Navy needs to adapt faster and be more cutting-edge, Second Sea Lord says

If the Royal Navy is to reach its 2040 goals it must adapt faster and embrace cutting-edge technology, a senior naval officer has said.

Vice Admiral Martin Connell, Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, told this year's Navy Leaders Combined Naval Event: "Navy 2040 will deliver the Navy our nation needs and upon which our security and prosperity will increasingly rely."

VAdm Connell , who was appointed Second Sea Lord in January 2022, is responsible for delivering the Royal Navy's future capabilities, strategy and long-term programme.

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Navy 2040

During his speech, the Second Sea Lord underlined what would be expected from Navy 2040.

"We need a maritime technological ecosystem fit for the 21st century, because we clearly cannot go it alone or accept things as they are," he said.

"Our vision is for a more modern Royal Navy, one that continues to prioritise investment in our nuclear deterrent, that protects our nation's interests, that is ready to fight and win with our Nato allies.

"[One] that isn't afraid to pioneer and embrace cutting-edge technologies, and one that, of course, continues to have excellent people at its heart.

"To do this we aim to adapt faster. We will need to work, train and educate ourselves differently. And we're examining our new priorities."

"The Navy of 2040 will be one of increased effective mass through an accelerated programme of shipbuilding combined and augmented by uncrewed underwater, surface and air vehicles," he added.

He also highlighted that the Navy will "prioritise offensive strike capability over all else".

Artificial intelligence

VAdm Connell also drew attention to the Navy's use of artificial intelligence (AI), to which he was "enormously excited by the numerous of opportunities" it presents.

Last week, during the Seapower Conference, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key said that the UK military must invest in AI, drones and technology to combat the threats it will face in the future.

During his speech, VAdm Connell echoed the First Sea Lord's sentiment, and said the Navy's use of AI "feels too slow compared to changes experienced in our personal lives".

He added: "If applied correctly it has the potential to create dynamic new benchmarks, for accuracy, efficiency and lethality.

"But when I ask some of our own industry partners how they are incorporating data and AI into their own product design and learning today, if I'm honest, it still feels a little underwhelming.

"Yes, we have developed and launched an AI roadmap for the Royal Navy to be AI-ready in every respect... and it's just beginning to bear fruit."

However, the Second Sea Lord said while he recognised it was having an impact on aircraft availability right now, there was much more that should and could be done in this area.

He said: "I want to hear less about future potential and more about direct action... we need to be quicker to adapt.

"Clearly the Royal Navy does not have all the answers.

"It is only by working with all of our industry partners that we will be able to develop these world-beating capabilities together."