Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • DE&S delivers RFA Stirling Castle to Royal Navy

Defence Security

DE&S delivers RFA Stirling Castle to Royal Navy

A former specialist offshore support vessel purchased to carry advanced autonomous minehunting systems has been delivered by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) to the Royal Navy.

Above: RFA Stirling Castle leaving Devonport for trials.
Credit RFA Nostalgia

The 6,000-tonne RFA Stirling Castle, will deploy the systems to locate, identify and neutralise mines and underwater explosive devices, particularly in UK waters, as well as gathering further critical data for analysis.

Advertisement
Leonardo

Technology onboard will include the joint French-UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) system, the Combined Influence Sweep (SWEEP) system and Medium Underwater Autonomous Vehicles (MAUVs).

RFA Stirling Castle has undergone military conversion and will be operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, with trained Royal Navy personnel operating the state-of-the-art systems onboard.

The vessel was procured by DE&S’ Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, which employed innovative strategies and ways of working to deliver at pace.

The ship’s official delivery comes just four weeks after RFA Proteus, which will carry specialist autonomous systems to safeguard vital seabed telecommunications cables and oil and gas pipelines that are a target for hostile states.

Team leader Gareth Morris, said: “The delivery of RFA Stirling Castle is another proud milestone for a team that has worked with great diligence to deliver two highly capable vessels that will ensure our Royal Navy has the competitive edge.”

Rear Admiral Paul Carroll, Director Innovation and Future Capability at DE&S, said: “RFA Stirling Castle’s entry into service marks another milestone in the Royal Navy’s drive to field uncrewed and autonomous systems across a range of operations. It isn’t just about the ship and the systems but about how we bring together diverse teams with the right tools to learn at pace and stay ahead of adversaries.”

Advertisement
Amentum rectangle

 

 

 

Advertisement
Babcock LB
All on board with Babcock

Defence Events

All on board with Babcock

12 September 2025

Babcock recently hit the highway as it started a nationwide tour of the UK in a specially kitted out bus, where it is connecting with colleagues and highlighting the positive impact it is having on communities the length and breadth of Britain, as it ramps up recruitment.

GA-ASI and AeroVironment launch Switchblade 600 from MQ-9A UAS

Defence

GA-ASI and AeroVironment launch Switchblade 600 from MQ-9A UAS

11 September 2025

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and AeroVironment collaborated on the first ever air launch of a Switchblade 600 loitering munition (LM) from a GA-ASI Block 5 MQ-9A unmanned aircraft system (UAS).

Serco to continue support for US Navy submarines

Defence

Serco to continue support for US Navy submarines

11 September 2025

Serco has won a new indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to continue supporting the US Navy’s Submarine High Data Rate (SubHDR) antenna systems.

LTPA enhanced to unlock SME access and boost innovation

Defence

LTPA enhanced to unlock SME access and boost innovation

11 September 2025

QinetiQ and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have agreed changes to the Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) that will make it easier and cheaper for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to use test and evaluation (T&E) capabilities across the UK.

Advertisement
Amentum rectangle
BAE Systems opens engineering facility in Minneapolis

Defence

BAE Systems opens engineering facility in Minneapolis

11 September 2025

BAE Systems has officially opened a 247,000-square-foot engineering and product development facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota, serving as a critical innovation hub focused on engineering and product development for the US military and its allies.

Ukrainian defence industry to gain support via ADS membership offer

Defence Events

Ukrainian defence industry to gain support via ADS membership offer

11 September 2025

In a world first, ADS is offering defence companies headquartered in Ukraine the opportunity to gain unparalled support through becoming members of the UK trade association for aerospace, defence, security and space.

Advertisement
ODU RT