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The Integrated Review – a Royal Navy perspective
March 16, 2021

The Integrated Review – a Royal Navy perspective

After more than 3 years in gestation, the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy entitled “Global Britain in a Competitive Age” was published today. This is an ambitious and wide-ranging document that has much merit but for the Armed Forces, the devil will be in the detail that will follow in the Defence Command Paper published next week.

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Analysis
HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives on the Clyde to embark munitions
March 15, 2021

HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives on the Clyde to embark munitions

As part of the preparations for her maiden operational deployment in May, HMS Queen Elizabeth has made her first visit to the Clyde to embark munitions.

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News Commentaries
Royal Navy leads Joint Expeditionary Force task group in the Baltic Sea
March 11, 2021

Royal Navy leads Joint Expeditionary Force task group in the Baltic Sea

HMS Lancaster, HMS Westminster and RFA Tiderace are in the Baltic Sea, leading a task group of warships from the international Joint Expeditionary Force.

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Photo Essay
The threat to world’s communications backbone – the vulnerability of undersea cables
March 10, 2021

The threat to world’s communications backbone – the vulnerability of undersea cables

Undersea data cables are critical to the internet upon which the modern world has come to depend. This hidden network forms the backbone of global communications but is surprisingly vulnerable to interference by hostile actors. Protecting this infrastructure may become an increasingly important remit for the Royal Navy.More

Analysis
Context and considerations – new multi-role research vessels for the UK
March 3, 2021

Context and considerations – new multi-role research vessels for the UK

Amongst the announcements about naval construction made in November 2020, the Prime Minister stated the intention to build new “multi-role research vessels”. No further detail about these ships has been given, although more may emerge when the Integrated Review is published. Here we look at the background to this project. More

Analysis
The Integrated Review – painful choices for the Royal Navy?
February 22, 2021

The Integrated Review – painful choices for the Royal Navy?

The Integrated Review is due to be published in March 2021. In the next few weeks, rumours of how the review will impact the forces are likely to circulate in the media. An unconfirmed report in the Daily Mail suggests some of the older frigates will be retired early. Here we consider some of the options the RN may have and the implications for the surface escort fleet.

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News Commentaries
How the Royal Navy monitors the Russian Navy sailing close to the UK
February 19, 2021

How the Royal Navy monitors the Russian Navy sailing close to the UK

The number of Russian naval vessels passing close to the UK has climbed steadily in the last 10 years Although most of this activity is lawful and benign, the RN always deploys vessels to closely monitor these movements in the UK area of interest. Here we summarise this activity, its purpose and messaging.
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Analysis
Royal Navy submarines and non-acoustic sensor technology
February 12, 2021

Royal Navy submarines and non-acoustic sensor technology

The arrival of HMS Talent in Gibraltar in February fitted with additional sensors on her fin has raised the public awareness of non-acoustic submarine detection methods. Sonar remains the primary means of locating submarines but here we examine what is known about other technologies that may be used in the undersea battle to detect and trail adversary boats.

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Technical Briefing
Are the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers too big?
February 5, 2021

Are the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers too big?

There is a school of thought that says the Queen Elizabeth class carriers are an ‘over-sized vanity project’ and there are regular complaints that RN should have built smaller ships. In this long-read we analyse the context of their development and the case for and against the procurement of large aircraft carriers.
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Analysis
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