## UK Accelerates Undersea Surveillance Network Development, Major Contracts Pending
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed a significant stride in its ambitious Atlantic NET programme, revealing that twenty-six innovative industry proposals have successfully navigated the initial tendering phase. This crucial update, shared amidst parliamentary scrutiny into the progress of emerging undersea surveillance capabilities, underscores the UK’s commitment to enhancing its maritime domain awareness.
The revelation follows direct inquiries from James Cartlidge MP, who sought clarity on whether procurement contracts had been awarded for two specific, high-profile systems: the Herne large diameter uncrewed underwater vessel and the Seabed Sentry. Responding on behalf of the department, Minister of State Luke Pollard made it clear that while progress is being made, no definitive procurement choices have been finalized for these platforms.
### Atlantic NET: Pioneering a Service-Based Surveillance Future
The Atlantic NET programme represents a pivotal shift in how the UK approaches anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sensing. Rather than relying on traditional, single-platform acquisitions, the initiative is exploring a dynamic, service-based model for delivering persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. This innovative “Persistent ASW Sense (ISR) as a Service” approach aims to harness the agility and expertise of the private sector.
The first formal element of this tendering process, which saw the evaluation of 26 compliant industry-proposed solutions, commenced in September 2025 and concluded in January 2026. This intensive assessment period was preceded by six months of extensive, two-way engagement with approximately 327 companies within the supplier base. Notably, the vast majority of these contributing entities are either UK-based or have substantial UK elements integrated into their proposals, highlighting a strong domestic industrial involvement.
### Herne and Seabed Sentry: Advanced Systems Awaiting Green Light
While the Atlantic NET programme charges ahead, the specific procurement status of key individual technologies remains under review. Minister Pollard explicitly stated: “No contract or orders have been placed for the Herne large diameter uncrewed underwater vessel.” He further emphasized that any future acquisition of such advanced platforms would adhere strictly to UK commercial law, ensuring a transparent and fair competitive process. A similar pronouncement was made regarding the Seabed Sentry, confirming that “No contract has been placed for Seabed Sentry,” with future procurement also subject to rigorous, fair competition under UK legal frameworks.
These two systems represent cutting-edge approaches to underwater surveillance:
* **Herne:** Developed through a collaboration between BAE Systems and Canadian firm Cellula Robotics, Herne is envisioned as an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Its modular design makes it ideal for extended endurance missions, including critical intelligence gathering, long-term surveillance, and comprehensive seabed monitoring.
* **Seabed Sentry:** This innovative concept, spearheaded by Anduril, offers a distinct approach to persistent underwater surveillance. Instead of a single mobile platform, Seabed Sentry utilizes a network of distributed autonomous nodes strategically placed on the seabed, providing continuous, wide-area sensing capabilities.
As the UK pushes forward with its Atlantic NET ambitions, the coming months will be critical in shaping the future of its undersea warfare capabilities, with industry partners poised to deliver groundbreaking solutions.