BMT to support the Royal Navy’s transition to a hybrid fleet

As the Royal Navy adapts to a more contested and unpredictable maritime environment, it is reshaping its force structure to combine high-end crewed platforms with uncrewed systems operating at scale. This transition towards a hybrid Navy reflects the need to maintain credible deterrence, protect critical maritime infrastructure and sustain operational advantage, while operating within the realities of constrained fleet numbers, affordability and pace of delivery.

Project Beehive sits at the centre of this transition, acting as a bridge between hybrid Navy ambition and operational reality. The programme will see the Royal Navy procure 20 uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) from Kraken Technology Group to support operations, training and development across units including the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines. Crucially, Beehive is focused on the practical employment of uncrewed capability, rather than technology demonstration alone. To support adoption at scale, the programme requires robust evidence, clearly defined concepts of operation and operating boundaries, and rigorous safety thinking to enable confident integration alongside existing forces.

Under Project Beehive, BMT has been awarded a contract to support the introduction of uncrewed capability into Royal Navy service. BMT will deliver operational concept development, safety and risk analysis, independent technical assurance and high-fidelity synthetic simulation to underpin evidence-led decision-making. This includes digital USV models, mission-relevant 3D environments, independent test and evaluation of command-and-control systems, simulation-based training and mission rehearsal, and the generation of assurance evidence to inform Royal Navy decisions.

BMT brings an established relationship with the Royal Navy as an independent technical authority, underpinned by deep expertise across maritime autonomy, simulation, naval operations and safety engineering. This enables the rapid mobilisation of multidisciplinary teams and the provision of impartial technical judgement as uncrewed capability is developed, trialled and integrated - supporting trusted evidence generation, credible operating concepts and operator readiness.

As the Royal Navy invests in digital transformation to enable hybrid fleet operations, BMT has made a corresponding investment in advanced digital and simulation capability. BMT’s Digital Innovation and Simulation Centre (DISC) and ROC-Sim provide the synthetic backbone for delivery under Project Beehive, enabling high-fidelity test, evaluation, assurance and training of uncrewed surface vessels and remote operations. Together, these capabilities allow concepts of operation, command-and-control systems and human–autonomy interaction to be assessed safely before live deployment, supporting the controlled and credible introduction of uncrewed capability into Royal Navy operations.

“The Royal Navy is unequivocally on our journey to being a Hybrid Navy; whilst people naturally see the renderings of new large USVs or the photos of MHC or our new Kraken USVs, we must not forget that behind these systems are people and technology. This contract with BMT will ensure that we have world-class simulation to deliver world-class USV operators that can fight and win in this new era of naval warfare.”
Capt Adam Ballard RN, DCOM SURFLOT

“Project Beehive reinforces BMT’s role as a trusted adviser in maritime autonomy, supporting the Royal Navy to introduce uncrewed capability through evidence-led assurance, digital simulation and operational insight.”
Monty Long, Future Business Director, UK and Europe

“Under Project Beehive, we have already delivered 20 uncrewed surface vessels to the Royal Navy in a matter of months. The next decade will be determined by speed and Kraken, alongside BMT, will accelerate the UK’s transition to a Hybrid Navy.”
Mal Crease, CEO and founder, Kraken Technology Group

Images are reproduced with permission from Kraken.