As part of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee enquiry into armed forces readiness, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Ben Key gave some insight into the current availability levels of the RN fleet. Here we consider the discussion and some of the nuances and context that were overlooked.
Following trials with the experimental MANTA extra large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV), CETUS the RN’s next advanced technology demonstrator has entered the manufacturing phase. Here we provide some more details of the project.
On 11th September a Vanguard-class submarine returned home to Faslane following a patrol lasting 195 days. Here we look at the background and implications of these extended periods at sea.
Through open-source observations, it is clear that none of the Royal Navy’s six commissioned SSNs are at sea at the time of writing. As part of normal maintenance cycles several boats could be expected to be in harbour but it is unusual for the entire force to be alongside.
Since the formal announcement in March that Australia would partner with the RN to design and build a new class of SSNs, further details have emerged about how the AUKUS submarine programme will be structured.
In this guest article, Kamil Sadowski considers how navies may employ surface platforms to counter the evolving threat from UUVs.
HMS Vanguard, one of the four Trident submarines that maintain the UK’s nuclear deterrent, left Devonport yesterday after a very much delayed Long Overhaul Period and Refuel (LOP(R)).
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Head of the US Northern Command recently told Senators that Russia could have its most powerful Yasen (NATO name Severodvinsk) class attack submarines on persistent patrols off either of America’s coasts within two years which will “reduce decision space for a national senior leader in a time of crisis”. Here we look at these boats and the wider Russian submarine threat that is equally applicable to the UK and Europe.
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The leaders of Australia, Britain and the US met today at a summit in San Diego to discuss the AUKUS pact. The centrepiece of the agreement is the deal to supply nuclear-powered submarines to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Here we examine the implications of the announcements and look at the future Anglo-Australian SSN(R) submarine project.
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