Dr. Stewart Radcliffe

Head of Solution Innovation - Maritime Thales UK

Dr Stewart Radcliffe received his BSc in Physics from Durham University, UK in 1994 before moving to the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR), University of Southampton, UK where he received his PhD for research into the Acoustical Identification of the Characteristics of Ocean Fronts in 1997. Following ten years in consultancy, Stewart joined Thales where he has bid, won, and delivered projects in several areas of the business, often in research and concept development. Stewart’s role as Head of Solution Innovation – Maritime allows him to work with the full range of Thales UK’s capabilities and ecosystem partners to develop answers to our Customer’s key problems in the Maritime Domain. One of his current areas of focus is the Royal Navy’s adoption of crewed/uncrewed assets in a System of Systems capability that can rapidly respond to changes in operational requirements

Conference Day 1: Tuesday, 15 July 2025

2:00 PM PANEL DISCUSSION: OPERATIONALISING UNCREWED SYSTEMS IN THE MARITIME BATTLESPACE

Uncrewed systems are playing an increasingly central role in naval operations, particularly in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Mine Warfare, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). This panel will explore how heterogeneous teams of crewed and uncrewed platforms are being deployed in complex maritime environments, and what is required to ensure their effective integration. Key areas of focus include autonomy, command and control, resilience, and capability development.

 

Discussion Questions:

  • What are the most promising operational scenarios for employing mixed teams of crewed and uncrewed systems in ASW, Mine Warfare, and ISR?
  • How can swarming behaviours be effectively coordinated and controlled in contested maritime environments?
  • In what ways do uncrewed systems enhance situational awareness and support maritime picture management for effective command and control?
  • How can navies ensure secure and resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) in GPS-contested or denied environments?
  • What role does test and evaluation play in validating uncrewed systems, supporting integration, and accelerating capability development?
  • How do we operationalise interoperability with partners and allies for complex maritime environments including heterogeneous teams of crewed and uncrewed platforms?

 

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Stewart.

Download The Latest Agenda