Today, King Charles read the commissioning warrant for the 6th Astute-class SSN, HMS Agamemnon, at a ceremony in Barrow. On the same day, the first steel was also cut for the final Dreadnought-class SSBN, HMS King George VI. Six out of seven The king was joined by around 500 guests in the shipyard, including family […] The post His Majesty the King marks significant landmarks in Royal Navy submarine construction first appeared on Navy Lookout.| Navy Lookout
In the first major naval announcement of the Strategic Defence Review, the Prime Minister has promised to construct up to 12 SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) to replace the Royal Navy's 7 Astute class boats from the late 2030s. Apex predator This aspiration is undoubtedly very good news and is absolutely the correct choice for the| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
Thales UK and BAE Systems have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding that formalises a longstanding partnership to deliver and integrate sonar technology for RN submarines. The agreement will play a fundamental role in enabling the SSN-AUKUS programme and ensuring sovereign sonar development capability is maintained into the future. The deal designates Thales as the| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
Already one of the finest heavyweight torpedoes in the world, the programme to further enhance the accuracy and lethality of Spearfish is now complete. After extensive development and trials, the weapon has now been declared operational by the RN. The Spearfish upgrade project began in 2010 to ensure the primary conventional weapon of the submarine| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
A lightweight towed array sonar developed by SEA has been successfully integrated and trialled with the Manta XLUUV. This combination of technologies has significant implications for anti-submarine warfare, seabed warfare and underwater surveillance capabilities. The 9-metre Manta uncrewed submersible built by MSubs in 2020 has been conducting a series of trials and experiments off Plymouth,| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
The RN has released a short video detailing plans for its first XLUAV, acquired under project CETUS, which has now been launched and named XV Excalibur. Here we summarise the presentation and the future of the programme. Tracking adversary submarines in the North Atlantic remains one of the RN’s most pressing operational imperatives. To achieve| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
BAE Systems unveiled the third iteration of the Herne extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) at DSEI 2025. This will be available for the Royal Navy or export customers to purchase as an operational platform from the end of 2026. Iterating fast This latest version, ‘Herne Mk 3’, represents continued progress from the prototype shown in| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
A surfaced Russian submarine transiting through the English Channel has once again prompted a coordinated monitoring effort by the RN. The operation comes as the Russians manage to retain a naval presence in the Mediterranean, following the loss of their base in Syria. In the last few days, OPV HMS Mersey, a Wildcat helicopter from 815| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
The Queen has become the first woman and only the second member of the Royal Family to be appointed Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom, during a visit to HMS Astute at Devonport Naval Base. Her Majesty, Queen Camilla, is the Sponsor of HMS Astute, having been present at her roll-out in 2007 and commissioning| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
In a modest but significant step for AUKUS collaboration, the RN’s experimental extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle, XV Excalibur, will be remotely operated by Australian Navy personnel from Australia during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, while the vehicle remains in UK waters. The operation is a live demonstration of interoperability in the autonomous undersea domain, linking UK| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
HMS Anson arrived back on the Clyde this morning. This confirms no RN submarine has been deployed in support of the Carrier Strike Group deployment for the Indo-Pacific leg, and there are no RN SSNs at sea for now. The current 5-boat attack submarine force comprises HMS Astute, just about to begin a mid-life refit| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
The MoD has admitted that a ‘Category A’ nuclear safety incident occurred earlier this year at Faslane, home to the RN’s all-nuclear powered submarine flotilla. Category A incidents are defined as having an actual or high potential for the release of radioactive material into the environment. The incident took place between January and April 2025,| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
In a significant step forward for undersea warfare capability, the Royal Navy has successfully launched and recovered an uncrewed underwater vehicle from a submerged submarine during recent trials in the Mediterranean. The breakthrough was achieved as part of Project SCYLLA, which is being delivered under AUKUS Pillar 2 and focuses on developing advanced technologies to| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
On 16th October the head of the MoD Stephen Lovegrove formally approved a revised schedule for the delivery of the 4th Astute class submarine HMS Audacious. Writing to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee he admitted publicly for the first time that Audacious will not be handed over to the RN until January 2021.| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
Guy Todd served as an officer aboard midget submarines in WW2. The post A Story of Midget Submarines – The illustrations of Guy Todd appeared first on National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy.| National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy
In March 2014 the MoD admitted there was a minor concern about the integrity of the nuclear reactors which power Vanguard class submarines. As a precaution, HMS Vanguard currently in refit at Devonport has been given a second new reactor core. This week the government quietly announced that technical assessments have now concluded this procedure will not be| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
The MoD has awarded Babcock a £114M contract to prepare for the first nuclear defueling of a decommissioned Royal Navy Trafalgar Class submarine in over 20 years. The contract covers work to remove the fuel from four boats, most likely ex-HMS Trafalgar, Turbulent, Tireless and Torbay - the oldest T-boats in storage at Devonport. It| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
HMS Vanguard, one of the four Trident submarines that maintain the UK's nuclear deterrent, left Devonport yesterday after a very much delayed Long Overhaul Period and Refuel (LOP(R)). When Vanguard arrived in December 2015 for her second (LOP(R)) it was expected to take a maximum of 4 years and cost £200 million. Her three younger| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
HMS Victorious arrived in Devonport to begin a multi-year Deep Maintenance Period (DMP) in May 2023. Here we provide a some background and detail about the project. Second of the Vanguard class, HMS Victorious was launched in 1993 and has already exceeded her originally intended 25-year design life by 3 years. The DMP is intended| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
In this guest article, Kamil Sadowski considers how navies may employ surface platforms to counter the evolving threat from UUVs. There are many Autonomous/Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) programs either in development or available today for both military and non-military applications. At present the majority of operational naval UUVs are employed in mine warfare or hydrographic| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday he was confident the AUKUS submarine pact with the U.S. and Britain would proceed, and his government would work closely with the U.S. while the Trump administration conducted a formal review.| gCaptain
At the CNE 2025 in Farnborough, UK a Greek naval officer presented the Hellenic Navy’s comprehensive submarine modernization plan.| Naval News
Undersea data cables are critical to the internet upon which the modern world has come to depend. This hidden network forms the backbone of global communications but is surprisingly vulnerable to interference by hostile actors. Protecting this infrastructure may become an increasingly important remit for the Royal Navy. Background The first undersea cables were telegraph| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
In this article, we refute some of the arguments frequently presented by those campaigning for the UK to abandon its nuclear deterrent.| Navy Lookout
Royal Navy Astute-class submarine, HMS Audacious was taken into number 15 dry dock in Devonport today. She arrived in Plymouth on 1st April 2023 for a refit that necessitates work on her hull, which could not begin until facilities had been upgraded.| Navy Lookout
Ships are not very fast, compared to ground vehicles. Even an old beater car can easily go 130 km/h (or much faster) on the highway, while most ships travel four or five times slower. But what about submarines – what maximum speed can they reach?| Nodum.org