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.
Category Archives: RoyalNavy
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.
The British and the Limitations of Maritime Maneuver
US Naval War College Review – Strategists who are turning to maritime maneuver to achieve their ends amid intensifying great-power competition should be aware that the British historical experience shows that—owing to its costs, challenges, and limitations—the approach most often has failed to deliver on its strategic promise.
‘Porcupines’ at sea: British lawmakers sound the alarm on the Royal Navy
Defense News – Britain’s Parliamentary Defence Committee has fired a broadside at the government, raising significant concerns about the future size and capabilities of the Royal Navy.
The complete report can be read here: “We’re going to need a bigger Navy”
U.K. Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth Wraps 7-Month Maiden Deployment
USNI News – HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and escorts of the Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG 21) returned to their home ports in HMNB Devonport and HMNB Portsmouth marking the end of its seven-month maiden deployment.
Seaboats without sailors – Royal Navy autonomous RIB development
Navy Lookout – During trials off Plymouth in mid-October, BAE Systems’ autonomous RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) was successfully controlled from the operations room of HMS Argyll. Here we look in detail at the development of this system.
Salvaging the jet – the race to recover the ditched F-35 from the seabed
Navy Lookout – On the morning of the 17th November, a UK-owned F-35B crashed into the sea while flying from HMS Queen Elizabeth. The pilot ejected safely but there is now a scramble to retrieve the wreckage of the aircraft. Here we look at the options available and the challenges involved.
HMS Queen Elizabeth: Life on board Royal Navy aircraft carrier
BBC – Watch Able Rating William Augustine, who deals with the ship’s payroll, as he takes the BBC around to show us what life is like on board.
Britain tracked Chinese submarines and was ready to intercept jets in South China Sea, officers reveal
Sky News – Frigates and helicopters operating with HMS Queen Elizabeth were able to locate Chinese submarines, allowing the UK’s largest warship to steer clear.
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