• Naval Warfare

  Is the health of Russia’s submarine fleet improving?

  14th February 2024

  The Russian Federation Navy submarine service has struggled to modernise in recent years, but progress on two main acquisition programmes could mean that it has turned a corner.

• Naval Warfare

  LCAC 100 project yet to achieve IOC as E-SLEP gets underway

  20th November 2023

  The US Navy’s (USN’s) Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) project that is procuring new Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) vessels for its amphibious ships has still to attain an. Meanwhile the Extended-Service Life Extension Programme (E-SLEP) for legacy LCAC vessels is ramping up deliveries.

• Air Warfare

  Safran continues to support UK Merlin helicopters

  4th April 2024

  The new engine support contract could be extended until 2040 to match the AW101 Merlin helicopter’s retirement date.

• Defence Notes

  US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness

  15th April 2024

  The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.

• Training

  How the US Space Force is training personnel for operations in contested scenarios

  19th February 2024

  The service has been developing and updating doctrine and policies, improving facilities and acquiring training and simulation capabilities.

• Digital Battlespace

  US Space Defence Agency awards $2.5 billion for missile defence satellites

  17th January 2024

  The Tracking Layer (TL) will deliver a global constellation of infrared missile warning and missile tracking satellites. The constellation will consist of approximately 270 operational Transport and Tracking Layer satellites.

• Defence Notes

  US tests Minuteman III as Sentinel successor ICBM programme struggles

  7th June 2024

  In service for nearly 60 years, the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile is due to be replaced by the Sentinel, but cost overruns and delays continue to plague this successor programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Portugal contracts Damen for multi-purpose vessel designed for integrated uncrewed air and sea systems

  27th November 2023

  The new ship’s primary roles will be search and rescue, emergency relief and oceanic research but will also be used for naval support operations and maritime safety.

• Training

  How the partnership with allies can improve the readiness for US SOF teams

  8th May 2024

  The collaboration can improve training on specific types of warfare and help SOF access unique capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  China’s third aircraft carrier commences sea trials

  3rd May 2024

  Fujian, China’s latest aircraft carrier, has embarked on its inaugural sea trials following delays to its construction but featuring technological advancements that have marked a leap in the maritime capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

• Naval Warfare

  UK naval shipbuilding: The start of a journey or destined to fail?

  18th December 2023

  As the UK’s naval shipyards build capacity and capability to meet orders in the short-term, questions about their sustainability are dependent on a long-term order book.

• Training

  Largest combined US-Indian exercise Tiger Triumph 2024 comes to an end

  2nd April 2024

  The bilateral Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise was held from 18–31 March 2024 in India. The 2024 edition marked the third time the exercise had taken place and was the largest to date, according to the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy to invest $3 billion in UAS and C-UAS capabilities

  30th July 2024

  UAS and C-UAS funding for the US Navy in FY2025 will cover R&D and procurement programmes along with improvements to the branch’s current inventory.

• Naval Warfare

  Are ‘kamikaze’ USVs a game changer in naval warfare?

  20th March 2024

  The use of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) by Ukraine in strike operations against the Russian Navy in the Black Sea has been extremely successful. But it is likely that the long-term impact could be limited.

• Naval Warfare

  UK government defends nuclear submarine fleet after missile misfire

  21st February 2024

  The UK Royal Navy’s Vanguard-class of ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) provide the UK with its continuous-at-sea deterrent (CASD) coverage and have done so since 1994. The Vanguards will themselves be replaced by the new Dreadnought-class SSBNs from the 2030s.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Frigates

  Constellation Class - FFG(X) (1-10)

  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 ...

• Frigates

  Constellation Class Frigates Procurement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements The Hellenic Navy (HN) seeks to modernize its Fleet by 2032 with second-hand and newly built ships. The main goal is to ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class Frigates Procurement [Greece]

  The Hellenic Navy seeks to modernize its Fleet by 2032 with second-hand and newly built ships. In January 2024, the Greek Minister of Defence announced the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class Frigates Procurement [Greece]

  The Hellenic Navy seeks to modernize its Fleet by 2032 with second-hand and newly built ships. In January 2024, the Greek Minister of Defence announced the ...

