UK Royal Navy's first autonomous squadron is sole operator of K3 Scout USVs

One Rattler (left) and two K3 Scout unmanned surface vehicles int he water at His Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth during the commissioning of the Royal Navy's first autonomous squadron on 5 November 2026. (Crown copyright/UK Ministry of Defence)

The UK Royal Navy (RN)'s first autonomous squadron is the only unit currently operating K3 Scout unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), Janes understands. The squadron was commissioned on 5 November 2026, according to a service press release issued on 9 November 2026.

Based in Portsmouth, the newly commissioned squadron comprises a mix of 7.2 m Rattler and 8.4 m K3 Scout USVs. British company SYOS developed the Rattler for the RN, while the service acquired the K3 Scout from Kraken Technologies. Both companies are based in Fareham, on England's south coast. The number of vessels in service has not been disclosed.

The RN's published images from the commissioning show no more than two K3s and one Rattler at a time. However, the images do not establish the size of the squadron.

It is also unclear whether any of the 20 K3 Scouts the RN contracted to acquire earlier in 2026 will be transferred to the squadron. An 11 March press release said the boats would be used by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines for operations, training, and development. The RN did not mention plans to transfer the K3 units to the autonomous squadron at the time.

A separate RN press release, issued on 31 October 2025, said that seven Rattler boats had been trialled. This is the largest number of Rattlers the RN has publicly said it operates, but it is unclear whether all seven have been transferred to the first autonomous squadron.