• Naval Warfare

  Production-ready beats prototype-ready in the US Navy’s MUSV marketplace

  15th October 2026

  HII, Saronic and Galliano Marine Services have won US Navy production contracts to supply medium uncrewed surface vessels. The marketplace approach behind them sets the bar for suppliers eyeing allied navy competitions.

• Air Warfare

  Eurosatory 2026: How could air forces integrate autonomous wingmen into existing fleets?

  15th June 2026

  From mobile launch trailers to ship decks, software and platforms such as Shield AI’s Hivemind and its X-BAT and V-BAT are positioning autonomous systems as a credible force option for militaries priced out of traditional airpower.

• Naval Warfare

  Five years on: where could opportunities emerge next for AUKUS Pillar II?

  2nd October 2026

  Payload commonality, combat systems and electronic warfare are emerging as likely priorities as the trilateral partnership balances building submarines with sharing industrial ecosystems.

• Naval Warfare

  Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment

  11th September 2026

  Australian businesses can now bid to support Virginia-class submarine sustainment in Western Australia, as momentum around the Henderson Defence Precinct also builds.

• Naval Warfare

  What HII’s UK expansion could mean for Royal Navy’s uncrewed future

  14th January 2026

  As HII prepares to deliver its latest AI-enabled uncrewed surface vessel later this year, its major UK facility expansion aligns with the UK Royal Navy’s plans for a hybrid fleet.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy’s MUSV programme could lay the USV procurement blueprint for NATO allies

  2nd July 2026

  The programme’s structure as a marketplace will allow multiple companies to compete for ongoing procurements; an approach which could be replicated across the Atlantic.

• Naval Warfare

  UK to join US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine assembly effort to speed up construction

  10th December 2025

  The expansion of the Virginia-class submarine construction to UK shores could accelerate the project as US shipbuilders continue to fall short of delivery goals.

• Naval Warfare

  Could the USCG icebreaker requirement open the door for more inland shipbuilding?

  13th April 2026

  The formation of a Great Lakes shipbuilding alliance could prompt a shift in how the US approaches naval and coast guard construction. But can distributed inland shipyards ease the country’s shipbuilding capacity?

• Naval Warfare

  “We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling

  30th April 2026

  Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy budget seeks 34 ships on yesterday’s industrial base

  9th April 2026

  The 2027 budget demands 34 new vessels, but ageing yards and backlogs raise questions about whether American shipbuilding can deliver.

• Naval Warfare

  AUKUS update: Australian sovereignty is “paramount” as Trump declares “full steam ahead”

  22nd October 2025

  AUKUS has been under the spotlight this week as US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had their first face-to-face meeting.

• Naval Warfare

  US continues to review AUKUS submarine deal as HII ticks off new Virginia-class sea trials

  8th October 2025

  The initial sea trials for Virginia-class SSN 798 conducted by Newport News Shipbuilding division and the US Navy marked an “important step”, but the ongoing AUKUS review casts a shadow over what the progress means for the partner nations.

• Defence Notes

  Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems

  31st October 2025

  Air defence systems are continuing to appear top of countries’ shopping lists but broadly across different capabilities it is a sellers’ market, as demonstrated by backlogs and double-digit percentage point growth.

• Naval Warfare

  How far will the US Navy’s FF(X) design deviate from the Legend-class?

  21st January 2026

  The new frigate class’s focus on modularity, speed to build and enhanced armament align with the priorities of the US Navy’s Golden Fleet.

• Naval Warfare

  Is the US Navy’s Golden Fleet initiative achievable?

  5th January 2026

  The effort to provide the US Navy with Trump-class battleships might face financial, production and doctrinal obstacles.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military - UUVs

  Lionfish UUV [USN]

  Background Timeline In 2023, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) was awarded an initial $19 million contract for the US Navy's Lionfish UUV programme. Its REMUS 300 ...

• Amphibious assault ships

  LHA Replacement Programme [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline The LHA Replacement (R) Programme began in 2001, with development starting in 2005. Named the America-class, the vessels are being procured to ...

• Destroyers

  Arleigh Burke Flight III (DDG 125 - DDG 139) [USN]

  Background Timeline Flight III is the last of the four flights being built for the USN, with the first ship beginning construction in 2018 at ...

