• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024

  13th November 2023

  The use of long-duration Uncrewed Surface Vehicles for maritime surveillance and monitoring has become part of the fleet inventory as navies try to reduce the level of effort required to gather intelligence on areas of interest.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia narrows the field for Sea 1905 MCM programme

  11th October 2023

  The Australian navy's mine countermeasures programme is moving forward ever so slowly.

• Naval Warfare

  Netherlands selects Barracuda submarine as Australia looks on

  20th March 2024

  With the Netherlands selecting the Barracuda design for its new Orka-class submarines, it will give Australia a chance to see what it could have had after it cancelled its conventional submarine (SSK) project based on Barracuda, opting instead for a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN).

• Naval Warfare

  How Turkish shipyard ASFAT is engaging in Pakistan’s maritime expansion

  15th December 2023

  Since delivering the first Babur-class corvette last September, ASFAT has targeted future growth in the Indo-Pacific market by engaging in a new project with Pakistan for future frigates.

• Naval Warfare

  ThayerMahan wins Office of Naval Research contract to expand capability of autonomous USV

  1st November 2023

  The company has proven success in undersea operations but has been pushing to improve capability and further demonstrate its systems' ability to provide surveillance.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IAI's BlueWhale uncrewed submarine to join NATO’s Dynamic Messenger exercise

  28th September 2023

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announces that its autonomous BlueWhale uncrewed submarine will participate in the NATO Dynamic Messenger exercise, in an effort to demonstrate its capabilities in the maritime sector.

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan reveals first indigenous submarine to much fanfare

  2nd October 2023

  Taiwan has made good progress with its submarine programme, revealing its initial boat in late September.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD

  16th April 2024

  A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.

• Naval Warfare

  France advances SSBN and SSN projects

  5th October 2023

  France has advanced its main programmes for new ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs).

• Naval Warfare

  Greek frigate launch heralds Hellenic Navy modernisation

  11th October 2023

  The launch of the first of three new Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates for Greece on 4 October 2023 at French shipyard Naval Group represents the beginning of a significant recapitalisation of the Hellenic Navy fleet, which is in urgent need of modernisation.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities

  10th November 2023

  A growing number of uncrewed systems have been on show at Sydney's Indo-Pacific Maritime exhibition with a select few currently being trialled to see if they can enhance the Royal Australian Navy's surveillance levels.

• Naval Warfare

  Is Australia’s plan for the surface fleet viable?

  21st February 2024

  Australia’s long-awaited Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review has recommended significant changes to the future make-up of the country’s surface fleet. It has received sharp criticism from some experts who claim the recommendations have not gone far enough, while others have described it as an attempt to run before being able to walk.

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: How rising tensions have fuelled the Type 26 frigate's development

  12th September 2023

  Slated to enter service in the late 2020s, the Type 26 frigate addresses the pressing need for enhanced ASW capabilities, particularly in light of heightened tensions with Russia. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the design and its equipment fit.

• Naval Warfare

  BAE offers Australia guided missile variant of Hunter-class frigate

  7th November 2023

  The Australian Defence Strategic Review has called for a mix of Tier 1 and Tier 2 surface combatants amid speculation that the SEA 5000 Hunter-class frigate project would be cut back to pay for a potential new class of corvette – but BAE has returned fire with a new offering that could change Australian decision-making.

• Naval Warfare

  Is the health of Russia’s submarine fleet improving?

  14th February 2024

  The Russian Federation Navy submarine service has struggled to modernise in recent years, but progress on two main acquisition programmes could mean that it has turned a corner.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Patrol boats

  Coastal Patrol Vessels (NPC) [Portugal]

  Programme Background Requirements As part of its modernisation plan that spans until 2035, the Portuguese Navy aims to procure new Coastal Patrol Vessels (Navio de ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  SNLE 3G (1-4) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements Included in the 2019-2025 Military Plan Law is the replacement of the four Le Triomphant-class SSBNs with four third-generation SSBNs (SNLE 3G) beginning ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Turkmenistan)

  Programme Background On 27 September 2021, Turkmenistan unveiled three Bayraktar TB2 UAVs during a parade to celebrate the nations 30th Anniversary of independence from the ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  U-212 Near Future Submarine (3) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements Italy currently has four U-212A-class SSKs in its inventory following an initial programme launched in 1998. The German-designed submarines were a joint ...

• OPVs

  Jan Mayen Class (1-3) [Norway]

  Programme Background Contract The Jan Mayen-class vessels were designed by LMG Marin, with the process beginning with the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) in 2013 and ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  U-212 Near Future Submarine (4) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements Italy currently has four U-212A-class SSKs in its inventory following an initial programme launched in 1998. The German-designed submarines were a joint ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH - Germany

  The helicopters will form an integral part of the frigate system for German Navy vessels. Equipped with sonar, radar and torpedoes, they will be capable ...

