UK Commandos get AI-powered mission software as British start-up scales to High North
Mission orchestration software supported by artificial intelligence is making its way into the hands of Royal Marines Commandos after a multimillion-pound deal was agreed with a British start-up company.
Under the agreement with Arondite, the Royal Navy will deploy the firm’s decision making platform, Cobalt, across commando units to help marines operating in harsh or contested environments.
Cobalt will integrate the sensors, data feeds and drones used by UK Commando Force (UKCF) into one user-friendly display – and help it work seamlessly with other allies in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
Testing a hybrid Navy
The platform will also be made available to Norwegian units for joint testing, in line with the JEF’s Northern Navies Initiative to increase security across northern Europe, the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea.
Arondite was only founded in 2023, but after a rapid scale-up it's set to invest £35 million over the next five years to scale its work with Norwegian Armed Forces, Norwegian industry and Nato allies.
Earlier this year, I attended Exercise Spring Sabre in Plymouth, where Cobalt was being used as part of tests for unmanned surface craft storming a coastline defence.
Taking commandos out of harms way, the mission saw the crewless vessel approach the beach before releasing a drone – demonstrating the vision of a hybrid navy in which personnel could operate alongside advanced autonomous systems.
Backing High North security
During an interview at the time Will Blyth, co-founder and CEO of Arondite, described the software as bringing together "all the disparate kit that defence is buying, all the autonomous and robotic systems that it’s finding that it's using" – enabling new systems to be used together when they weren’t necessarily designed to be.
UKCF recently received a £100m boost, which Artificial Intelligence Minister Kanishka Narayan said would help "the force develop future warfighting capabilities for special maritime and amphibious operations across the High North" as part of the JEF.
Announcing the firm's Oslo office, Mr Blyth said: "As the threats we face become more complex and unpredictable, commando units are employing the latest technologies to reach further and adapt faster than our adversaries.
"Our allies in Norway are working side-by-side with UK Commandos every day on the frontline of European security. They have some of the most complex missions in the world and they rightly demand technology that works from day one."
The Royal Navy's investment into the capability of UK Commando Force is backed by the Defence Investment Plan, which sets out £298 billion of defence investment over the next four years.
Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton said: "Cobalt will give our commandos a decisive edge, bringing their sensors, autonomous platforms and data together so that they can make decisions faster than any adversary."
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