In the first of a series of articles focussing on the Astute class SSNs, we look at the programme's history and how decisions made decades ago continue to impact today's fleet. Background In the late 1960s the RN had decided that it would invest heavily in nuclear attack submarines with a force goal of 20| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
As part of the Royal Navy’s Future Air Dominance System (FADS) concept, BAE Systems has proposed low-cost, rapidly-built uncrewed/ minimally crewed vessels to supplement the Type 83 destroyer. Drawing on the legacy of the Triton trimaran demonstrator built for the RN in 2000, the proposed Sensor-Effector Platforms (SEP), could form a key element of the […] The post BAE Systems’ large uncrewed warship proposal first appeared on Navy Lookout.| Navy Lookout
With multi-billion investments, insurers such as Allianz and Axa fuel Israel’s war in Gaza – and the climate crisis. The UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine has also drawn attention to this. A new campaign called ‘No Allianz with Genocide’ aims to pressure the Munich-based company Allianz to withdraw completely from business that fuels the war […] Der Beitrag Don’t insure with Allianz: Campaign against Gaza war calls to withdraw from deals with Israel erschien zuerst auf Matthias M...| Matthias Monroy
A new wave of simulation technology is changing the way the RN trains for operations. The BAE Systems’ MIMESIS system maturing and the RN’s SPARTAN programme advances promising to deliver more flexible, realistic and cost-effective training in line with current threats. Virtual training The cornerstone of BAE Systems’ solution to the synthetic naval training requirement| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
BAE Systems recently unveiled a proposal to add additional VLS cells to the Hunter class frigates being built for the Royal Australian Navy. Here we examine the background to the requirement for more missiles and the potential opportunities for Type 26 customer nations. Up arming down under The Australian Defence Strategic Review (DSR) concluded that| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
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| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
Following the outline FADS requirement issued by the RN earlier this year, BAE Systems has begun development of its Air Warfare Command Ship solutions and other supporting elements. At DSEI 2025, the company shared their initial design ideas, including increased automation, modularity, and efforts to ensure affordability. The First Sea Lord has signalled a departure| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
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
On the day the new Shipbuilding Hall at Govan was formally opened, we were invited to BAE Systems’ Clyde facilities to visit HMS Glasgow and see the progress resulting from a £300M portfolio of investment in the yards. On board HMS Glasgow is due to begin sea trials this year, although there is clearly still| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
As the first of class, HMS Glasgow prepares to begin the fitting out phase of construction, here we take an overview of the Type 26 frigate design. This is a highly complex warship and it is not possible to cover every aspect of the vessel in a single article but this provides a primer on| 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
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
In development since 2018, the Kingfisher munition is a novel and low-cost solution for warships developed by BAE Systems to counter underwater threats, particularly proliferating UUVs. Here we look at this weapon in detail and consider its potential selection by the Royal Navy. Background Kingfisher is a naval gun-launched modular carrier system. This allows a| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
Norway has formally announced it will purchase at least 5 Type 26 frigates to be built in the UK. Here we look at the implications of this news. Today’s announcement confirms what has been obvious for some time, but it is only the first step in this momentous programme. The Norwegian and British governments will| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
BAE Systems has announced that its pioneering Combat Air Flying Demonstrator has reached a major milestone, with two thirds of the aircraft’s structural weight now ‘in manufacturing’. The UK-funded and developed Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is designed to test, develop and mature a range of new technologies in support of the trinational Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with the UK, Italy and Japan.| euro-sd.com
Amongst informed defence commentators it has been an open secret for several years, but on 29th January a BBC report finally put the engine problems of the Type 45 destroyers into the public eye. The MoD has consistently played down the seriousness of the issue, that had on occasions resulted in total propulsion and electrical failure, leaving| 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
One of the world's first sixth-generation fighters has moved closer to its first flight, as BAE Systems unveils the prototype Combat Air Flying Demonstrator, now under construction for the Global Combat Air Programme by Britain, Italy, and Japan.| New Atlas
Por: Lic. Alejandro Marcó del Pont La hipocresía debe ser ordenada (El Tábano Economista) En el teatro de la economía internacional, Grecia y Ucrania representan dos tragedias modernas con un guion…| El tábano economista
Yesterday the Nuclear Information Service published their report "Trouble ahead risks and rising Costs in the UK nuclear weapons programme”. This is a brief response to some of the points and recommendations made in the report. Although the Nuclear Information Service has an anti-Trident agenda and cannot be seen as an entirely objective source, the| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
The delivery of the RN's second aircraft carrier has deservedly been celebrated as a great success for British industry but behind the scenes, in the naval bases and shipyards, all is not well. 2019 has seen a number of important maintenance projects stalled or delayed. Here we summarise the situation. Delays to naval construction and| Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis
Explore the U.S. Marine Corps' new order of 30 Amphibious Combat Vehicles from BAE Systems, enhancing amphibious capabilities with cannon-equipped ACVs by 2028.| Bulgarian Military Industry Review
HMS Cardiff, the second of eight Type 26 City Class frigates being constructed by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy has left the shipyard at Govan and will be lowered into the water in the next few days.| Navy Lookout
