Naval News – The UK government has directed a Royal Navy (RN) task group to deploy to the Eastern Mediterranean, following the outbreak of conflict in the region.

Navy Lookout – In the first of a series of articles detailing substantive progress with the development of uncrewed systems for the RN, here we look at the PROTEUS Rotary Wing Uncrewed Aircraft System (RWUAS) technology demonstrator being built by Leonardo UK.

RUSI – Long-range strike capacity is essential to ensuring that the Royal Navy is fit for any future conflict, but the fleet is currently lacking in this area. Q-Ships could provide an effective solution.

Navy Lookout – The three companies comprising Team Resolute all recently unveiled models of the Fleet Solid Support ships while BMT provided some insight into the ongoing design process.

Navy Lookout – 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.

Navy Lookout – The UK’s first Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) ship RFA Proteus sailed from Birkenhead today following conversion work.

Naval News – The Royal Navy has outlined ambitions to introduce uncrewed and autonomous systems as a means to increase lethality and build mass in its future anti-submarine warfare capability.

Naval News – MBDA UK is moving forward with a two-stage programme intended to confer the Royal Navy’s Sea Viper anti-air guided weapon system with an organic anti-ship ballistic missile ‘detect-to-defeat’ capability later this decade.

War Zone – Recent images of a Royal Navy Vanguard class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) taken by Sheila Weir — captured after the sub completed a six-month-long deterrent patrol — underscore the immense beating these leviathans of the deep can take while on mission for long stretches of time. The missile boat looks like a sea monster that has emerged from a long slumber at the bottom of ocean.

Navy Lookout – HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed on 8th September to lead the RN’s first major carrier strike group deployment since 2021. Known as operation FIREDRAKE, the group will undertake of a series of exercises in northern European waters working closely with JEF and NATO partner nations.

Navy Lookout – In this article, we provide an inside view on the saga that has delayed Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset rejoining the fleet following her life extension refit.

Navy Lookout – In a pioneering flight on 4th September, a cargo drone flew from Cornwall out to HMS Prince of Wales, delivered supplies, took off again and returned to the airfield.

RUSI – This paper examines whether and how the Royal Navy’s Maritime Reserves can bring extra fighting power at an affordable cost.

Navy Lookout – The UK and Netherlands have formally announced they will explore opportunities to work together to purchase a new generation of amphibious warships. Here we look at the background and the options for this important programme.

Navy Lookout – 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.

Navy Lookout – On 17th November 2021, an F-35B ditched into the sea on take-off from HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Eastern Mediterranean during operation FORTIS / CSG21. The basic cause of the accident was understood very quickly but the full board of enquiry report published recently highlights multiple contributing factors and reveals broader issues with UK Carrier Strike capability.

MercoPress – A Swiftsure-class Royal Navy nuclear-powered attack submarines that entered service in the 1970s and served for more than 20 years has dry docked at Rosyth, Scotland, as it prepares for final dismantle in a world first.

(Thanks to Alain)

UK Defence Journal – HMS Trent has embarked on a mission to West Africa, aiming to enhance maritime security and curb criminal activities like piracy and armed robbery prevalent in the region.

Navy Lookout – HMS Albion returned to Devonport last week after another highly successful deployment and will now go into a state of reduced readiness. Unfortunately, this will leave the RN temporarily without its primary amphibious platform as her sister ship, HMS Bulwark will not be ready to replace her until next year.

Navy Lookout – Last week Government finally published the Defence Command Paper (delayed since mid-June) which was supposed to provide more precise detail about the structure and future of the armed forces following the aspirations of the Integrated Review (Refresh) launched in March. Here we take an overview of what the DCP23 says, or does not say, about the future of the Royal Navy.

Navy Lookout – In a previous article, we took a speculative look at how the Type 26 frigate mission bay could be utilised. More than four years on, the RN has provided some further detail on the specifications for this space on its future surface combatant.

Navy Lookout – In this article, we examine the layout, equipment and initial trials programme for RFA Stirling Castle, the first of the vessels recently purchased by the RN for use as a mothership.

Navy Lookout – Amid some adverse comment questioning why the Royal Navy sending one of its few high-end air defence platforms to the region, HMS Dauntless is about to begin operations in the Caribbean. Here we outline the sound reasons for this unusual deployment.

Navy Lookout – In this guest article, Kamil Sadowski considers how navies may employ surface platforms to counter the evolving threat from UUVs.

Navy Lookout – In a Parliamentary answer, it was revealed this week that the RN’s Wildcat helicopter will not be certified to launch the Sea Venom missile until 2026.