RFA Proteus was spotted arriving in the mist and rain this morning and inbound to HMNB Devonport with talk of plans the vessel will get an upgrade – as part of a £330 million investment in protecting critical British underwater infrastructure.
The Government’s Defence Investment Plan outlined several investments into seabed warfare capabilities, including upgrades and potential enhancements for RFA Proteus.
RFA Proteus began life as the commercial offshore support vessel MV Topaz Tangaroa, built in Romania and fitted out in Norway in 2019, before the MoD bought her for £70 million in early 2023.
The 6,133-tonne vessel entered service in October 2023, with a core crew of 26 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel augmented by around 60 Royal Navy specialists who run her undersea surveillance, survey and warfare systems.
