Farnborough, UK – The largest annual gathering of naval leaders in Europe, CNE 2026, convened from May 19 to 21, 2026, bringing together over 2,200 senior naval officials, government representatives, industry stakeholders, and international partners from more than 85 nations. The event took place amidst a discernible sense of strategic urgency, reflecting ongoing shifts in global security dynamics and maritime warfare.
A central theme permeating the three-day conference, which included numerous sessions, product launches, and collaborative discussions, was the Royal Navy’s ambitious ‘hybrid fleet’ concept. This aspiration, which seeks to integrate crewed and uncrewed naval assets, has rapidly transitioned from a theoretical concept to a fiercely competitive industrial battleground. Multiple companies arrived at Farnborough with well-developed propositions, indicating a clear understanding that the window for shaping this pivotal defense program is presently open.
Remarkably, the most extensively discussed concept at CNE 2026 was not a specific platform or weapon system, but rather a philosophical approach to naval operations. Sir Nick Hine of Babcock presented his vision for what he termed “commanded autonomy.” This principle posits that human operators must retain unequivocal control over intent, authorization, and accountability within autonomous systems. His rationale underscored the immediate challenges facing contemporary navies, stating, “Today’s war zones have provided irrefutable evidence. Low-cost distributed systems probe, persist, and saturate, exposing weaknesses in traditional force structures, often at a tempo that outpaces conventional procurement cycles. No allied navy will simply grow a bigger fleet quickly enough to match the pace of threat.”
Babcock’s industrial response to this challenge is the ARMOR Force (Autonomous and Remote Maritime Operational Response Force). This proposed architecture comprises disaggregated systems designed for independent operations, seamlessly connected through advanced digital capabilities. The ARMOR Force concept includes a Type 31 frigate reconfigured to serve as a Common Command Vessel, along with large uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and modular, containerized Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) for rapid capability deployment. Hine emphasized that this initiative is complementary, not a replacement, for existing programs, stating, “It’s important to remember this is an and, not an or.”
Other major industry players also leveraged the event to showcase their contributions to the evolving maritime landscape. HII, for instance, highlighted its REMUS and ROMULUS systems. The occasion also marked 25 years of the REMUS Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) family, a platform recognized for its significant role in the Royal Navy’s hybrid fleet strategy, particularly through its partnership with Babcock’s ARMOR Force.
World Firsts and New Launches Signal Innovation
CNE 2026 served as a pivotal launchpad for several companies introducing groundbreaking technologies. CiS announced what it claimed to be a world first: a fully autonomous drone dock capable of launching and recovering an Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) from a moving ship without any human operator intervention. British firm RAD expanded its reach into the defense sector with the launch of its Autonomy Core remote vessel control system, designed to support the burgeoning hybrid fleet ambitions. Navantia UK unveiled a large autonomous warship concept, signaling its intent to become a key supplier for the Royal Navy’s future hybrid fleet. Furthermore, BAE Systems and Thales confirmed that the Herne XLAUV (Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) is progressing beyond its prototype stage, with demonstrations anticipated in 2027 as both companies position the platform for future hybrid fleet operations.
While autonomy dominated many discussions, the human element in maritime defense remained a critical topic. Pete Laughton of JFD underscored the increasing demands on military divers, who are now expected to operate deeper and for longer durations as the mine threat resurges and underwater capability requirements intensify. Modern military divers, he explained, must function as an integral part of a broader maritime warfare system, interoperable with autonomous vehicles, tactical dive vehicles, and command nodes within an increasingly congested underwater domain. These evolving requirements directly influenced the design of JFD’s new Stealth Multi-Role rebreather, which was engineered for adaptability rather than being restricted to a single mission profile.
Ministerial Vision and Ukrainian Insights
The final day of CNE 2026 commenced with a keynote address from Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry. Speaking to a full auditorium, Minister Pollard articulated a bold vision for future naval power: “I want a thousand-ship navy, but I want most of those ships to be uncrewed. We have been locked into a narrative of how many crewed platforms we have for too long: I want us to expand our thinking.” He directly referenced recent operational lessons, adding, “We only need to look at what Ukraine have done. If it doesn’t work in Ukraine, I don’t want to buy it here.”
