Project Beehive – K3 Scout USV Procurement: United Kingdom contract and delivery record

Development and reported outcome

Royal Navy awarded Project Beehive for 20 USVs. The procurement disclosure gives GBP10.25 million excluding VAT, while Royal Navy reporting gives GBP12.3 million including VAT. Award is distinct from later delivery and experimentation.[S1] [S2]

Program, platform and stakeholders

Programme or contract: Project Beehive – K3 Scout USV Procurement. Platform or product: 20 Project Beehive USVs (later identified as K3 Scout specification) + ground-control/support package. Platform classification: Medium (K3 Scout: 8.4 m). Recorded supplier, developer or relevant organization: Kraken Works Ltd (Kraken Technology Group) (reported headquarters/country: United Kingdom). Recorded customer, operator or intended user: Royal Navy (reported headquarters/country: United Kingdom).[S1] [S2]

Mission and technical scope

The following are classifications recorded in the source master, not additional claims of operational deployment: Mission/use-case classification: Training / Combat Readiness / Autonomous Naval Operations. Operating mode: Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV).

Contract, value and shipment signals

Original reported amount or scope: GBP 10.25 million ex VAT / GBP 12.3 million incl. VAT. Original-currency label: GBP. Recorded quantity, delivery, demonstration or volume signal: 20 USVs. Recorded contractual start: 23-Mar-26. Recorded contractual end: 31-Mar-27. Recorded contractual duration: 1 year 9 days.[S1] [S2]

Source verification and interpretation limits

UXV Searcher master source-coverage note: Deep verified: Project Beehive award decision was Mar. 5, not April. Kraken Works Ltd received GBP 10.25 million ex VAT / GBP 12.3 million incl. VAT for a 20-USV fleet plus ground-control/support/integration; no per-USV price is derived.

Interpretation boundary: The source-specific record should be used to distinguish award, arrival, commissioning and completed delivery; these stages are not interchangeable.[S1] [S2]

UXV Searcher analysis — what the development changes

UXV Searcher interpretation — contract / recorded award outcome: The United Kingdom USV record for Project Beehive – K3 Scout USV Procurement is best treated as a committed commercial activity signal. The recorded award or contract is a stronger transaction signal than a tender; the amount and quantity still need separation into platforms, accessories, support and services.

Traceability for buyers: The dataset associates Kraken Works Ltd (Kraken Technology Group) with Royal Navy for 20 Project Beehive USVs (later identified as K3 Scout specification) + ground-control/support…. This supports stakeholder mapping; supply-chain tier, exclusivity and signed-customer relationships need the underlying source before firm classification.

Client-use interpretation: For intelligence users tracking Training / Combat Readiness / Autonomous Naval Operations, the relevant next proof points are mission validation, safety standards and production commitments. Watch for acceptance or delivery reports, contract modifications and whether the stated amount covers equipment or ancillary work.[S1] [S2]

Quantitative evidence, calculations and limits

Financial signal (master transcription): GBP 10.25 million ex VAT / GBP 12.3 million incl. VAT. Classification: Financial context as recorded in the master; scope and contract status must follow the underlying source. Quantity/scope signal: 20 USVs. Counting rule: Order/award context; not proof that hardware has shipped or entered service. Reproducible calculations: Recorded start-to-end calendar interval: 373 days ((2027-03-31) - (2026-03-23) = 373 elapsed calendar days). Refer to the calculation cards for assumptions and limitations.

Any volume or value must stay tagged to its awarded work package; mixed services, components and platform counts cannot be consolidated as vehicle deliveries.[S1] [S2]