By Abbas Nazil
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has unveiled Project COOKSON, an ambitious initiative aimed at enhancing maritime defence capabilities through innovative vessel technology.
Announced on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, the project is a key element of the UK-Norway-led Maritime Capability Coalition and underscores the UK’s commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s maritime defences amid escalating tensions in the Black Sea.
Project COOKSON centers on the development of compact, versatile vessels equipped with advanced technologies to address modern maritime threats.
These vessels are designed for multi-mission reuse, offering low observability, modular payload capabilities, and the capacity to operate in GNSS-denied environments.
Capable of being transported by flatbed trucks or strategic airlift, the systems promise operational flexibility across diverse scenarios.
To refine the concept, the MoD will host a Challenge Session on January 22, 2025, in London, inviting industry experts from NATO, Ukraine, and Five-Eyes countries.
The session aims to assess key project components, including the integration of hard-kill air defence systems, vessel performance optimization, and production scalability.
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Participants will provide feedback on design feasibility, endurance in adverse conditions, and the vessel’s ability to launch advanced effectors, while also exploring future capability innovations.
The initial procurement phase is scheduled for early 2025, targeting ten COOKSON systems with plans for substantial follow-on orders. Selected industry proposals will receive funding to demonstrate fully operational prototypes by late 2025 or early 2026.
This rapid timeline highlights the urgency of the project, particularly in light of Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia and the heightened importance of maritime security in the Black Sea region.
Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports, attacks on grain shipments, and Black Sea Fleet dominance have intensified the need for effective countermeasures.
Ukraine’s innovative use of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to target Russian warships and infrastructure has demonstrated the critical role of advanced maritime technologies in countering conventional naval threats.
Project COOKSON aligns with these evolving dynamics, offering Ukraine small, fast, and low-observable vessels capable of delivering precision strikes with advanced one-way effectors.
These cost-effective systems reduce reliance on traditional, high-cost assets like large warships, providing a sustainable and adaptable solution to maritime challenges.
As the Black Sea remains a focal point of conflict, the MoD’s initiative seeks to address vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s naval capabilities while strengthening NATO-aligned strategies.
The project underscores the UK’s commitment to innovative defence solutions and collaborative efforts to enhance regional security. END
Source: Army Recognition
