UK’s $1 billion AUKUS support request signals strong ongoing US collaboration
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
The RN’s new River-class Batch 2 OPV, HMS Tamar, departed from the BAE Systems shipyard on the River Clyde on 27 March, destined for its new base in Portsmouth.
HMS Tamar is designed for maritime security operations including intelligence gathering.
Each of the vessels costs £116 million ($145 million) with the MoD investing a total of £648 million in the River-class Batch 2 programme.
Tamar has a displacement of 2,000t and the OPV is powered by a MAN Diesel & Turbo 16V28/33D marine engine. This provides it with a top speed of 24kt and a range of 5,500 nautical miles.
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
The USCG plans to award a contract this year for the construction of Homeland Security Cutters. The new vessels will replace the 60-plus-year-old fleet of Light Icebreaking Tugs.
The expansion of the Redstone facility in Alabama will enable Raytheon to increase production of Standard Missiles in the location by 50% and support Washington in refilling stockpiles after recent operations have depleted the Pentagon’s reserves.
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.