The Royal Navy's new experimental ship – XV Patrick Blackett – has had her first outing on the water to begin the next phase of development.
On the same day the 42m, 270-tonne ship was certified, the vessel sailed under the Blue Ensign of the Royal Navy.
The XV Patrick Blackett left Portsmouth naval base to undergo sea acceptance trials and ensure that the equipment on board was ready to support innovative experimentation.
The XV Patrick Blackett, named after the former Royal Navy sailor and Nobel Prize winner, Patrick Blackett, was created by the Navy's experimentation and innovation experts NavyX who develop and test new advanced equipment.
Head of NavyX, Colonel Tom Ryall said: "I always said that the arrival of Patrick Blackett into Portsmouth was just the end of the beginning.
"Today, we've started the next phase in her journey, as she went to sea under a Blue Ensign. She will have a busy programme ahead of her this summer."
XV Patrick Blackett will enable NavyX to experiment without the need to place a demand on other Navy ships and create opportunities to work with industry and academia partners.
She is paving the way for advanced experimentation, innovation, and future capabilities within the Royal Navy, and ensuring that the UK stays at the leading edge of naval warfare.
In the future, XV Patrick Blackett will take part in Royal Navy and Nato exercises, with the possibility of being upgraded with autonomous technology, meaning it may not require a crew to operate.
Development team member Chief Petty Officer David 'Griff' Griffiths said: "This is the best job I've done in my 26 years in the Navy. You get to work in a team unlike any other – it's diverse, and ranges in rank and experience, both military and civil servant.
"It's an exciting place to be as we have the opportunity to make significant changes to the future of the Royal Navy."
The ship, which has a crew of five Royal Navy personnel, was brought into service on 29 July 2022 with a welcoming ceremony held at Portsmouth Naval Base.
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