BAE Systems begins investigations into Forth issues
Investigations are being carried out by BAE Systems to identify the causes of defects identified onboard the UK’s new Royal Navy Batch 2 OPV.
As part of the process, the company has taken over care and protection of HMS Forth while the work is carried out. Commissioned into service with the UK Royal Navy in April, Forth is the first-in-class of the Batch 2 River OPVs. The vessel will remain alongside in Portsmouth Naval Base until the autumn.
Recent revelations of shorn bolt heads being glued back together – at points dispersed around the ship – during Forth’s
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission
The MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV has set a new endurance benchmark as the US Navy pushes deeper into autonomous maritime warfare.
-
UK Royal Navy dock build question remains open ahead of Programme Euston tender
The UK MoD’s Programme Euston floating dry dock tender has exposed a question about the UK’s naval industrial base: does Britain still have the depth to sustain its own deterrent without foreign intervention.
-
A closer look at the US Navy’s $268 billion investment in shipbuilding by 2031
The recently released USN 2026 Shipbuilding Plan anticipates the procurement of 185 crewed and uncrewed platforms in the next five years.
-
SAHA 2026: Turkey markets modular undersea systems to European buyers
Turkey’s defence industry is pushing a class of platform and building an entire philosophy of cost-imposition around it.
-
STM’s European wins strengthen Turkey’s naval credibility on the continent
Turkish defence and engineering company STM is attempting to challenge Europe’s established naval primes by winning contracts from Portugal to Pakistan – with a business model built on working in any shipyard in the world.