• Naval Warfare

  From surface to seabed: Fincantieri takes on a new challenge

  25th September 2025

  Underwater is emerging as the global geopolitical domain, a crossroads between new needs and technological acceleration. While 80% of the sea floor and 98% of the abyssal seabed remain unexplored (Mars' and Jupiter's surfaces are better known than our oceans), human well-being relies on underwater assets and resources.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Skana’s new autonomous maritime platforms signal company’s shift towards scalable assets

  3rd September 2025

  The Israeli defence technology company has taken the wraps off two autonomous vessels ahead of DSEI as it sets its sights on scalability and cost reduction.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy to invest nearly $12 billion in maritime uncrewed systems and naval munitions in FY2026

  15th July 2025

  Forming part of the Reconciliation Bill, the funding will support multiple efforts involving autonomous capabilities, interceptors, missiles, rockets and torpedoes.

• Naval Warfare

  Helsing unveils new AI-enabled uncrewed underwater glider

  13th May 2025

  The glider, named SG-1 Fathom, has been designed to be scalable and affordable, and can be deployed for up to three months at a time, according to Helsing.

• Naval Warfare

  Japanese navy bets on autonomous technology for the future

  28th May 2025

  Faced with persistent recruitment shortfalls, the JMSDF has turned to unmanned surface and underwater systems to maintain operational capability.

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore declassifies SEAL Carrier swimmer delivery vehicle for special forces use

  27th June 2025

  Singapore’s navy has introduced the Combatant Craft Underwater vessel, a multi-mode swimmer delivery vehicle designed to enhance its Naval Diving Unit’s ability to conduct covert maritime special operations.

• Naval Warfare

  Swedish navy moves to final phase of Blekinge-class sub production with new Saab order

  14th October 2025

  Saab Kockums was initially awarded the contract to build two A26 submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy in 2015, but the programme has faced delays and escalating costs.

• Naval Warfare

  Indra proposes “Internet of Underwater Things” as possible next step in naval warfare

  11th March 2025

  A new concept of underwater warfare could be needed to take naval defence to its next evolution.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy moves quickly with uncrewed vessels and industry follows

  23rd June 2025

  The US Navy (USN) is evolving into a hybrid fleet with uncrewed systems supporting crewed vessels and companies working to provide new solutions. In the case of Ocean Aero, its Triton uncrewed surface vessel can also be used underwater.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy goes shopping for maritime uncrewed capabilities

  2nd October 2025

  The US Navy has been seeking suppliers to design and build diverse types of aerial, surface and underwater autonomous capabilities, as well as solutions to support their operation.

• Naval Warfare

  Thales to supply sonar systems for the Netherlands’ Orka submarines

  20th March 2025

  The company will deliver a comprehensive sensor suite when the Orka class comes into service in the early 2030s.

• Naval Warfare

  EU SEACURE programme seeks autonomous solutions to evolving underwater threats

  13th March 2025

  The EU and leading defence firms are collaborating on improving autonomous seabed warfare capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Interview: DSTA collaborates with Leonardo, Thales and Safran for naval C-UAS

  25th April 2025

  In an exclusive interview with Shephard, DSTA chief Ng Chad-son outlines how the agency is reshaping defence tech development through deeper collaboration with industry partners, from AI-enhanced radar to smart naval munitions.

• Naval Warfare

  UK demonstration shows how sensors and C2 can protect ports from multi-domain threats

  26th June 2025

  Naval vessels are at high risk when in harbour, port or dockside and the threat from asymmetric attacks has been shown in the Ukraine war against Russian ships. A demonstration of combined systems in the UK hoped to show a potential solution to defence, government and commercial delegates.

• Naval Warfare

  Euroatlas brings Greyshark AUV to Asia for its maiden visit

  9th May 2025

  Euroatlas displayed its Greyshark autonomous underwater vehicle outside Europe for the first time, highlighting variant specifications and development progress at IMDEX 2025.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the presentation provided by the Italian Navy, the MultiroleUnderwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) will:operate a wide range of uncrewed systems, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Buques de Acción Marítima de Intervención Subacuática (BAM-IS) [Spain]

  Programme Background Timeline On 5 November 2021, the Spanish MoD signed a contract for Navantia to build a new submarine rescue vessel at its Puerto ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Special & Diving Operations-Submarine Rescue Ship (SDO-SURS) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to develop a new vessel capable of replacing the ageing Anteo that has reached the end of its life cycle with ...

