Royal Navy Wildcat fires the first operational Martlet missile
On 16th October, a Wildcat helicopter conducted the first operational firing of the Marlet missile. The aircraft, 219 flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron and based on HMS Defender launched the missile, successfully hitting the target while flying in the Bay of Bengal.
Batch I River Class OPVs extended in service until 2028
The Integrated Review was unclear about the future of the three Batch 1 OPVs but a recent support contract award announcement makes it clear that these ships will remain in service until at least April 2028.
A big future for UK shipbuilding
The second iteration of the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSbS) is due to be published soon. Here we consider the ambitions for the long-term naval construction programme and revival of the maritime enterprise.
Thinking inside the box – the Royal Navy’s containerised capability concept
At DSEI 2021 the Second Sea Lord revealed the RN’s PODS concept (Persistent Operational Deployment Systems). In simple terms, a move to put equipment into standard-sized modules (ISO shipping containers) to simplify and speed up delivery a variety of capabilities.
Progress report: Manta – the Royal Navy’s experimental autonomous submarine
In Spring 2020 the RN received its first extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV). Here we look at how trials and experimentation with Manta are progressing and some of the wider considerations about bringing uncrewed submarines into frontline service.
Up close with the Royal Navy’s new officer training boats
Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK) are in the middle of a programme to build and deliver 38 SEA Class workboats used in various roles by RN. In this photo and video essay, we take a look at the Officer Training variant.
Steel cut for first Type 31 frigate – HMS Venturer
At a ceremony in Rosyth today, the Defence Secretary (and ‘shipbuilding Tsar’) Ben Wallace conducted the first steel cutting, signalling the start of the Type 31 frigate construction programme.
Small warships for Ukraine to be built in Scotland
As part of the Ukrainian Naval Capabilities Enhancement Programme (UNCEP) agreement signed with the UK government in October 2020, Babcock will build at least one, probably two Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) for Ukraine at their Rosyth facility. Here we look at this programme and Babcock’s other moves in the naval export market.
Royal Navy nuclear submarine technology to be shared with Australia
A new trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS) was announced yesterday. As part of this new alliance, the US and UK will assist with the construction of up to 8 nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs). In this brief commentary, we outline some of the implications.
