• Naval Warfare

  Can a new operational profile fix Canada's submarine problem?

  20th September 2023

  The four Victoria-class diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs) of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) are in the midst of an evolution into a new operations and maintenance regime. Shephard investigates whether this will solve the navy's recurring issues with having only one boat (or even none) operational for long periods.

• Naval Warfare

  Additional life-extension for Canada’s Kingston-class OPVs considered

  28th August 2023

  The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN’s) 12 Kingston-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), ships which are already being improved, could receive an additional life extension upgrade package.

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy tries again to procure minehunters, but this time it goes futuristic

  4th September 2023

  The Indian Navy is looking to the future with MCMVs that integrate a lot of autonomous technology. Meanwhile, other construction projects, such as ASWSWCs and survey vessels, are proceeding.

• Naval Warfare

  How the Canadian Surface Combatant programme can recover from COVID-19 delays

  23rd August 2023

  The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) is working with Irving Shipyard to manage the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project.

• Naval Warfare

  New Turkish naval mines will be able to distinguish between friend and foe

  9th August 2023

  The Malaman smart bottom mine and Uça guided smart bomb will use acoustic, magnetic and pressure sensors to detect and classify targets.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Has the Royal Navy cut back its support vessel fleet too far?

  11th September 2023

  This second in Shephard’s three-part series examining the state of the UK RN analyses the fleet of support ships. These important vessels sustain naval forces at sea for long durations and at vast distances, but cuts to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's fleet have left crucial ships retired or sold, prompting concerns for future missions.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  XLUUV towed array trials pave the way for autonomous anti-submarine warfare

  7th July 2023

  SEA, MSubs and Sonardyne conducted trials integrating uncrewed anti-submarine warfare systems using the MSubs Extra Large Uncrewed Vehicle and SEA KraitArray towed array, opening the door to potential autonomous ASW capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Saab's C718 expeditionary submarine offered for Dutch Navy's sea denial capability

  3rd August 2023

  Swedish shipbuilder Saab Kockums is offering a new expeditionary submarine design as a contender for the Dutch MoD’s Walrus Submarine Replacement Programme.

• Naval Warfare

  US declares IOC for special operations mini-sub

  25th July 2023

  Lockheed Martin's Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) achieves Initial Operational Capability with US Special Operations Command. This vehicle enables covert underwater missions, transforming undersea warfare for special operators.

• Naval Warfare

  India to purchase additional Scorpene submarines to fill a looming gap

  18th July 2023

  To keep production rolling, MDL will build three additional Scorpenes for the Indian Navy.

• Defence Helicopter

  BAE to adapt Archerfish mine disposal system for South Korea

  13th June 2023

  BAE Systems has won a contract to adapt its Archerfish mine disposal system for Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) as part of South Korea’s effort to develop a new anti-mine helicopter fleet.

• Air Warfare

  As interest grows in ASW platforms, Leonardo showcases C-27J MPA at SeaFuture 2023

  7th June 2023

  At SeaFuture 2023 in La Spezia, Leonardo displayed a model of the MPA version of its C-27J Next Generation aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  UPDATED: Damen and Thales to deliver ASW frigates for Belgium and Netherlands

  5th July 2023

  Damen and Thales have signed contracts to design, build, and deliver four new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates for Belgium and the Netherlands.

• Naval Warfare

  Anglo-French uncrewed minehunting project moves forward with assurance trials

  14th June 2023

  The joint Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) effort is delivering an autonomous minehunting capability to the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Navantia, SAES and Perseo to jointly develop line of uncrewed underwater vehicles

  22nd May 2023

  At FEINDEF in Madrid, Navantia, SAES and Perseo announced an intention to develop a line of uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs).

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 ...

• Military - UUVs

  Autonomous Ocean Drone [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Saab is delivering a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV) currently named the Autonomous Ocean Drone AOD) to the Swedish Navy. It is designed to employ underwater ...

• 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 | Indonesian Interim Readiness Submarine Class (IRSC) Programme

  Following the sinking of KRI Nanggala in April 2021, the Indonesia Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval to obtain up to $600 million in foreign loans ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Indonesian Interim Readiness Submarine Class (IRSC) Programme

  Following the sinking of KRI Nanggala in April 2021, the Indonesia Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval to obtain up to $600 million in foreign loans ...

• 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 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Tripartite Class Replacement [Latvia]

  Latvia currently operates five Tripartite-class minehunter vessels, which were delivered second-hand to Latvia between 2007 and 2011. The vessels have been in operation since the early ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Tripartite Class Replacement [Latvia]

  Latvia currently operates five Tripartite-class minehunter vessels, which were delivered second-hand to Latvia between 2007 and 2011. The vessels have been in operation since the early ...

• 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 ...

• Minehunters

  New Generation Minehunters/Coastal (NGM/C) (1-5) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements Four vessels were planned to be NGM/A, a new ocean-going MCMV, while a further eight NGM/C minehunters, a new coastal MCMV. These will ...

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).

• Military - UUVs

  SG-1 Fathom

  The SG-1 Fathom is an uncrewed underwater vessel designed by German manufacturer Helsing. The UUV is intended for subsurface surveillance and can be deployed in ...

• 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

  Autonomous Ocean Drone (AOD)

  The Autonomous Ocean Drone (AOD) is a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV) designed by Saab. It is intended to employ underwater sensors, long-range intelligence, surveillance and ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...