MINE HUNTING CAPABILITY

Military Capability

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: Not disclosed
Published schedule: 01/10/2014 – 31/03/2034
NISTA delivery confidence: Not disclosed
Senior responsible owner: Cdre Michael Wood

What the project is for

Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) will provide an agile, interoperable, and survivable capability using emerging Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) that enables strategic, operational, and tactical freedom of manoeuvre and exploitation of the battle space in order to assure and sustain the delivery of Maritime Force Projection and Maritime Security capabilities at the time and place of the UK’s choosing across the range of Standing Commitments and Operations, by defeating static underwater threats. The aim of MHC is to deliver a managed transition from current Mine Counter Measures Vessels (MCMV) to future MAS capabilities whilst sustaining and, where possible, improving capability delivery to provide military effect in accordance with extant Policy assumptions. The pace and nature of change is dictated by out-of-service dates for current MCMVs, by affordability issues, and by recognised capability shortfalls measured against an evolving requirement and threat. The intention is to transform current Mine Counter Measures thinking in order to enable these capabilities to be deployed differently, and more economically and effectively.

Departmental delivery commentary

Exempt under Section 27 - International relations

Schedule

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the programme's end-date at 25/26-Q4 remained the same at 31/03/2034.

Cost

Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests

Benefits

Compared to financial year 2024/25-Q4, the project's departmental-agreed monetised benefits at 2025/26-Q4 remained at £0m.