Thales and Kongsberg Team Up to Offer ASW Capability for UK Type 92 USV Requirement

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1. 50m ago

   Thales and Kongsberg Pitch Arctic Hunter for UK Type 92 USV

   Thales and Kongsberg Maritime have teamed up to offer the Arctic Hunter uncrewed surface vessel for the Royal Navy's Type 92 Large Uncrewed Surface Vessel requirement. The collaborative proposal features a 184-foot converted fishing trawler adapted into an autonomous hunter drone ship designed to scour for Russian submarines in the Arctic. Balaena and Kongsberg Maritime also signed a memorandum of understanding to advance the Arctic Hunter program. The vessel is pitched as part of the Royal Navy's hybrid fleet to tackle regional underwater threats.

   Why it matters

   The Royal Navy's Type 92 requirement calls for large uncrewed surface vessels capable of performing complex naval tasks. Adapting an existing commercial hull design offers a distinct path toward expanding anti-submarine warfare capabilities in harsh northern environments. Industry partnerships are forming rapidly to position specialized autonomous platforms for this major British defense requirement.

   What is confirmed

   • Thales and Kongsberg Maritime are teaming up to offer an anti-submarine warfare capability for the UK Type 92 USV requirement.
   • The Arctic Hunter is an autonomous naval vessel built from a converted 184-foot fishing trawler.
   • Kongsberg Maritime and Balaena signed a memorandum of understanding to advance the Arctic Hunter USV program.

   What to watch next

   • Formal selection decisions by the Royal Navy regarding the Type 92 Large USV requirement
   • Further structural modifications or sea trials for the Arctic Hunter platform
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. Defense News — Firm bets on converted fishing trawlers to tackle Russian submarines in the Arctic
   2. TWZ — Fishing Trawler Adapted Into Arctic Hunter Drone Ship Aims To Scour For Russian Submarines
   3. Мілітарний — Arctic Hunter Uncrewed Anti-Submarine Vessel Launched in Norway
   4. Navy Lookout — Kongsberg offers design for Royal Navy Type 92 Large USV requirement to be built in the UK
   5. Naval News — Thales and Kongsberg Team Up to Offer ASW Capability for UK Type 92 USV Requirement
   6. Interesting Engineering — 184-foot converted fishing ship could hunt submarines for the UK Navy
   7. Janes Defence Intelligence — Arctic Hunter USV pitched for Type 92 ASW requirement as part of RN's Hybrid Fleet
   8. heise online — Kongsberg Maritime develops autonomous naval vessel for Arctic operations
   9. Yahoo — 184-foot converted fishing vessel could become uncrewed submarine hunter
   10. Shephard Media — Kongsberg Maritime and Thales UK team on Arctic Hunter Type 92 proposal
   11. Marine Technology News — Balaena, Kongsberg Team Up to Bring Arctic Hunter USV to Royal Navy
   12. Ocean News & Technology — Balaena And Kongsberg Maritime Sign MoU To Advance Arctic Hunter USV Program
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