Type-31 frigate design concept. Babcock Image
The following post has been updated to correct the cost of the Type-31 program. The U.K. plans to pay $1.6 billion for all five hulls, not $1.6 billion for each hull.
LONDON — The victory of the Babcock/Thales Arrowhead 140 design in Britain’s bargain-basement Type 31 frigate competition will give the Royal Navy a heavyweight fighter in the maritime security arena. Read More
Marines with Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, secure the beach during an amphibious raid by Combat Rubber Raiding Craft in conjunction with the insert of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System by landing craft, utility, from the dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD-48) at Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan on Aug. 16, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo
LONDON — Autonomous control systems developed for the Pentagon’s Sea Hunter unmanned ship could also help keep Marine Corps logisticians out of harm’s way during future amphibious landings, according to the company behind the technology. Read More
HMS Queen Elizabeth conducting a Replenishment At Sea with RFA Tideforce on Sept. 8, 2019. Royal Navy Photo
LONDON — The Royal Navy’s metamorphosis from a provider of lone warships to the world’s maritime hotspots into a service deploying carrier strike and amphibious task groups will be accompanied by an equally significant transformation in command and control (C2), according to the U.K.’s surface fleet commander. Read More
Royal Marine sniper in front of HMS Sutherland’s helicopter on Jan. 7, 2019. UK MoD Photo
LONDON — The retirement last year of the Royal Navy’s biggest assault ship – the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean – was accompanied by dire warnings in the British press of the imminent demise of the country’s entire amphibious warfighting capability. Read More
HMS Queen Elizabeth sailing from her home in Portsmouth on Feb. 2, 2019. U.K. MoD Photo
LONDON — The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters are spearheading a revival of British sea power unparalleled since the end of the Second World War, the country’s top admiral said on Tuesday. Read More
Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace MP (center), seen here with the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson (right), anboard a Vanguard class SSBN
UK Prime Minister The Rt Hon Boris Johnson visits HMNB Clyde. July 29, 2019. UK MoD Photo
LONDON — Britain’s new prime minister, Boris Johnson, is facing a maritime security standoff with Iran that could, if handled indelicately, spark conflict in the Persian Gulf region. Read More
Hunter-class version of BAE Type 26 frigate. BAE artist rendering
LONDON — BAE Systems has told USNI News that it would be “delighted” to enter its Type 26 Global Combat Ship in the FFG(X) future frigate competition – if the Navy scraps the requirement for a proven hull design. Read More
Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson in 2018. U.K. Royal Navy Photo
LONDON — British prime minister Theresa May has sacked her defense secretary for leaking sensitive information relating to Chinese involvement in the country’s future telecommunications projects. Read More
Artist’s conception of the Boeing Orca XLUUV. Boeing Image
LONDON — Britain’s Ministry of Defence is exploring options for the development of an Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) to conduct covert missions at distances of up to ranges 3,000 nautical miles for three months at a time for the Royal Navy. Read More
BAE Systems Image
A Lockheed Martin-led industry team was selected for the final design of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future frigate after surviving a legal challenge by a rival contender. Read More
