Autonomous Rattler boat operating alongside a Royal Navy warship during open-sea trials off the coast of Scotland

Uncrewed Boats Controlled From 500 Miles Escort UK Warships in Landmark Test

Nov 4, 2025 12:10 PMPublished Nov 4, 2025 12:10 PM

A fleet of uncrewed boats proved they can operate hundreds of miles from their human controllers, escorting warships in a 72-hour trial.

A fleet of uncrewed boats just proved they can operate hundreds of miles from their human controllers, escorting Royal Navy warships in a historic 72-hour trial off Scotland.

Five autonomous Rattler boats acted as protectors for HMS Tyne, moving seamlessly alongside other patrol vessels, Merlin helicopters, and the HMS Stirling Castle warship.

The team controlling the unmanned vessels were stationed aboard the XV Patrick Blackett vessel docked in Southern England 500 miles (805 kilometers) away from the testing waters, receiving real-time camera and sensor feeds from the boats.

Read the full story on NextGen Defense: Uncrewed Boats Controlled From 500 Miles Escort UK Warships in Landmark Test