• Frigates

  FREMM Frigates [Morocco]

  Programme Background It was first reported by local Italian media that Morocco has been in talks with Fincantieri for the potential acquisition of two FREMM ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (1-8) [USMC]

  Programme Background Development As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

• Frigates

  Littoral Combat Ships [Egypt]

  Requirements The Egyptian Navy is in the process of replacing four O. Perry-class frigates, two Knox-class frigates and two Descubierta-class corvettes. Although the O. Perry-class ...

• Frigates

  Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

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

• Frigates

  Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

  Programme Background The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme was developed in 2003 as a cheap and fast way to increase the size of the fleet ...

• Frigates

  Fridtjof Nansen Frigates Replacement [Norway]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Norwegian Navy has four Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates. Five were originally built and delivered, but one sank in November 2018. Shephard forecasts that the ...

• Frigates

  Stop-Gap Frigate Procurement [Greece]

  Programme Background The Hellenic Navy is acquiring up to four new Frigates. This major equipment programme is the most discussed equipment issue on the Greek ...

• Frigates

  FREMM EVO (11-12) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements As of October 2022, the Italian Navy operates a fleet of eight FREMM frigates, split equally between anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and General ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navajo Class (T-ATS)

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) are replacing the ageing three remaining T-ATF 166 class tugboats and two remaining T-ARS 50 class ships with ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  LCAC 100 Class (SSC) [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline The major role of the SSC will be deployment from landing ships in support of USN and USMC operations and the transport ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (9-18) [USMC]

  Programme Background Requirements As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Frigates

  Constellation Class FFG(X)

  The USN has selected Fincantieri Marinette Marine to build up to ten frigates under the FFG(X) next-generation future guided-missile frigate programme. The new Constellation-class will replace ...

• Frigates

  Australian Light Frigate

  During Indo Pacific 2023, Gibbs & Cox Australia unveiled the Australian Light Frigate design. Based on the new frigates being built for Taiwan and the USN ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  Captas-4 Sonar 2087

  Captas-4 is a low-frequency active and passive variable depth sonar for platforms heavier than 3,000 tons. The Captas-4 is part of Thales' family of Captas ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  SPY-6(V)3

  The SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) is a fixed-face surveillance radar manufactured by Raytheon. The system is designed to defend against cruise missiles, anti-surface ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  SURFSAT-L

  Produced by Thales, SURFSAT-L is a SATCOM terminal designed for medium to large surface vessels. According to the manufacturer, it is designed to achieve a ...

• Frigates

  Zulfiquar Class (F-22P/Sword Class)

  Pakistan’s Zulfiquar-class frigates are also known as the F-22P or Sword-class; they are a modernised version of China’s Type 053H3 frigate. The ships are built ...

• Frigates

  Jose Rizal Class (HDF-2600)

  The Jose Rizal-class frigates for the Philippine Navy (PN) are being built to the HDF-2600 design by Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries at its shipyard ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  AN/SPY-1 air search radar

  Aegis isan integrated missile guidance system used on USN and allied ships to performanti-air and ballistic missile defence missions. The S-band phased-array AN/SPY-1D(V) radar acquires ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  AN/SQR-19

  The AN/SQR-19 is a Tactical Towed Array Sonar (TACTAS) produced by Lockheed Martin. The sonar is designed to detect and classify both submarines and surface vessels ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems, Sea: fire control systems

  Aegis Weapon System

  Aegis Weapon System is an integrated missile guidance system used on USN and allied ships to perform anti-air and ballistic missile defence missions.  The S-band phased-array ...

• Frigates

  Bergamini Class (FREMM)

  The Bergamini-class frigates for the Italian Navy are based on the Franco-Italian, European, multipurpose frigate design FREMM (European multi-mission Frigate/Fregata europea multi-missione). For Italy, the ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  AN/SQQ-89

  The AN/SQQ-89 is an ASW combat system incorporates and processes all the sonar information and LAMPS sensor data. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, there are currently ...

• Data links

  Network Tactical Common Data Link

  Developed by BAE Systems, the Network Tactical Common Data Link (NTCDL) is a multi-link CDL system being produced for the US Navy. NTCDL provides the ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-2 Block IIIC/Block IIICU

  The SM-2 Block IIIC and Block IIICU are medium-range, surface-to-air missiles with active radio frequency seekers. Both missiles are modifications to legacy SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar, Sea: navigation radar

  AN/SPS-67

  The AN/SPS-67 is a two-dimensional, short-range naval surface search and navigation radar manufactured by Leonardo DRS.  The system was designed to meet USN requirements for ...