Navy Lookout – Here we provide an update on the complex support programme that is being undertaken to keep the Type 23 frigates in service.

The War Zone – The Royal Navy destroyer had been on station for months in the Red Sea region where it downed multiple drones.

Daily Mail – Britain is primed to test a Trident nuclear missile for the first time since 2016 amid growing fears of a global conflict, according to reports.

(Thanks to Alain)

Navy Lookout – Events in the Red Sea have seen the UK media and politicians waking up to the fact that the RN currently has a very limited land-attack missile capability. Here we round up briefly the options available right now and what might be expected for the future

Navy Lookout – During last-minute checks ahead of sailing for NATO exercise Steadfast Defender, it has been discovered that HMS Queen Elizabeth has a significant issue with her starboard propeller shaft. The ship will not sail on 4th February as planned and instead, HMS Prince of Wales will be readied to replace her.

The Guardian – Grant Shapps announces 15-year contract for UK arm of defence and aerospace specialist Thales

Navy Lookout – In answer to a recent Parliamentary question, Defence Minister James Cartlidge said that: “on current plans, the last Type 45 Destroyer will retire from service by the end of 2038”. In this short piece, we consider the reasons to be highly sceptical about this schedule.

War Zone – The U.K. Ministry of Defense has confirmed that its F-35B stealth fighters will be armed with Meteor air-to-air missiles and SPEAR 3 precision-guided standoff munitions by the “end of the decade.” The new weapons promise to bring a major leap in capability for the F-35B, especially when combined with the enhancements that the Block 4 upgrade will provide, especially for the aircraft’s radar, which will make the Meteor even more formidable.

Navy Lookout – In 2020 we wrote a piece asking if the UK was getting a “a pale imitation of Carrier Strike?” Three years on, we look again at whether the carriers are truly ready to be deployed on meaningful operations.

UK Defence Journal – For the first time ever in the modern era, the Royal Navy has no active supply ships and currently depends entirely on allies for the replenishment of stores, including ammunition, at sea.

Navy Lookout – On the 9th of January 2024, HMS Diamond was involved in a significant action with US forces defending merchant vessels in the Red Sea from a mass air attack launched from Yemen. Here we analyse the information available about this event.

BBC – UK and US naval forces have repelled the largest attack yet by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.

National Interest – Despite a ruling from the International Court of Justice instructing Venezuela to stay its hand while the court adjudicates the territorial dispute, President Nicolás Maduro announced that he would “immediately” grant licenses permitting exploration and extraction to go forward. Maduro also announced that the Venezuelan armed forces would institute a military command to operate in Essequibo. What happens next? Mark Twain would have some interesting thoughts. 

Navy Lookout – HMS Richmond is heading to the Gulf region in response to the serious maritime security situation in the Red Sea.

Navy Lookout – A series of reports in the media in the first week if this year have brought the Navy’s personnel, funding and support problems into sharp focus. Here we provide some more context to the reports and the potential implications.

Daily Mail – Two amphibious warships are set to be ‘mothballed’ in a move critics have said could spell ‘the beginning of the end’ for the Royal Marines, as the Navy tries to tackle a sailor shortage crisis.

War Zone – The two Type 23 frigates on the chopping block, HMS Argyll and Westminster, have recently been overhauled at major expense to the taxpayer.

Naval News – The Royal Navy is leading a multinational task force deployment conducting critical undersea infrastructure security operations across North Atlantic waters, including the English Channel, the North and Baltic seas (and their connecting Skagerrak/Kattegat straits), and the Norwegian and Barents seas.

Navy Lookout – In this article we look back at the past year, summarising key events and the achievements of the Royal Navy while considering future challenges.

Navy Lookout – In this article, Kamil Sadowski considers how Medium Rotary-Wing Uncrewed Air Systems could be employed in anti-submarine warfare operations.

BBC – The UK is preparing to send HMS Trent to Guyana in a show of diplomatic and military support for the former British colony

Navy Lookout – HMS Diamond has now been formally allocated to US-led operation Prosperity Guardian which will protect merchant ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Here we look at the recent naval operations and consider the current situation in the region.

The Guardian – HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile and successfully destroyed target after Yemen rebel attacks.

Navy Lookout – The ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are a vital part of the UK naval capability but the past year has been a story of very mixed fortunes for the service. Here we look at the current status of the fleet.

Naval News – The UK is sending a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer to support the multinational naval presence protecting merchant shipping in the southern Red Sea off the coast of Yemen.