Immediately following the minister’s address, a representative from Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces delivered a briefing on the current and prospective capabilities of Ukraine’s maritime uncrewed systems. For operational security reasons, the individual remained unnamed and unphotographed. Their presentation reportedly garnered a standing ovation, highlighting the profound impact of Ukraine’s innovative use of uncrewed technologies in ongoing conflicts.
Adding to the strategic discussions, BMT published a paper at the event, positing that the transition to a hybrid navy will induce more fundamental changes to command at sea than any development since Admiral Fisher’s reforms in the early 20th century. Rear Admiral Matthew Stratton, the Royal Navy’s Director Acquisition, concluded the event by summarizing the current status of the hybrid fleet ambition. He articulated the concept as “fundamentally simple: crewed where necessary, uncrewed where possible, and integrated.” He emphasized the core challenge: “The question is, how do we deliver it at pace, at scale and in partnership?” His concluding statement left no ambiguity: “The Hybrid Navy is not just a future aspiration: it is already being delivered.”
In a significant multilateral development, all ten nations comprising the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) signed a statement of intent. This agreement aims to foster a more integrated multinational force across the High North, a strategic initiative that directly complements the ongoing development of the Atlantic Bastion and Atlantic Net concepts in collaboration with the defense industry.
A Defining Period for Naval Modernization
The organizers reported that over 3,000 individuals attended CNE 2026, representing 86 nations. The overwhelming majority of exhibiting firms have already rebooked for the 2027 event, underscoring the perceived value and critical timing of this gathering. CNE 2026 convened at a unique juncture, marked by a rare convergence of political will, robust industrial momentum, and acute operational urgency. The discussions and developments at Farnborough clearly indicate that the hybrid navy is no longer a distant vision; it is actively being built, debated, and contracted, poised to define the Royal Navy for a generation and influence global naval strategies.
Why This Matters
The CNE 2026 event signifies a pivotal moment in global naval strategy and the future of maritime warfare. The rapid acceleration of the ‘hybrid fleet’ concept—integrating crewed and uncrewed vessels—reflects a fundamental shift driven by contemporary geopolitical tensions and technological advancements. This transition is not merely an incremental upgrade but a re-imagining of naval power, with profound implications for defense spending, industrial innovation, and international security.
Firstly, the emphasis on “commanded autonomy” and the development of low-cost, distributed systems underscore a strategic response to evolving threats. Modern conflicts, as highlighted by the reference to Ukraine, demonstrate the effectiveness of networked, autonomous platforms in challenging traditional, capital-intensive force structures. This shift could democratize naval power to some extent, allowing nations with smaller conventional fleets to project significant influence and counter adversaries through innovative asymmetric capabilities.
Secondly, the intensive industrial activity and numerous product launches at CNE 2026 indicate a robust and competitive defense market. Companies are vying to provide the foundational technologies and architectures for these new naval paradigms. This competition will drive innovation, potentially leading to faster development cycles and more cost-effective solutions for national navies, while also creating significant economic opportunities in the defense technology sector.
Thirdly, the explicit acknowledgment of lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine, particularly regarding uncrewed systems, signals a rapid integration of real-world operational experience into strategic planning. This practical, adaptive approach to defense procurement and development stands in contrast to historically longer, more rigid cycles, suggesting a new era of agility in military modernization.
Finally, the Joint Expeditionary Force’s commitment to greater integration in the High North, alongside concepts like Atlantic Bastion and Atlantic Net, highlights the strategic importance of multinational cooperation in addressing regional security challenges. The move towards a hybrid navy facilitates such integration by standardizing interfaces and operational philosophies, potentially strengthening alliances and collective defense capabilities in critical areas.
In essence, CNE 2026 was more than just a trade show; it was a forum where the future of naval power was actively shaped, laying the groundwork for how navies will operate, defend, and project influence in an increasingly complex and technologically driven world.