Navy Lookout – In this guest article, Robert Moyse argues that the RN should take inspiration from the US Marine Corps and consider cheaper, smaller and more numerous vessels to meet the MRSS requirement.

UK Defence Journal – HMS Bulwark, one of the Royal Navy’s two amphibious assault ships, has spent a significant amount of time out of active service, accumulating over 2,730 days in port, according to data from Open Source Intelligence analyst @TBrit90.

Navy Lookout – Today officers and crew serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are holding further strikes. As previously reported,the RFA that provides the Royal Navy’s critical afloat logistic support is in steep decline as it is increasingly unable to find people to crew its ships.

Navy Lookout – Early in 2023, the MoD purchased two former commercial vessels for the Naval Service. Despite their procurement ‘at pace’, RFA Proteus has yet to conduct any useful operations and RFA Stirling Castle is being laid up or ‘paused’ temporarily mainly due to a lack of qualified people to operate her.

Policy Exchange – The balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region is changing. How should the UK respond?

Navy Lookout – Following her return to the UK in July (and some well-deserved leave for her ship’s company), we were invited on board HMS Diamond to speak to the Commanding officer, Cdr Pete Evans. Here provide some more details about what was arguably the RN’s most intense warship deployment in more than a decade.

Navy Lookout – Almost a year ago we reported that none of the RN’s attack submarines (SSNs) were at sea. There has been only limited SSN activity since but here we summarise the current situation and look forward to improving future availability.

Defence Post – The Royal Navy has tested the upgraded Spearfish torpedo from a Vanguard-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.

(Thanks to Alain)

RUSI – As the Royal Navy proceeds with its recapitalisation programme, what lessons can it draw regarding future threats from the conflicts in the Red Sea and Black Sea?

Navy Lookout – The RN’s frigates are supposed to be the backbone of the fleet but it has become increasingly difficult to keep the ageing Type 23s going while their replacements are some years away from commissioning. Here we look at the current situation and the implications for future fleet strength.

Navy Lookout – BAE Systems’ Maritime Services business is responsible for looking after 19 vessels based in Portsmouth. We were invited to see how the company is working to improve its methods, upgrade facilities and develop its people to maximise warship availability and provide greater choice to fleet planners.

Naval News – The United Kingdom and Australia’s future SSN-AUKUS (SSN-A) submarines will probably be operated by an integrated crew made of Australian and British sailors, the UK’s First Sea Lord said at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference in Perth.

Navy Lookout – At the Farnborough Airshow this week, GA-ASI unveiled its GAMBIT 5 catapult-launched Uncrewed Combat Air Vehicle concept for aircraft carriers. Here we look briefly at the idea and its potential for use by the Royal Navy.

Aviation Week – The UK is investigating options to give its new fleet of General Atomics Protector uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) sea legs, with a vision to operate the platform from the country’s two aircraft carriers.

The Sun – MORE than 100 Royal Navy submarine crew have been booted out for taking drugs in the past five years, stats show. They tested positive for cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy, and steroids and benzodiazepine.

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – General Atomics has revealed work for a carrier-capable fifth member of its Gambit drone family, which is based around a common modular core ‘chassis’ concept. The company has also presented a larger vision for how this new uncrewed aircraft could fit into a future air wing aboard the United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth class carriers. Carrier-based Gambits could be of interest to other potential customers, including the U.S. Navy, and a stepping stone to future pilotless naval aviation capabilities.

Navy Lookout – The RN has begun pre-procurement engagement with industry for the MRSS project and has offered some initial insights into its requirements. Here we look at the outline specification and the significant challenges that must be overcome to deliver these ships.

Navy Lookout – On 4th July, an F-35 of 809 Naval Air Squadron took to the air for the first time. This was the first independent flight since the RN fast jet squadron was stood up last year and is another small step in the development of UK Carrier Strike capability.

Guardian – Attempts by Harland & Wolff to restore the city’s industrial prowess could be dashed as the new government beds in, but the famous firm is already in choppy waters elsewhere.

Navy Lookout – The threat of war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in addition to the ongoing struggle in the Red Sea, is testing the ability of the US and its allies to respond. Here we look at naval dispositions in the region.

Navy Lookout – It has emerged that the RN plans to acquire up to three ‘survivable, non-complex warships’ designed from the outset to be motherships for autonomous mine-hunting boats.

Navy Lookout – The RN has issued a Request for Information (RFI) notice to industry for what it calls a future Long Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon (LRAW). Here we consider the options and what the implications would be if this weapon is brought into service.

Navy Lookout – Harland and Wolff has the potential to become increasingly pivotal to the future of the Royal Navy with its extensive facilities and its key role in the construction of the Fleet Solid Support Ships. Here we look at how the company is reviving shipbuilding against the odds.

Navy Lookout – Here we look at the latest developments in getting uncrewed aircraft into service and the RN’s longer-term vision for naval aviation.

Council on Geostrategy – As an island state, Britain and its overseas territories are heavily dependent on open access to the sea and freedom of navigation. The sea is a superhighway to access the rest of the world, whether by ship or by critical maritime infrastructure in the form of fibre optic cables, power lines, or gas pipelines. To meet its environmental commitments and maximise the opportunities of Net Zero, the UK also generates a growing percentage of its electricity from offshore wind farms. Guarding these maritime interests is the Royal Navy, as the custodian of the British nuclear deterrent which acts as the ultimate guarantor of the nation.

But a number of hostile states and competitors have grown stronger at sea over the past decade, countries which have sought to subvert the international order. To meet this challenge, it is widely acknowledged that Britain needs a larger and even more capable fleet. This Report provides a number of ideas as to how a stronger navy could be realised.