In January 2023 the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) launched the Novel Amphibious Craft competition as a prelude to replacing the Royal Marines’ small landing craft. Here we look at one of the potential solutions – Steller Systems’ Offshore Insertion Craft concept. Making it to the beach For some time it has been obvious that […] The post Ship to shore – new solutions for getting troops onto the beach first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more

In this article we summarise the current status of the RN’s surface combatants. Frigates HMS Lancaster has been permanently forward-deployed in the Middle East and based in Bahrain since late 2022. This arrangement has proved extremely efficient with her crew rotating every four months. Having just completed an in-theatre FOST period, her Port crew was […] The post Snapshot: The Royal Navy escort fleet in April 2024 first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more

Here we summarise recent progress with the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigate programme and the £300 million shipyard infrastructure investments being made by BAE Systems in Glasgow. Work in hand HMS Glasgow is in dry dock at Scotstoun being insulated, painted and outfitted at present, being about 65% complete. All structural steel work is finished […] The post Type 26 frigate construction and shipyard investment – progress update first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more

The concept of a permanently forward-deployed UK ‘Littoral Response Group’ has been around since early 2019 but only now has this vision been partially fulfilled. Now that the 2 ships have arrived in India, here we look at the background and future employment of the LRG(S). LRG concepts It was always planned that the LRG(S) […] The post The UK Littoral Response Group (South) arrives in the Indo-Pacific first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more

There have been a swathe of negative news stories about the RN in the last 6 months and received wisdom is that the Navy is in terrible shape. While facing enormous challenges, the outlook is not all bleak and here we highlight some reasons to believe the RN is still a very credible fighting force. […] The post 10 reasons to be optimistic about the strength of the Royal Navy first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more

In March 2022 the National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh was published. Two years on, we consider how realistic this looks and the issues that will influence the future surface fleet. Based on the UK shipbuilding forecast, by the mid-2030s, almost the entire existing RN fleet (apart from the aircraft carriers) will either have been replaced or […] The post The factors shaping the future Royal Navy surface fleet first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more

The RN-led UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) coordinates the flow of information around commercial shipping sailing in dangerous waters. Here we look at how this valuable service provides reassurance to mariners, improves safety of life at sea and helps reduce their risk of exposure to piracy or attack. Background The UKMTO is based at the […] The post How the Royal Navy provides support to merchant shipping under threat around the world first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more

Steadfast Defender 2024 (STDE24) is the largest military exercise staged by NATO since the alliance conducted ‘Reforger’ in 1988. In this photo essay, we cover the RN’s participation in the maritime elements of the exercise. SDE24 spans multiple regions and domains from land, sea, air and space and involves 90,000 military personnel. Essentially it simulates […] The post Royal Navy plays a leading role in largest NATO exercise for more than 35 years first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more

In late 2023 an aerial target was destroyed during a successful test firing of the UK’s DragonFire Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) technology demonstrator. Here we look at DragonFire and the possibility of operational derivatives. Background In early 2017 a consortium led by MBDA was awarded a £30M contract by the MoD Defence Science and […] The post DragonFire – pathway to a Laser Directed Energy Weapon for the Royal Navy? first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more

Serving as part of a coalition force that repelled multiple attack drones launched by Houthi rebels, HMS Richmond destroyed 2 aerial drones with her Sea Ceptor missile system. The US now says that its forces and Coalition partners downed a total of at least 28 Houthi one-way attack drones fired into the Red Sea and […] The post First kills for Sea Ceptor. HMS Richmond downs 2 attack drones first appeared on Navy Lookout ..read more