Navy Lookout – The Royal Norwegian Navy has formally joined the Global Combat Ship User Group, bringing together four allied nations committed to building and operating a common class based on the Type 26 frigate platform. Norway signed the group’s charter at a ceremony in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where senior figures from the UK, Canada and Australia had gathered to review progress on the wider programme.

Navy Lookout – Claims that the RN “has more admirals than ships” are frequently repeated with the implication that the service is top-heavy and reducing leader numbers would help solve the woes of the service. The assertion is technically incorrect anyway, but the number of admirals reflects the complexity of the Navy and a breadth of responsibilities that extend beyond core naval operations.

Navy Lookout – Russian warships are now routinely escorting sanctioned merchant vessels through the Dover Strait, in a direct challenge to the UK government’s pledge to interdict the shadow fleet. Royal Navy OPVs and Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers were deployed this week to monitor these movements, although outgunned by the warships they shadow.

Navy Lookout – Hydrographic information is key to enabling safe navigation, protecting infrastructure and supporting defence operations. Here we look at the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), which sits at the centre of this effort, supported by the Royal Navy, which collects much of the foundational data that enables mariners and autonomous systems to operate effectively at sea.

Navy Lookout – After being rushed into theatre to help protect Cyprus during the recent regional crisis, Royal Navy destroyer, HMS Dragon, conducted a brief patrol off the island but has remained at Souda Bay in Crete since 23rd March, around 920 km away. While the optics are poor, the destroyer’s enforced time in Greece has not proved critical, and the time has not been wasted.

Navy Lookout – This is speculation, but it is possible HMS Queen Elizabeth could go into a reduced readiness state until HMS Prince of Wales next maintenance period. Arguably, getting more availability from the RN’s frigates and destroyers is a more pressing need than having a second carrier at readiness right now. 

Navy Lookout – A Vanguard-class submarine returned to Faslane today after 205 days away, breaking the previous record for the longest unbroken patrol by a Royal Navy submarine.

RUSI – The next three weeks could change western security and the geo-political world forever if the Chagos ‘deal’ passes through UK Parliament.

Defence Blog – Certo Aerospace demonstrated CAPSTONE VTOL anti-submarine tracking capabilities for the Royal Navy at Keevil Airfield on February 23, 2026. The 600kg-class aircraft carried sonobuoys for more than two hours and transmitted acoustic tracking data through Starlink SATCOM.

(Thanks to Alain)

Navy Lookout – Royal Navy warships and aircraft have been activated repeatedly in recent days to monitor Russian naval activity in UK waters, reflecting a sustained increase in traffic through the Channel and North Sea at a time of heightened tension over sanctions enforcement.

Navy Lookout – Specialist Russian submarines have been detected operating in and around British waters, prompting a coordinated response to track and deter potential threats to critical infrastructure.

Guardian – A British warship and aircraft tracked and monitored Russian submarines attempting to survey vital undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic, ensuring they abandoned their mission, the defence secretary, John Healey, has announced.

Navy Lookout – Among other scattergun criticisms of the UK, President Donald Trump has said: “You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work.” Here, we consider how his remarks contain elements of truth, but the wider picture is more nuanced.

Navy Lookout – RN recruitment continues to show signs of recovery, but the latest MoD figures underline a more stubborn problem – a further decline in trained strength that is eroding frontline effectiveness.

Navy Lookout – The RN has signed a contract with Teledyne Marine for advanced uncrewed sensing systems. The move signals further momentum behind the transition from traditional survey ships to distributed, persistent data gathering across the North Atlantic and beyond.

Navy Lookout – RFA Lyme Bay is to be equipped with autonomous and remotely-controlled mine hunting systems in Gibraltar. This will prepare the ship to support mine clearance operations in the Gulf region, if called upon.

Navy Lookout – Local media reports the UK has offered to sell the three River-class Batch I OPVs, HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn to the Uruguayan Navy when they go out of service in 2028.

CIMSEC – Five strategic questions remain to be answered for the future concerning the operation of a two-carrier Navy.

Navy Lookout – HMS Dragon arrived off Cyprus this week and is now integrated with the international force providing air defence for the Island.

Navy Lookout – British forces have been ordered to intercept and board suspected Russian shadow fleet vessels in UK waters, as the government moves to tighten enforcement of sanctions. The announcement signals a more assertive maritime posture, with the RN expected to play a central role alongside northern European allies.

Navy Lookout – HMS Cutlass of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron has assisted French forces in the boarding of a suspect tanker in the western Mediterranean. The operation highlights growing coordination between European navies in enforcing sanctions at sea.

Navy Lookout – The Times reports that the Type 83 destroyer programme could be delayed due to the large funding gap in the MoD’s Equipment Plan. Here, we consider how the RN is likely to face very difficult trade-offs between programmes due to funding constraints.

Navy Lookout – Tensions in the Gulf have prompted the United States to call on allies to help protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian threats, including mines. In this historical overview, Tony Carruthers recalls how the RN responded to a similar request almost forty years ago, deploying a squadron of Hunt-class Mine Counter Measures Vessels.