Frankenburg Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with defence company Babcock International Group and Plymouth-based maritime technology company ACUA Ocean Technologies to advance counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) solutions in the marine domain. As threats from low-cost UAS continue to evolve, the need for effective and adaptable counter-drone capabilities has become increasingly important across the defence and security landscape. This new agreement will create integrated solutions to combat that threat. The agreement builds on existing partnership Frankenburg signed with Babcock in January to explore new air defence systems that can withstand the rapid rise in one-way attack drones.
Now with ACUA Ocean on board, the parties will bring together three distinct elements: Babcock’s multi-domain launcher system with Frankenburg’s low-cost, precision-guided missile systems, integrated into ACUA Ocean’s uncrewed surface vessels (USV). Babcock’s launcher system can be fitted onto both crewed and uncrewed surface vessels, built at pace and scaled quickly. In June ACUA Ocean’s PIONEER USV recently operated continuously for 16–20 nautical miles offshore, completing more than 100 hours at sea without any hands-on intervention. The tripartite agreement supports the development of scalable, autonomous maritime defence capabilities and the UK’s vision for a hybrid navy.
Daniel Hallett, UK Managing Director at Frankenburg Technologies, said:“Affordable missile defence is heading farther out to sea. By equipping ACUA’s uncrewed vessels with Frankenburg’s mass-manufacturable missiles and Babcock’s launcher technology, we aim to create a persistent and low-cost way to protect the UK’s ships, ports and critical maritime infrastructure against mass drone attacks.”
Sir Nick Hine, Chief Growth Officer for Babcock, said:“We’re excited to partner with innovative companies to develop an integrated approach that directly addresses some of the biggest challenges our customers face in today’s defence landscape. As a trusted systems integrator, collaborations like this will help protect critical national assets and infrastructure from attritable one-way attack drones.”
Neil Tinmouth, CEO of ACUA Ocean Technologies, said: “Partnering with Babcock and Frankenburg enables true persistent, multi-domain defence capabilities. To counter mass drone attacks, maritime air defence must be uninterrupted, yet rough weather often forces traditional systems out of limits. The unique stability of ACUA’s Pioneer-class, which we’ll be using for this collaboration, ensures these counter UAS and interchangeable payloads remain online and fully operational in high seas where other platforms fail.”
ACUA Ocean Technologies is a UK-based developer of autonomous uncrewed surface vessels and maritime technology. Its platforms are developed for defence and offshore applications. Founded in 2020, the company is headquartered in Plymouth.
Babcock is a FTSE 100 international defence company, operating in the UK, Australasia, Canada, France, and South Africa with exports to additional markets. The company delivers complex support and product solutions to enhance its customers’ defence capabilities and critical assets. Babcock is driven by its purpose: to create a safe and secure world, together.
Frankenburg Technologies is a European defence technology company developing affordable, mass-manufacturable missile systems. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, the company operates across several NATO countries, including the United Kingdom. Frankenburg’s mission is to equip the free world with the tech to win the war. Frankenburg’s first system, Mark I, is a precision-guided air defence missile designed to defeat Class I–III uncrewed aerial systems, reducing short-range intercept costs by more than 10×. It can be deployed from land, maritime and airborne platforms and is designed for localised, high-volume production through Frankenburg’s FieldFoundry model.
