Naval warfare and defence tech news, trends and insights
Our quick reference guide to the Royal Navy’s Wildcat HMA Mk2 shipborne helicopter
The SSN-AUKUS programme – the trilateral submarine project that will deliver next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines for the UK and Australia – has had a productive few months. The UK’s commitment to acquiring up to twelve boats would represent the largest Royal Navy submarine fleet in decades, and the most significant commitment to undersea warfare capability in a generation.
The recent Defence Investment Plan outlined an important decision for the Royal Navy: the cancellation of the Type 83 destroyer, and its replacement with something genuinely new – a Hybrid Navy built around a family of autonomous surface and underwater platforms. The case for the Hybrid Navy is coherent, but its execution remains to be seen.
Our quick reference guide to the Royal Navy Type 31 general-purpose frigate programme
In 2025, Norway announced its intention to procure at least five Type 26 frigates – the country’s largest ever defence investment. In April 2026, it formally entered a four-nation partnership with the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia to coordinate the development of a common class of surface combatants derived from the Type 26 design.
HMS Active, the second of five Inspiration-class Type 31 frigates, was rolled out of its construction hall at Babcock’s Rosyth facility in February 2026 and floated from its submersible barge the following month. Three of the five Type 31s are simultaneously in various stages of production: for a UK warship programme, that degree of concurrent activity is worth noting.
Directed energy weapons have been “just around the corner” for so long that healthy scepticism has become the default response to any announcement in the field. In March 2026, that changed. The Minister for Defence confirmed the acceleration of DragonFire’s deployment onto Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers by 2027 – a reduction of approximately five years compared to earlier planning timelines.
The UK has unveiled work on its Atlantic Bastion programme, aimed to counter Russian threats to undersea infrastructurein the North Atlantic. It heralds a transformation of the Royal Navy and its submarine-hunting capabilities.
Russian vessel Yantar tracked near UK waters as security fears rise. UK Defence sources report laser harassment and possible interest in seabed cables
BAE Systems have announced that HMS Agamemnon has passed it’s first ‘trim dive’ test at their Barrow, Cumbria facility. This will be the sixth of the seven Astute class boats that will enter service.
UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) have released an anti-submarine warfare case study that showcases the way innovation is being fast tracked without compromising safety
A specialist Clyde welding centre in Scotland secures Government funding after SNP block, ensuring the development goes ahead at at the Scottish Marine Technology Park in Clydebank
Last Updated: August 2026 | Our quick reference guide to the Astute class submarine programme
BAE Systems and Thales announced at DSEI 2025 a new phase in their long-standing collaboration on submarine sonar capability, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Ploughshare, the Ministry of Defence’s trusted commercialisation partner, has founded The Technology and Growth Alliance, with industry giants including Leonardo, BAE Systems, Thales, Helsing and QinetiQ joining as founding members
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