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Type 91
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Type 91

A planned Royal Navy class of uncrewed surface missile platform named in the 2026 Defence Investment Plan.

Type 91, the Royal Navy's planned 70 to 75-metre uncrewed missile vessel, had its size and role confirmed on 16 July 2026, targeting a 2030 prototype, but the Ministry of Defence has yet to name a shipyard or contractor.

Last refreshed: 12 August 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Can the Royal Navy get a Type 91 missile-carrying robot ship into service by 2030?

Timeline for Type 91

#11 11 Aug
#7 16 Jul

Type 91 to 94 robot fleet takes shape

Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea
#7 13 Jul
#6 7 Jul
#5 30 Jun

Named as an uncrewed missile platform for the Hybrid Fleet

Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea: Britain names four uncrewed warship classes
View full timeline →

Background

Type 91 is a planned Royal Navy class of uncrewed missile-carrying vessel, roughly 70 to 75 metres long, one of four autonomous classes named alongside Type 92, Type 93 and Type 94. It sits within a GBP1.5bn, four-year Ministry of Defence funding line covering all four classes, part of a wider surface fleet redesign in which crewed motherships direct uncrewed shooters and sensors rather than fighting alone.

No contractor has yet been named for Type 91, and delivery risk beyond the 2030 prototype aspiration remains unquantified, making the class one of the clearest tests of whether the Royal Navy's autonomy ambitions convert into hulls on schedule.

Key Issues
Naval missile drone

Type 91 lacks a named contractor

On 16 July 2026 the Ministry of Defence published size and role detail for Type 91, its planned uncrewed missile-carrying vessel of roughly 70 to 75 metres, confirming a prototype target of 2030 within a GBP1.5bn, four-year funding line shared with sibling classes Type 92 to 94.

The class was first named on 30 June 2026 alongside more than GBP5bn of wider autonomy investment, but no shipyard or contractor has since been announced, leaving Type 91 the clearest test of whether the naming decision converts into an order.

Common Questions
What is the Royal Navy's Type 91 class?
Type 91 is a planned uncrewed missile-carrying vessel roughly 70 to 75 metres long, one of four new autonomous Royal Navy classes.Source: The News (Portsmouth)
When will Type 91 enter service?
The Ministry of Defence is targeting a prototype missile platform in service by 2030, though no contractor has been named.Source: The News (Portsmouth)
Who will build the Type 91 uncrewed missile platform?
No contractor has yet been named for Type 91, and delivery risk beyond the 2030 aspiration remains unquantified.Source: The News (Portsmouth)
How much is the UK spending on the Type 91 to 94 uncrewed fleet?
The Ministry of Defence has committed at least GBP 1.5 billion over four years across all four classes, Type 91 to 94.Source: The News (Portsmouth)