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class MCM (4-6) [Poland]

  Programme Background Timeline As of March 2022, the Kormoran II-class consists of six minehunters for the Polish Navy. However, as of June 2022, only one vessel has been ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  T-AGOS Surtass Ships (6-7) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance (T-AGOS) ships focus on gathering underwater acoustical data to support the mission of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) (1-2) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The units will perform multi-role support functions such as maritime surveillance & patrol, launching/recovery of torpedoes and operation of various types of ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Royal Marines) [UK]

  Background Trials In late 2020, the T-150 participated in Autonomous Advance Force (AAF) trials in Crpyus and dropped supplies to 40 Commando. The MoD also ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Future Littoral All Terrain Mobility – Patrol Vehicle [Netherlands]

  Programme Background The Netherlands is currently enhancing its military capabilities across multiple domains. The Royal Netherlands Navy is in the process of expanding both its surface ...

• OPVs

  Kingston Class Replacement [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Dutch Navy

  Programme Background The Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice seeking information regarding the potential acquisition of a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Belgian Navy

  Programme Background For the joint MCM programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice calling for information regarding the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - UUVs

  Snakehead LDUUV

  The Snakehead Large Displacement Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) is a US Navy (USN) Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) designed to be launched from submarine Dry Dock Shelters ...

• Military - UUVs

  Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV)

  The Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) being developed and built by France's Naval Group for the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA).

• Sea: tactical training

  DUNKER Helicopter Underwater Egress Training Facility

  The DUNKER Helicopter Underwater Egress Training (HUET) Facility has been developed by Turkish defence manufacturer Meteksan Savunma Sanayi for the local Naval Forces. It is ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  UT 3000 2G

  The UT 3000 2G is an underwater communications system designed and built by ELAC SONAR. Offered in both underwater and surface configurations, it is in ...

• Land: coastal surveillance radars

  SeaShield

  The SeaShield is a long-range underwater surveillance and warning system manufactured by DSIT Solutions in Israel. According to the manufacturer, it is an ASW system that provides ...

• Military - UUVs

  V-Fides

  The V-Fides is an AUV developed by Leonardo that can be employed both in civilian and surveillance missions. The range of possible missions includes archaeological research, underwater ...

• UAS: communication systems

  GIB SAR

  The portable GIB SAR is an underwater GPS tracking system. By combining four buoys and a deck unit, which can be installed either on a ...

• Military - UUVs

  Manta Ray

  Manta Ray is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Northrop Grumman.

• UAS: communication systems

  GIB FT

  The GIB FT portable torpedo and UUV tracking range is composed of a set of buoys that receives acoustic signals transmitted by the pingers mounted ...

• Military - UUVs

  BlueWhale

  BlueWhale is an autonomous uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

• Swimmer delivery vehicles

  FWS-5 Barracuda

  The FWS-5 Barracuda represents the latest variant in a long line of SDV technology manufactured by Emirates Marine Technology. Capable of carrying two operators, the ...

• Military - UUVs

  A18-T

  The A18-T is a multirole configured AUV designed by Exail. The twin-hull platform is designed to perform missions such as mine countermeasures and harbour security, hydrographic littoral ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Blackwing

  Manufactured by AeroVironment and based on the Switchblade loitering munition, the Blackwing is a tube-launched UAV designed to deliver rapid ISR capabilities through its EO/IR ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  AquaShield

  The AquaShield diver detection sonar (DDS) is a sonar system manufactured by DSIT. It provides long-range detection and the modular design allows tailoring of the system for ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  ORKA

  ORKA is a Turkish-made new-generation Lightweight Torpedo capable of being launched from surface ships and air vehicles to engage submarines of various types. ORKA is ...