Royal Navy experimental ship starts acceptance trials

The Royal Navy’s unique trials ship XV (eXperimental Vessel) Patrick Blackett has begun sea acceptance trials. Operated by the Royal Navy’s Autonomy and Lethality Accelerator, NavyX, she will be used to test and trial novel technologies aimed at getting new capability into frontline service as quickly as possible.

The sea acceptance trials are designed to ensure the vessel and equipment onboard are fully functioning and ready to support innovative experimentation.

The start of the ship’s operations with NavyX will enable the organisation to independently test and trial novel technologies, which in turn allows the warships of the Royal Navy to focus their time and efforts on their operational duties. The ship will sail under the Royal Fleet Auxilary’s Blue Ensign.

The 270-tonne vessel, which bears the name of the former Royal Navy Officer and Nobel Prize Winner Patrick Blackett, has a crew of five but accommodates additional sea riders for trial purposes.  is paving the way for advanced experimentation, innovation, and future capabilities within the Royal Navy, and ensuring that the UK stays at the leading edge of naval warfare.

NavyX also operates two of the Royal Navy’s autonomous vessels, MADFOX and APAC-24.

Image: Crown Copyright – UK Ministry of Defence