Navy Lookout – The RN has released a short video detailing plans for its first XLUAV, acquired under project CETUS, which has now been launched and named XV Excalibur. Here we summarise the presentation and the future of the programme.

Breaking Defense – It will take huge investment in local shipbuilding for the UK to acquire “up to” 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) under the trilateral AUKUS program, with each vessel estimated to cost $3.4 billion, according to analysts. Even then, potential obstacles tied to shipyard expansion, and financial risk for BAE Systems could conspire to ruin the big ticket procurement altogether, said one expert.

Naval News – The UK Royal Navy has outlined its ambitions for the Maritime Integrated Air and Missile Defence and Strike (M-IAMDS) capability and associated Type 83 destroyer host platform planned for delivery under the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) programme.

Navy Lookout – The SDR has finally been published. Here we focus on what this document and accompanying announcements say or don’t say about the future for the Royal Navy and wider defence issues.

Naval News – The United Kingdom’s latest Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has reiterated the country’s commitment to supporting NATO deterrence and defence requirements and, in so doing, has underlined the UK Royal Navy’s core role in underpinning those requirements in the North Atlantic region.

Navy Lookout – RFA Stirling Castle was acquired to operate as a mothership for autonomous mine-hunting boats. Mainly due to personnel issues, she will shortly be transferred from the civilian RFA and commission into the navy as HMS Stirling Castle.

Navy Lookout – The Future Air Dominance System (FADS) will define the UK’s maritime Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) and Long-Range Precision Strike (LRPS) capability from the late 2030s. Here we look at the latest thinking on this programme and at the Type 83 destroyer, which will be at the heart of this system.

UK Defence Journal – The Ministry of Defence has provided an update on the planned out of service dates for Royal Navy ships, following a written question from Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty.

(Thanks to Alain)

Navy Lookout – Against the backdrop of the ongoing Defence Review and naval air power deployed in the Red Sea, the debate about the viability of aircraft carriers continues. In this guest article, Tim Griffiths considers the remarkable ability of these ships to withstand enemy action and serious accidents.

Navy Lookout – Helsing has unveiled a new uncrewed system for persistent underwater surveillance being offered to the RN. The Lura software platform and SG-1 Fathom autonomous glider have significant anti-submarine warfare potential using mass deployment and AI-enabled acoustic processing.

The Strategist – The British carrier force faces obstacles. The only kind of fighter that the carriers can operate is the F-35B, which can make short take-offs unassisted by a catapult and can land vertically, not needing arrestor wires. Britain doesn’t have enough F-35Bs, and there’s a serious risk that the price of buying them will rise steeply.

Meanwhile, the ships rely on helicopters for carrying air-surveillance radars aloft, whereas some kind of aeroplane, with greater altitude and endurance, would be far better for the task.

Kings College London – Navies and Seapower have never been more capable, with scope and reach enabled by unparalleled technological advancement from the seabed to space. Still, after centuries of their existence, understanding what navies are for and why they exist is arguably at an all-time low, particularly for Britain’s Royal Navy.

Navy Lookout – A successful multinational operation has tested the effectiveness of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in ensuring regional security and freedom of movement across the Baltic Sea.

Navy Lookout – Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, HMS Spey has completed a 16-day training exercise in the South China Sea, operating alongside Commonwealth allies to sharpen combined maritime, air and land capabilities under the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).

Navy Lookout – The 7½-month CSG25 deployment begins today with the departure of HMS Prince of Wales from Portsmouth. Last week we spoke to the Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group and some of those deploying about the preparations and the early phases of the voyage.

RUSI – The Arctic is set to be a proving ground for the navies of the High North. As warmer temperatures open up shipping routes for longer each year, great resources are at stake, and a determination to exert control is growing evident among the UK’s neighbours in the region.

Navy Lookout – The UK Carrier Strike capability is nearing a critical milestone. Full Operating Capability (FOC) for the F-35B should be achieved during the forthcoming CSG25 deployment. Here we look at latest progress with the jet and the wider carrier strike capability development.

Navy Lookout – For the first time, logistics UAVs will be integrated into a UK Carrier Strike Group operations, delivering stores between vessels when the task force leaves for the CSG25 deployment later this month.

Navy Lookout – The MoD officially confirmed today that the long-planned deployment to the Indo-Pacific will begin in two weeks with the departure of the flagship.

Navy Lookout – In her Spring Statement to Parliament today, the Chancellor will announce a modest increase of funding for defence, part of which will enable the RN to advance its plans for fitting the DragonFire laser weapon.

Navy Lookout – As part of a continuing series of operations to monitor Russian vessels of interest near UK waters, HMS Cattistock last week tracked the Russian ‘ocean research’ ship Admiral Vladimirskiy as it travelled west through the English Channel.

Navy Lookout – In this article, we highlight the work of the Towed Array Patrol Ship (TAPS), the Royal Navy’s frigate specifically assigned to the anti-submarine task in UK waters and beyond.

Navy Lookout – There has been considerable debate over the prospect of deploying the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to the Indo-Pacific region in 2025. Here we look at the outline programme for the deployment and consider the case for and against a change of plan.

Navy Lookout – A submarine returned home to the Clyde today following the longest ever patrol by a British nuclear deterrent-carrying boat. This submarine left Faslane in late August and has been away for 204 days. This breaks the record achieved in 2023, an extraordinarily long time for the crew to spend underwater. This submarine was relieved in the last few days by another boat that sailed last week, following significant delays in getting it ready for sea. The length of patrols has been rising sharply over the last few years. The last eight deterrent patrols have all exceeded five months in duration. Today’s homecoming is another epic achievement, even if spending almost half a year underwater is becoming ‘normal’.