Start Archive: News & Articles

Archive: News & Articles


EDGE Group to join Fincantieri in shipbuilding joint venture

United Arab Emirates (UAE) defence entity EDGE Group and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri have agreed to launch a joint venture (JV) to capitalise on global shipbuilding opportunities with a focus on the manufacturing of a broad range of sophisticated naval vessels, the companies announced on 21 February 2024. EDGE will hold a 51% stake in the […]

UK MoD plays down failed test of Trident II SLBM

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has played down the significance of the recent failed test launch of a Trident II (D5) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The test failure, first reported by The Sun newspaper, occurred on 30 January 2024, when the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine HMS Vanguard tested an unarmed Trident II SLBM off […]

Australian government releases blueprint for larger and more lethal RAN surface fleet

The Australian government released its blueprint for a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 20 February 2024. Its publication follows Canberra’s consideration of the recommendations of an independent analysis of the surface combatant fleet, commissioned in response to the government’s 2023 Defence Strategic Review. Although the blueprint […]



CENTCOM continues to target Houthis, whose arsenal now includes UUVs

The forces of US Central Command (CENTCOM) continue to strike at the offensive military assets of the Yemen-based Houthi militia in an attempt to curtail their ability to attack commercial shipping in the Red Sea region. As well as targeting Houthi anti-ship missiles and bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicles before they can be launched, on 17 […]

Naval Group completes modernisation of La Fayette-class frigates

Naval Group has completed the modernisation of the third and last French Navy La Fayette-class frigate scheduled to receive such a refit, Aconit, after six months of work followed by a series of dockside and sea trials, the company announced on 13 February 2024. With the delivery of this ship refurbishment, which was completed at […]

Ukrainians sink another major Black Sea Fleet surface ship

Ukrainian special forces using bomb-laden unmanned surface vessels have sunk another Ropucha-class landing ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. The GUR announced on its website on 14 February 2024 that earlier that day special forces of the GUR’s Group 13 […]



Aurora EDP to support combat system integration on future Royal Navy frigates

The Aurora Engineering Partnership (EDP) – comprising QinetiQ, AtkinsRéalis and BMT – has been awarded a new GBP 13 million (EUR 15.3 million) contract by the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation to provide specialist maritime combat systems, Aurora EDP announced on 12 February 2024. The new four-year contract will provide the combat systems […]

Babcock to continue supporting Royal Navy ship protective systems

Babcock has been awarded a new five-year contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to continue providing in-service support for the Royal Navy’s ship protective systems (SPS), the company announced on 6 February 2024. The contract consists of degaussing, cathodic protection, and active shaft grounding to ships and submarines, restricting the rate of hull […]

US, UK mount third joint raid on Houthi anti-shipping missile sites

US and UK forces launched a third joint strike on Houthi military targets in Yemen on 3 February 2024 in response to the Houthis’ continued attacks against commercial shipping and naval vessels transiting the Red Sea. UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon FGR4s joined US forces in conducting strikes against 36 Houthi targets at 13 […]



EU comes closer to mounting maritime security mission in the Red Sea

Operation ‘Aspides’, the EU naval mission in the Red Sea, has cleared a major hurdle in Brussels. Although it was only at an informal meeting of EU defence ministers without a decision-making character, it was enough to set the course for the future. “Our aim is to set up and launch Operation ‘Aspides’ by 19 […]

Ukrainians sink Russian missile corvette in USV attack

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its X/Twitter account on 1 February 2024 that its forces had sunk the Russian Tarantul-class corvette Ivanovets, posting dramatic infra-red footage of the attack to corroborate its claim. The footage showed numerous attacks on the ship using bomb-laden unmanned surface vessels (USVs) zig-zagging their way to the […]

SubSea Craft appoints new CEO

UK-based advanced maritime technology company SubSea Craft announced the appointment of Camilla Martin – as chief executive officer on 30 January 2024. Previously the company’s CFO, Martin replaces Scott Verney, who was CEO for the past four-and-a-half years, following Verney’s decision to step down in December 2023. Martin originally joined SubSea Craft in 2019, following a career […]



British-registered tanker and HMS Diamond targeted by Houthis

The ongoing issue of how to effectively counter the Yemen-based Houthi militia was again highlighted on 26 January 2024 when the British-registered tanker Marlin Luanda was struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden. The strike resulted in a blaze on board the ships that lasted for 18 hours, although Trafigura, the nultinational trading […]

‘Steadfast Defender 24’, NATO’s largest exercise since the Cold War, kicks off

NATO’s Exercise ‘Steadfast Defender 24’ began on 24 January 2024. Planned to highlight and exercise NATO’s ability to deploy forces rapidly from North America and other parts of the Alliance to reinforce the defence of Europe, it is the largest NATO exercise since the last ‘Reforger’ exercise near the end of the Cold War. Running […]

German Navy selects Avon Protection Multi-Role Rebreather

UK underwater and CBRN defence system provider Avon Protection announced on 15 January 2024 that it has been selected by the German Navy to supply its Multi-Role Rebreather for military diving operations. The chosen Avon rebreather will provide the German Navy with enhanced, safety, training and operational performance. The contract also includes ongoing technical support to […]



US forces continue to strike defiant Houthi militia

US forces in the Red Sea region conducted a fourth strike against Houthi militia targets on 18 January 2024. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it “conducted strikes on two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the Southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch. “US forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen […]

Defiant Houthis continue Red Sea attacks

Defying the retaliatory US and UK air strikes that were aimed at deterring them, the Yemen-based Houthi militia have continued to target shipping in the Red Sea and on 15 January 2024 struck the US-owned cargo vessel with an anti-ship ballistic missile. In a statement the same day US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the container […]

ELAC Sonar awarded U212 NFS sonar contract by Leonardo

ELAC Sonar, a German subsidiary of UK-based Cohort, has been awarded a 60-month succeeding contract worth EUR 16 million by Italy’s Leonardo for the supply of a further sonar system for an additional unit in Italy’s new-build U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine) programme, the company announced on 22 December 2023. The U212 NFS programme is […]



Shapps announces major UK contribution to NATO’s Exercise ‘Steadfast Defender 24’

In the first half of 2024 20,000 UK service personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force (RAF) will deploy across Europe to take part in Exercise ‘Steadfast Defender 24’, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has announced. Delivering a speech at Lancaster House in London on 15 January 2024, Shapps stated, “We […]

The search for a high seas solution

The current Red Sea crisis is revealing the urgency of developing increased naval and commercial collaboration to maintain capacity in world trade, argues Charlotte Kleberg, a research assistant in the defence and security team at RAND Europe. In mid-January 2024 the United States and United Kingdom carried out air strikes against the bases of Iran-backed […]

MBDA to provide Sea Ceptor for Polish Miecznik-class frigates

MBDA has been awarded a contract by Poland to equip the Polish Navy’s three new Miecznik-class frigates with the Sea Ceptor naval air defence system, MBDA announced on 12 January 2024. The contract builds upon a series of strategic agreements between MBDA and Poland around MBDA’s CAMM family of air defence missiles, which the Sea […]




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