• Naval Warfare

  Latest Virginia-class submarine, USS Iowa, commissioned

  8th April 2025

  SSN-797 was commissioned as USS Iowa, the first Virginia-class submarine of the second Trump administration. It was described as “just the beginning” of a revitalisation of US naval shipbuilding by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan minesweeper sunk by fire

  11th November 2024

  The Ukushima had a fire in its engine room which ultimately capsized the vessel after a long firefighting exercise.

• Defence Notes

  How temporary funding could affect the US military’s critical acquisition programmes

  25th September 2024

  Operating under continuing resolutions would affect Patriot, Virginia-class, Columbia-class and B-21 programmes.

• Naval Warfare

  Austal to build two more landing craft for US Navy

  6th August 2024

  This contract modification brings the total number of Landing Craft Utility (LCU) currently scheduled or under construction for US Navy (USN) by Austal USA to five.

• Training

  German Navy takes delivery of ship handling trainer

  4th July 2024

  The system is designed to teach content in navigation, nautical law, military procedures, ship-handling and basic seamanship such as manoeuvring in port, towing or being towed.

• Air Warfare

  Northrop gets $3.5 billion contract to integrate mission systems for E-6B successor

  19th December 2024

  The E-130J aircraft will take over the E-6B for the US Navy’s Take Charge and Move Out system.

• Naval Warfare

  Kongsberg’s large uncrewed vehicle to join US Navy

  25th February 2025

  The company’s Hugin Superior system has passed its acceptance testing just a year into its contract with the Defense Innovation Unit.

• Naval Warfare

  Chilean Navy commissions icebreaker as race for Antarctica heats up

  30th July 2024

  The commissioning of the domestically manufactured icebreaker Almirante Viel marks the latest addition to a series of new ships acquired by South American navies to enhance their presence in Antarctic waters.

• Naval Warfare

  UK Royal Navy’s Littoral Response Group South makes Asia-Pacific debut

  16th August 2024

  The deployment will aim to strengthen the UK’s Indo-Pacific presence ahead of the potential 2025 arrival of a Carrier Strike Group.

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon transitions GhostEye MR radar into production phase

  29th October 2024

  The sensor was recently tested by the US Air Force and US Navy and will continue to undergo testing and evaluation.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s Ghost Shark XLUUV to undergo trials in the US

  21st August 2024

  US uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) systems manufacturer Anduril, through its Australian subsidiary, has a contract to deliver three prototype extra-large UUVs (XLUUVs) named Ghost Shark to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

• Air Warfare

  More AMRAAMs approved for Denmark under $744 million deal

  30th October 2024

  There has been a spike in demand for Raytheon’s Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), including a US$1.2 billion Pentagon order for 12 countries as well as US Navy and US Air Force. There have also been approvals this year for sales to Israel, Norway, Romania and Singapore.

• Land Warfare

  Missile production being boosted across three continents

  12th December 2024

  The demand for missiles reflects current strategic interests, such as those in the Indo-Pacific region and conflict in Europe, along with an expectation of local involvement in manufacture which also supports a drive to build capacity.

• Naval Warfare

  Ireland steps up European defence co-operation in the face of Russian activity

  14th April 2025

  Ireland is militarily neutral but has joined a European Union (EU) rapid reaction force and a European information sharing group.

• Naval Warfare

  Swedish Navy and Saab sign deal on autonomous mine countermeasures vessels

  13th December 2024

  The AUV will use high-resolution sonar images to detect mines on the seabed without endangering personnel.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Frigates

  Constellation Class - FFG(X) (1-10)

  Programme Background The FFG (X) programme was first announced with a Request for Information (RFI) released by the US Navy in July 2017 with a ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Tier 2 Frigates Procurement [Australia]

  The February 2024 Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review recommends that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquire at least seven, and optimally 11, Tier 2 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Tier 2 Frigates Procurement [Australia]