• Frigates

  Light Multipurpose Frigates (2-6) [Peru]

  Programme Background Requirements The Peruvian navy wants new light multipurpose frigates to replace its existing ageing pair of Lupo-class frigates that will displace about 4,000t. ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  U-212 Near Future Submarine (1-2) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements Italy currently has four U-212A-class SSKs in its inventory following an initial programme launched in 1998. The German-designed submarines were a joint ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Diving Support Ship (UBOS) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to develop a new vessel intended to equip the Italian Navy's diver special operations unit. The new ship will ...

• OPVs

  Second-hand Nordkapp OPVs [Uruguay]

  Programme Background For years, the Uruguayan Navy has sought to procure new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to modernise its fleet. The Navy has attempted to do ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Maritime Operations Helicopters Block 2 (South Korea)

  Programme Background The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) was seeking additional naval helicopters under its Maritime Operations Helicopter Batch 2 (MOH2) project. It represented a ...

• Corvettes

  Shadhinota Class (Type C13B)

  The Shadhinota class (Type C13B) corvettes are a platform based on the Type 056 Jiangdao class used by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), built by the ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Sweeping Hunter II (MSH-II) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements Under the Mine Sweeping Hunter II (MSH-II) programme, South Korea is seeking a replacement for the Ganggyeong-class minehunters, which are due to leave service ...

• Minehunters

  Pulau Rengat Class MCMV Replacement [Indonesia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AI) currently operate two ageing Dutch-built Pulau Rengat-class MCMVs, which entered service in March 1988. These are now fast approaching ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  Argos-II HD/ HDT

  The ARGOS-II HD airborne multi-sensor observation system's main features include a continuous zoom HD multi-spectral camera and an HD Gen III TI for situational awareness ...

• Land: coastal surveillance radars

  Argos 30VS

  Argos-30VS is a coherent X-band primary radar for combined surface and air surveillance of sensitive coastal zones and EEZ protection. It can be integrated to ...

• Sea: tactical training

  Proteus ASW and Sonar Trainer

  The Proteus ASW and Sonar Trainer expands the Action Speed Tactical Trainer’s sonar capability with new sonar simulations to create a dedicated ASW trainer. Various ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  Sonac DTS

  The Patria Sonac Dual Towed Sonar (DTS) system is specifically designed for operations in littoral waters, for various vessel classes as well as for multipurpose ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems, Sea: sonar systems

  SBTS

  The Shore-Based Sonar Training System (SBTS), launched in 2016, incorporates technology from the Model 997 Hull/Bow-Mounted Sonar Model 980 ALOFTS system to help support sonar ...

• Sea: procedural training

  Passive Sonar Trainer

  The Passive Sonar Trainer teaches operators the detection, classification and analysis of acoustic signals received by submarine passive sonar and towed array systems.

• Sea: sonar systems

  T-SAS

  The Towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar (T-SAS) is a high-resolution towed side scan sonar for detection of bottom and short-tethered mines. It is able to deliver ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  Cerberus DDS

  Cerberus DDS (Diver Detection Sonar) is a sonar system designed and developed by German Atlas Elektronik. It can be installed either on surface ships or ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  ELAC SONAR KaleidoScope

  The ELAC SONAR KaleidoScope is a fully-integrated sonar system for modern diesel-electric submarines that performs integrated surveillance. It includes integrated detection, tracking and analysis for ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Type 209/1200

  The Type 209/1200 diesel-electric submarine is a variant of the Type 209 submarine designed by the German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft exclusively for the export market. ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  SQR-220KA1

  SQR-220KA1 is a Korean towed array sonar deployed on the Daegu- and Incheon-class frigates. The sonar can detect, locate, identify and track submarines and torpedoes. 

• Sea: sonar systems

  YAKAMOS 2020 Hull Mounted Sonar System

  The YAKAMOS 2020 Hull Mounted Sonar System has been developed by Turkish defence manufacturer Meteksan Savunma. It is an Anti-Submarine-Warfare (ASW) & mine-avoidance sonar system ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  Petrel TMS 5424

  The Petrel TMS 5424 is a mine avoidance sonar developed by Thales Underwater Systems. The sonar is designed to be installed on major surface combatants, ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  AN/SQS-62

  The AN/SQS-62 is a towed array sonar developed by Raytheon. It is a variable depth sonar, which has been designed specifically for the US Navy's ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  SQS-240K HMS

  The SQS-240K is a Korean hull-mounted sonar. It is operational on the Daegu- and Incheon-class vessels of the ROK Navy. The improved version of the ...