RUSI – The latest Greening Defence commentary examines how the Royal Navy is quietly but ambitiously setting the conditions for a greener fleet and support infrastructure, both now and in the future. Longer-term, a sustainable source of fuel must be prioritised.
Category Archives: RoyalNavy
Getting boats to sea – efforts to improve Royal Navy submarine availability
Navy Lookout – With the RN attack submarine fleet down to just 5 boats and the pressure of maintaining the nuclear deterrent unrelenting, initiatives to improve submarine reliability and availability have never been more important. Here we look at what is being done to mitigate chronic legacy issues and increase the time submarines spend at sea.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 2022
Navy Lookout – The ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are critical for the Royal Navy to operate worldwide but despite its excellent capabilities, the service is in slow decline. Here we look at the current status of the fleet.
Royal Navy to be the first European force to field maritime ballistic missile defence capability
Navy Lookout – Today the MoD has announced the Tye 45 destroyers will be upgraded to intercept ballistic missiles. The destroyers will be the first European warships with a full sensor-shooter BMD intercept capability.
From concept to reality – the next generation of naval subsea technologies
Navy Lookout – The Royal Navy recently announced its ambitious vision for the future underwater domain, stating that it must leverage cutting edge technologies from industry, academia and the RN innovation ecosystem to accelerate and de-risk future capabilities.
UK to purchase at least 74 F-35 jets
Navy Lookout – It was revealed yesterday that the MoD is in negotiations with the F-35 Joint Project Office to buy another tranche of F-35 jets. This second batch will consist of 26 aircraft, in addition to the 48 already under contract.
No additional resources for the Royal Navy’s contribution to the ‘High North strategy’
Navy Lookout – On 29th March the MoD published a new document ‘The UK’s Defence Contribution in the High North’. Here we look at the strategy and the contribution that the RN is expected to make in support of UK Arctic interests.
British aircraft carrier visits remote island in Norwegian Arctic
Barents Observer – NATO naval presence in the North Atlantic remains high after a series of exercises in Norway and Iceland. This week, Britain’s biggest warship made a stopover at Jan Mayen, the Norwegian outpost with 20 people working for the Meteorological Institute and the Armed Forces.
Can the UK supply anti-ship missiles to Ukraine?
Navy Lookout – The UK government says it will send further lethal aid to help defend Ukraine from invasion. Various media reports also say Britain will send anti-ship missiles, including the venerable Harpoon system. Here we consider how realistic that may be and other options to hold the Russian navy at risk in the Black Sea.
Upgrading the Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyers
Navy Lookout – The Type 45 Destroyer is the Royal Navy’s primary Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) vessel. Other than the propulsion issues discussed in depth elsewhere, this article documents what has already been done to upgrade the class and the potential improvements to be applied later in their service lives.
The UK’s Defence Contribution in the High North
U.K. Ministry of Defence – As the 2021 Defence Command Paper makes clear, the High North and maintaining security in the defence of the North Atlantic remains of great importance to the UK. The MOD will continue to ensure that it remains capable of protecting the UK’s interests as the region opens up in the coming years.
Royal Marines launch commando raid from Astute class submarine during Arctic exercise
Navy Lookout – This brief photo and video essay shows Royal Marines of Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron, 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group conducting a small boat raid from a Royal Navy Astute class submarine.
The National Shipbuilding Strategy and the future of the Royal Navy
Navy Outlook – The much-delayed National Shipbuilding Strategy ‘refresh’ document was finally published on 10th March. Here we examine the plan in the context of the future Royal Navy fleet.
Royal Navy and partners rehearse protecting NATO’s Northern Flank from Russian attack
Navy Lookout – NATO Exercise Cold Response 2022 (CR22), the largest cold-weather exercise in Norway since the 1980s began this week.
Transporting military hardware around the world – UK strategic sealift
Navy Lookout – A Private Finance Initiative provides the UK Ministry of Defence with four roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships available to deliver military vehicles and other equipment around the globe. Here we look at these ships, plans to replace them and their tasks, including recent work to reinforce the British Army in Europe.
Delivery of many critical Royal Navy capabilities still years away
Navy Lookout – On 21 February the MoD published the Defence Equipment Plan (EP) which focuses on procurement for the next decade. Here we take an overview of some of the implications for naval capability.
UK Navy chief pushes hypersonic tech in bid to hone the fleet’s combat edge
Defense News – Twelve weeks into his new job as the Royal Navy’s First Sea Lord, Adm. Sir Ben Key has laid out his vision of what capabilities Britain’s future maritime force will need, touting new technology development as key for making the fleet more lethal.
The Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers – status report
Navy Lookout – With the return of HMS Dragon to Portsmouth last week, at the time of writing, all six of the Type 45 destroyers are alongside or in dock. Depending on who you listen to, this is either an embarrassing disaster or entirely routine and no cause for concern. Here we look at the current situation and the complicated back story.
The Future Maritime Aviation Force – UK naval aviation in 2030
Navy Lookout – There are a variety of projects currently underway to ensure that naval aviation capability evolves to increase mass, range, persistence, and resilience. Here we look at the Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) vision for 2030.
Two NATO carrier groups will sail north for exercise Cold Response
Barents Observer – As Russia deploys the new 3M22 Tsirkon anti-ship hypersonic missile in the Barents Sea, NATO has decided to send two of its most potent naval weapons to the Norwegian-led Exercise Cold Response, the aircraft carriers “HMS Prince of Wales” and the “USS Harry S Truman”.
HMS Prince Of Wales Assumes Flagship Role Of NATO Maritime High Readiness Force
Navy News – The Royal Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, assumed the command of the NATO Response Force in Portsmouth Naval Base on Tuesday, January 11.
HMS Prince of Wales into the spotlight
Navy Lookout – 2022 will see HMS Prince of Wales begin to get into her stride as an operational warship. Here we report from a ceremony held onboard today to mark the RN taking command of the NATO Response Force Task Group.
UK military chief warns of Russian threat to vital undersea cables
The Guardian – Admiral Tony Radakin says any attempt by submarines at damage would be treated as ‘act of war’
HMS Northumberland gets up close with a Russian submarine
Navy Lookout – The 3rd series of the Channel Five TV documentary Warship – Life at Sea, following HMS Northumberland on patrol inside the Arctic Circle, has revealed a Russian SSN collided with her towed array sonar. Here we take an overview of events and their context.
Russian submarine hit Royal Navy warship in North Atlantic
BBC – A Russian submarine collided with a Royal Navy warship on patrol in the North Atlantic, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
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