  The February 2024 Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review recommends that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquire at least seven, and optimally 11, Tier 2 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Project SEA 3000 [Australia]

  The February 2024 Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review recommends that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquire at least seven, and optimally 11, Tier 2 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Project SEA 3000 [Australia]

  The February 2024 Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review recommends that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquire at least seven, and optimally 11, Tier 2 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Belgium]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Belgium]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Luleå Class [Sweden]

  According to the Swedish Defence White Paper for the 2021-2025 period, the Navy will need to replace the existing two ageing Gävle-class corvettes with new surface ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Luleå Class [Sweden]

  According to the Swedish Defence White Paper for the 2021-2025 period, the Navy will need to replace the existing two ageing Gävle-class corvettes with new surface ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Maritime Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background October 2024 In October 2024, the UK Government announced £120 million ($152 million) of funding for Ukraine’s Navy and maritime capabilities, which will fund uncrewed surface ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Netherlands]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Netherlands]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Project Vixen [UK]

  Programme Background Project Goal The Royal Navy uses Leonardo crewed Merlin (AW101) helicopters fitted with CROWSNEST pods to provide airborne early warning capabilities for carriers. An early ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3-4) [Netherlands]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Ship-launched torpedoes

  UMGT-1 torpedo

  The UMGT-1 is a Soviet-designed universal small-sized homing torpedo with a 400 mm caliber, developed for engaging both surface ships and submarines. Its compact size ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Ghost

  Developed to be versatile, Ghost is a manoeuvrable, rotary-wing mini-UAV designed for performing ISR missions in urban warfare, observation stakeout missions and covert special operations ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Loki

  Loki is a Ukrainian mini fixed-wing drone designed by the National Association of Ukrainian Defence Industries (NAUDI). The drone is launched from a pneumatic launcher ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Thor

  Thor is a Ukrainian fixed-wing small drone manufactured by the National Association of Ukrainian Defence Industries (NAUDI). Powered by a lithium polymer or lithium-ion battery, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SCOMBA

  SCOMBA is a combat management system developed by Navantia for the Spanish Navy. It has been in service with the Spanish Navy since 2010 across ...

• Military - USVs

  Bluebottle

  Bluebottle is a persistent, autonomous, uncrewed surface vessel from Ocius Technology in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

• Sea: procedural training

  IMAT

  DAS supports the development and deployment of the Interactive Multisensor Analysis Training (IMAT) system for the US Navy, used at navy schoolhouse and training centres, ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Giraffe 4A

  The Sea Giraffe 4A is a medium-to-long-range surveillance radar produced by Swedish manufacturer Saab. The radar is designed to provide automatic and simultaneous air and ...

• Military - USVs

  Marlin

  Marlin is a Turkish uncrewed surface vessel (USV) equipped with electronic warfare and other equipment that has been used on exercises with the Turkish Navy.

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SeaFLIR 380-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380-HD is a long-range, multispectral surveillance system for surface vessels. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system combines HD IR, colour or SWIR spectral information. According to ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-47

  President Donald Trump announced that the F-47 is the next American fighter. The programme, which started in 2014, is part of the U.S. Air Force's Next ...

• Military - USVs

  Sentinel - Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT)

  Sentinel is an autonomous uncrewed surface vessel (USV) built from the decommissioned HMAS Maitland , a former Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Armidale-class Patrol Boat.

• Sea: procedural training

  SEWTT

  The Surface Electronic Warfare Team Trainer (SEWTT) is a software application developed by EWA GSI as a next-generation tactical training application for US Navy surface ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Surface Scout

  Surface Scout is an X-band, medium-range surveillance radar with a range of up to 44km. It covers 20° of elevation and has a beam width ...

• Corvettes

  Shadhinota Class (Type C13B/Type 056)

  The Shadhinota-class comprises four Type C13B corvettes built by China's Wuchang Shipbuilding Industrial Group for the Bangladesh Navy. Designed to conduct anti-air warfare and ASuW ...