• Frigates

  Frigate Acquisition Project - José Rizal​ Class

  Programme Background The "Frigate Acquisition Project" was opened up in May 2013 by the Department of National Defense which called for the acquisition of two ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  San Antonio LPD 17 Flight I [USN]

  The LPD 17 Flight I ships are the first flight of the San Antonio-class Landing Platform Docks (LPD). Procured between FY1996 and FY2017, the vessels ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  San Antonio LPD 17 Flight II [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD 17 Flight II programme will fully and functionally replace the ageing LSD-41 class and LSD-49 class ships for embarking, transporting, ...

• OPVs

  National Security Cutters [USCG]

  Programme Background The National Security Cutter (NSC) programme has been running since the early 2000s, and it began life at the Deepwater Program to replace ...

• Frigates

  FF(X) Frigate [USN]

  Programme Background The FFG(X) programme was first announced with a Request for Information (RFI) released by the US Navy in July 2017 with a plan for ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Gerald R. Ford Class (CVN 79 to CVN 81) [USN]

  Background Timeline The Gerald R. Ford-class consists of four nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs) to keep the carrier force at 11. The first of the four, ...

• Military - USVs

  MUSV [USN]

  Background Requirements In March 2026, the US announced it would be replacing its Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) programme with a Medium Uncrewed Surface Vessel ...

• Destroyers

  Arleigh Burke Flight III (DDG 140 - DDG 149) [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline Flight III is the last of the four flights being built for the USN, with the first ship beginning construction in 2018 ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  AS Submarine Tenders [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the FY2024 US Defence Budget request, the submarine tenders will be specifically designed to conduct steady-state and wartime sustained, forward-based/expeditionary tending, ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSN 792-SSGN 811)

  Background Timeline The US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines (SSN 774) are built by both General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) under an ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSN 823 - SSN 850)

  Programme Background Timeline The US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines (SSN 774) are built by both General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) under ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Gerald R. Ford Class (CVN 82 - CVN 83) [USN]

  Background The Gerald R. Ford-class carriers were first developed under the CVN-21 programme and employed many of the technologies first trialled in the final Nimitz-class ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - USVs

  Romulus

  The Romulus is an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) designed by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).  According to HII, the Romulus USV was designed as a force ...

• Military - UUVs

  Remus 130

  The Remus 130 is a small-class unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) developed by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) as the latest evolution of the REMUS 100 series. ...

• Destroyers

  Arleigh Burke Class (Flight IIA)

  The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the workhorse of the USN, nicknamed the 'greyhounds of the sea'. Known as the DDG 51 class, the ships have ...

• Military - UUVs

  Remus 300

  The Remus 300 is a variant in the Remus UUV family, produced by Huntington Ingalls Industries. The vessel is designed for Mine Counter Measure (MCM) ...

• Destroyers

  Arleigh Burke Class (Flight III)

  The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the workhorse of the USN, nicknamed the 'greyhounds of the sea'. Known as the DDG 51 class, the ships have ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  San Antonio Class

  The USN’s LPD 17 San Antonio-class LPDs are being built to replace up to 41 older ships across four classes. These include the LPD 4 ...

• Corvettes

  HDC/HDF-3200

  Hyundai Heavy Industries (HII) will build two new corvettes for the Philippine Navy, which will be delivered by 2026. The corvettes are reported to be ...

• Frigates

  FF(X) Frigate

  The FF(X) frigate is a vessel derived from Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HHI) National Security Cutter (NSC). It was designed in response to the cancellation of ...

• Military - UUVs

  Orca

  Orca is an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) developed by Boeing for the US Navy (USN).

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III/HDD-11000) Batch 2

  The Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III) Batch 2 is an improved variant of the Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III) Batch 1 vessels in service with the Republic of ...

• Submarines: nuclear/ballistic missile

  Columbia Class

  The USN’s new Columbia-class SSBN, also known as the SSBN 826-class, is planned to replace the existing Ohio-class boats as the cornerstone of the US ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Gerald R. Ford Class

  The Gerald R. Ford-class consists of the next-generation aircraft carriers designed to replace the USS Enterprise and the Nimitz-class carriers and retain overall USN in-service carrier numbers ...

• Amphibious assault ships

  America Class

  The USN is receiving a new class of Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) ship. Called the America-class (LHA 6), the ships are based on the final ...

• Frigates

  Independence Class (LCS)

  The USN’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme was originally envisaged to be 50 ships, which would provide a coastal platform that would take over from ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  Virginia Class

  The USN’s Virginia-class SSNs are the foundation of US naval power. Also known as the SSN 774 class, these boats are replacing the old Los Angeles-class ...