New Delhi: Thales has been awarded a major contract by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) for the design, development and delivery of the next-generation of portable autonomous command centres. Awarded under the Autonomous Remote Command Centre (RCC) contract, this initial £10 million investment marks the first stage of a programme which has scope to grow to up to £100 million to deliver next-generation mine countermeasures capability for the Royal Navy.
The Group will lead the integration of multiple unmanned assets, both above and below the water, into becoming a true system of systems for safer, more efficient and agile mine hunting missions. It will provide the hardware, software, training and technical advice collaborating with a robust UK supply chain to enable iterative capability improvement and rapid technology adoption.
The Thales M-Cube Mission Management System will be at the heart of the command centres. This combat-proven software suite is already used by multiple navies worldwide for planning, execution and evaluation of both conventional and autonomous MCM missions. It provides unparalleled situational awareness from the task force to individual unit level.
Mi-Map planning and evaluation software lies at the heart of the Royal Navy’s new remote Command Centre. Featuring advanced AI-powered automatic target recognition, it empowers operators by intelligently filtering and refining raw data, streamlining and expediting the mine hunting process. Leveraging machine learning, Mi-Map continually enhances its database and processes vast quantities of information beyond human capability. Not only it accelerates target identification but also delivers superior accuracy and effectiveness compared to traditional systems.
This sophisticated AI is developed with the support of cortAIx, Thales AI accelerator with a global workforce of 800 experts in AI within the Group serving the performance of sovereign advanced systems and sensors in critical environments.
Working with programme partners, Thales will initially deliver twin-containerised solutions that will seamlessly integrate platforms, systems and sub-systems. This highly flexible capability, will transform how MCM is conducted – allowing Royal Navy personnel to coordinate a fleet of uncrewed and autonomous assets, greatly increasing operational effectiveness while maximising personnel safety.
Its utility, for autonomous command and control, has application across the seabed warfare domain and aligns with the UK Government’s vision for a ‘Hybrid Navy’ and the Royal Navy’s Long Term Capability Plan for MCM mission systems integration.
“Thales is honoured to continue its central role in delivering mine countermeasures capability to the Royal Navy, building on our proven heritage. This next-generation of autonomous command centres is part of a flexible suite of autonomous C2 from containerised solutions to vessel operations centres or large, shore operations centres. By collaborating across the supply chain, we are committed to supporting the UK with world-class technology and fostering growth and high-value skilled jobs across our UK operations.” Paul Armstrong, Managing Director for Underwater Systems activities, Thales in the UK.
“The threat to the UK is growing, driven by global instability, Russian aggression, and a greater willingness of states and hostile actors to target our critical infrastructure. By embracing autonomous maritime technology, the Royal Navy is pioneering innovation to help keep our sailors safe at sea. This is backed by a UK defence industry delivering world-class capabilities that exemplify how defence acts as an engine for growth.” – Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP
Thales’ significant investment in UK mine countermeasures has sustained over 200 highly skilled jobs—particularly at Thales’ Somerset and Plymouth sites—while reinforcing the broader ecosystem of suppliers and partners across the region.
