Babcock has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with British businesses ACUA Ocean Technologies and Frankenburg Technologies to advance counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) solutions in the maritime domain.
As threats from low-cost UAS continue to evolve, the need for effective and adaptable counter-drone capabilities has become increasingly important across the defence and security landscape. The new agreement will create integrated solutions to combat that threat.
The MOU builds on the existing partnership Babcock signed with Frankenburg in January to explore new air defence systems capable of addressing the rapid rise in one-way attack drones.
With Plymouth-based marine technology firm ACUA now joining the partnership, the parties will bring together three distinct elements: Babcock’s multi-domain launcher system, Frankenburg’s low-cost precision-guided missile systems, and ACUA’s uncrewed surface vessels (USV).
Babcock’s launcher system can be fitted onto both crewed and uncrewed surface vessels, allowing them to be built at pace and scaled quickly. In June, ACUA’s PIONEER USV operated continuously for 16–20 nautical miles offshore, completing more than 100 hours at sea without any hands-on intervention.
The tripartite agreement builds on Babcock’s existing defence expertise and supports the UK’s vision for a hybrid navy, with Babcock developing technologies and capabilities to underpin next-generation autonomous operations.
Sir Nick Hine, Chief Growth Officer for Babcock, said: “We’re excited to partner with innovative companies to develop an integrated approach that directly addresses some of the biggest challenges our customers face in today’s defence landscape.
“As a trusted systems integrator, collaborations like this will help protect critical national assets and infrastructure from attritable one-way attack drones.”
Neil Tinmouth, CEO of ACUA Ocean Technologies, welcomed the announcement, saying: “Partnering with Babcock and Frankenburg enables true persistent, multi-domain defence capabilities. To counter mass drone attacks, maritime air defence must be uninterrupted, yet rough weather often forces traditional systems out of limits. The unique stability of ACUA’s Pioneer-class, which we’ll be using for this collaboration, ensures these counter UAS and interchangeable payloads remain online and fully operational in high seas where other platforms fail.”
Daniel Hallett, Managing Director, UK at Frankenburg Technologies, added: “Affordable missile defence is heading farther out to sea. By equipping ACUA’s uncrewed vessels with Frankenburg’s mass-manufacturable missiles and Babcock’s launcher technology, we aim to create a persistent and low-cost way to protect the UK’s ships, ports and critical maritime infrastructure against mass drone attacks.”
