RNMB (Royal Navy Motor Boat) Ariadne was delicately manoeuvred into the floodable dock of RFA Lyme Bay, the mothership for mine-hunting technology for the proposed Gulf mission, in the waters off Gibraltar.
This latest milestone comes after Ariadne, which is designed to detect and destroy sea mines without the need for personnel to enter deadly minefields, underwent strenuous operational testing by specialist assessors and mine warfare experts in the waters off Portland in Dorset.
Lieutenant Commander Craig Wadley, operations officer with Commander UK Mine Counter Measures Force, said: “This was a successful first day of operations and great to see the integration of Ariadne with Lyme Bay.”
Ariadne was designed and manufactured in the UK and uses the Thales TSAM system, one of the world’s most sophisticated towed sonars, to hunt for mines on the seabed.
The accuracy analysis trial by the Royal Navy’s Maritime Capabilities, Trials and Assessment team checks all on-board technology is working correctly, gathering evidence of Ariadne’s capabilities which will potentially play a key role in a future multinational mission in the Strait of Hormuz to secure the critical waterway and safeguard freedom of navigation.
Crucially, the accuracy of Ariadne’s powerful towed sonar was tested on a target – recently surveyed by HMS Magpie – on the seabed.
During the trial personnel were embarked as a safety measure but Ariadne is designed to operate without a crew and can be controlled both locally and from a Portable Operating Centre, receiving operational and sensor data directly from the vessel to inform command decision making.
Alongside the MCTA, members of the Mine Threat Exploitation Group’s Yankee Squadron – two highly trained units, comprising Mine Warfare Operators supported by a hybrid team of Marine and Weapons Engineers to enable the deployment of next generation autonomous systems – operated Ariadne.
Lieutenant Ryan Sweet, officer in charge of Yankee Squadron’s unit 1, said: “Having conducted intensive trials, the opportunity to develop the capabilities further is exciting alongside the prospect of contributing to multinational operations with autonomous mine hunting equipment.
“These trials have drawn to a close an extensive period of operating the Maritime Mine Counter Measures system in Portland with the opportunities for a greater contribution exciting and challenging.”
“As modern warfare continues to evolve at pace, it is essential that the Royal Navy advances alongside it,” added Lieutenant Tommy Walters, from the MCTA team.
“Supporting these trials and helping to ensure autonomous capabilities can be effectively deployed in an operational environment has been a privilege for both myself and the MCTA team.
“The work conducted here is a vital step in delivering credible, future-ready mine countermeasure capability.”
Once these trials were complete, Ariadne was loaded onto HMS Stirling Castle for transportation to Gibraltar and docking with RFA Lyme Bay.
The vessel was carefully guided into the cavernous dock by members of Yankee Squadron, before the water was drained and Ariadne was placed on a cradle in the hull.
The Royal Navy’s Gibraltar Squadron provided additional safety and protection as this took place shortly after Lyme Bay had sailed from Gibraltar.
Leading Hand Matt Savage said: “It all went a lot smoother that I expected, thought it was going to be tighter, but we nailed it first time.”
Petty Officer Hayley Garnett said: “I have to confess I was a little nervous. I am responsible for Ariadne’s hull and was worried she might hit the cradle, but it all went really well.”
Commanding Officer of RFA Lyme Bay, Captain Simon Herbert RFA, added: “This has been a very successful week for RFA Lyme Bay which has seen the embarkation of cutting-edge mine-hunting equipment and specialist personnel.
“This, together with the considerable work conducted whilst in Gibraltar has seen RFA Lyme Bay re-role as an Afloat Forward Support Base mother ship for mine-hunting operations.
“She and the ship’s company have again proven the versatility and flexibility of the Bay class and the RFA to be able to depart from Gibraltar ready to deliver an effective modern capability.”
All of this work is part of the Royal Navy’s transition to a ‘hybrid navy’ that couples traditional crewed warships with uncrewed and autonomous vessels to create a potent force ready for modern day conflict.
The Royal Navy is currently taking steps to be prepared for a potential multinational Strait of Hormuz mission, as the UK and France plan strictly defensive operations when conditions allow – aimed at restoring confidence of commercial shipping along the critical trade route.
Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon will play a key role in this endeavour, having arrived east of the Suez Canal earlier this month.