The Royal Navy has made a squadron formed entirely of autonomous boats officially part of the fleet for the first time.

The ceremony for the commissioning of the 1st Autonomous Squadron took place at HMNB Portsmouth, featuring a demonstration of the Kraken K3 Scout boats.

Senior officers say the new capability will help defend the UK against rapidly changing threats, as the Navy strives to create a fleet of both manned and unmanned vessels.

Capt Adam Ballard, deputy commander of the surface flotilla, told the BBC: "This is about a Navy that is truly hybrid, and so you take the benefits of both types - the amazing capability and flexibility of these systems along with a carrier strike group."

He added: "It's a really, really potent fighting force."

The Kraken K3 Scout boats are built in Fareham, Hampshire, and have a top speed of about 60mph.

The unmanned remotely-operated boats can be used for surveillance, force protection, and precision strikes, and will work alongside manned warships and helicopters.

This means they can carry cameras and radar for surveillance and be fitted with weapons.

Lt Reece McCarthy, 1st Autonomous Squadron, described operating the vessels as "100% a young person's game".

"We use Xbox controls and PlayStation controls to drive the craft," he explained.

"We have some of the most genius sailors in the Navy fresh out of training."

The boats are expected to carry out their first operational deployment in the coming months.

Fleet Cdr Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse said he was "genuinely excited".

"Even two or three years ago, if you'd have tried to say this is what we'd be doing today I think both you and I would have thought we were being slightly bonkers," he said.

"That's the pace at which we've gone, and the focus on it, and where technology has taken us, so it's hugely exciting."