The agreement builds on the companies’ established relationship and marks an important step in their collaboration on Kongsberg Maritime’s Arctic Hunter uncrewed surface vessel (USV), a proposed solution for the Royal Navy’s emerging Type 92 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) requirement.
The Arctic Hunter USV combines Kongsberg Maritime’s proven commercial vessel designs with advanced remote and autonomous technologies, alongside specialist sonar and military communications capabilities from UK defense technology company Thales, to provide persistent submarine detection capability in the challenging conditions of the High North.
Designed to operate in extreme Arctic environments, the vessel offers a robust and adaptable platform for uncrewed naval operations. Its proven hull design and commercial shipbuilding approach are intended to enable accelerated construction and delivery, while providing the flexibility to accommodate evolving operational requirements.
Under the proposed program, the vessels would be constructed at Balaena’s Birkenhead shipyard with the ambition of delivering vessels ready for military integration before the end of the decade.
Balaena brings significant British industrial capability to the partnership. With more than 2,000 skilled employees and an extensive network of shipyards across the UK and Gibraltar, the group has the facilities, workforce, and engineering expertise to undertake complex naval shipbuilding programs.
Its Birkenhead shipyard offers four large dry docks, a non-tidal wet basin, extensive fabrication facilities, and a dedicated modular construction hall, providing established infrastructure to support the construction of next-generation naval vessels.
Simon Gillett, Chief Executive Officer of Balaena, said: “We are delighted to be formalizing our partnership with Kongsberg Maritime, bringing together two companies with complementary strengths and a shared ambition to deliver innovative maritime solutions.
“Arctic Hunter represents an exciting opportunity to combine Kongsberg’s world-leading maritime technology and vessel design expertise with Balaena’s established British shipbuilding capability.
“We have the facilities, the skilled workforce, and the experience already in place to deliver complex vessels at pace. This partnership demonstrates how British shipyards can work alongside international technology leaders to deliver tomorrow’s naval capability.
“Just as importantly, this is about supporting British jobs, strengthening our maritime supply chains and investing in the future of our industry. Our apprenticeship programs are constantly developing the next generation of engineers and shipbuilders, ensuring Britain retains the skills needed to build and support the vessels of tomorrow.”
The agreement reflects the growing importance of Anglo-Norwegian industrial cooperation in strengthening maritime security across the North Atlantic and High North.
Through their partnership, Balaena and Kongsberg Maritime aim to combine proven commercial shipbuilding methods with advanced autonomous technologies to support the rapid delivery of future naval capabilities, while strengthening Britain’s sovereign maritime industrial base.
