ESNA Unveils Surface Effect Ship Technology for UK-Norwegian Joint Commando Craft Program
On May 25, 2026 ESNA introduced a 22‑meter Surface Effect Ship (SES) for the UK‑Norwegian Joint Commando Craft (JCC) program, targeting Arctic littoral missions. The craft can sprint to 67 knots, cruise at 35‑45 knots, and carry up to 14 tons of payload, including vehicles, drones and missile systems. It deploys up to 24 fully equipped troops via a bow ramp and operates with a three‑person crew, offering both manned and unmanned configurations. Integrated sensors, low‑signature design and an active ride‑damping system enhance all‑weather, high‑speed beach landings.
Ultra Maritime to Supply Acoustic Device Countermeasures to Royal Australian Navy
Ultra Maritime Australia has secured a contract from the Australian Department of Defence to supply Acoustic Device Countermeasure (ADC) units to the Royal Australian Navy. The award deepens a partnership that has lasted more than ten years, during which Ultra...
Lockheed Martin Delivers First Integrated Combat System Enabled Baseline, Advancing Rapid, Scalable Capability for the U.S. Navy
Lockheed Martin has delivered the first Integrated Combat System (ICS)‑enabled baseline, designated BL9.C3.0, to the U.S. Navy. The baseline merges legacy Aegis combat capability with a modern, container‑based software architecture and introduces a re‑architected display and Tactical Platform‑as‑a‑Service. A six‑month...
Raytheon Expands on U.S. Navy’s Next-Generation Torpedo
Raytheon has secured the Increment 2 contract to advance the U.S. Navy’s Mark 58 Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW) torpedo. The company is now responsible for establishing production baselines, hardening the system for operational use, and conducting in‑water forebody testing by the...
HII Showcased ROMULUS 151 at Combined Naval Event 2026
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), the U.S. Navy’s largest shipbuilder, highlighted its autonomous maritime portfolio at the Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2026 in Farnborough, UK. The company showcased the AI‑enabled ROMULUS 151 unmanned surface vessel alongside its REMUS family of unmanned...
IAI Unveils DIAMOND: New Distributed Warfare Solution that Expands the Power of Modern Frigates
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveiled DIAMOND, a hybrid naval warfare system that attaches modular wing‑ships to existing frigates. The wing‑ships carry a plug‑and‑play suite of loitering munitions, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and air‑defence interceptors, all controlled remotely from the mothership....
L3Harris Delivering Clandestine Submarine-Launched AUVs to the U.S. Navy
L3Harris is advancing production of its Iver4 900 autonomous undersea vehicle (AUV) under a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) program to deliver torpedo‑tube‑launched drones to U.S. Navy attack submarines. The modular AUV can carry interchangeable ISR, mine‑sweeping and seabed‑mapping payloads and...
South Korea Unveils Historic Plan to Build First Nuclear-Powered Submarine
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense released a “Basic Plan for the Development of the Republic of Korea Nuclear‑Powered Submarine,” outlining a roadmap to build its first nuclear‑propelled attack submarine by the mid‑2030s, with commissioning slated for the late 2030s....
Australia Begins Life Extension Effort for Collins Submarines, Announces A$11 Billion Cost over Ten Years
The Australian government announced a life‑of‑type‑extension (LOTE) programme for its six Collins‑class submarines, committing A$11 billion (about US$7.8 billion) over the next decade. The effort begins with HMAS Farncomb, the second‑oldest boat, and will include a detailed engineering assessment to shape upgrades across...
U.S. Navy’s First Carrier Operated Unmanned Tanker Cleared for Production
The U.S. Navy announced that the MQ‑25A "Stingray" unmanned aerial tanker has cleared Milestone C, moving the program from research into low‑rate initial production. The Navy will acquire three additional MQ‑25s in FY 2027, bringing total procurements to six of the...
Italy Is Forward-Deploying Mine Countermeasures Assets in the Middle East
Italy has forward‑deployed two Gaeta‑class mine‑countermeasure vessels, Crotone and Rimini, from Augusta, Sicily on 15 May to support an international coalition aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The task group may later be reinforced by the air‑defence frigate Raimondo Montecuccoli...
HAVELSAN Eyes Malaysia as Regional Hub for Southeast Asian Defense Expansion
Turkish defense firm HAVELSAN is targeting Malaysia as a regional hub for Southeast Asian defense growth. At DSA 2026, the company showcased its ADVENT combat management system for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 and announced delivery of...
Indonesia Prepares for Carrier Operations Ahead of Garibaldi Transfer
Indonesia’s navy has erected a full‑scale flight‑deck mockup at Juanda Naval Air Station to train pilots and deck crews for the incoming ex‑Italian carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, which will be renamed KRI Gajah Mada. The painted outline mirrors the carrier’s 180‑meter length and 33‑meter...
Türkiye Starts Work on HÜRJET Naval Variant for Aircraft Carrier
Turkey has officially launched development of a carrier‑compatible version of its HÜRJET supersonic trainer and light‑attack jet. The program focuses on reinforcing the landing gear, adding an arresting hook, and applying marinization measures to protect against salt‑induced corrosion. The naval...
BlackSea Technologies Demonstrates GARC USV Capabilities in Norway
BlackSea Technologies showcased its Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) unmanned surface vessel at NATO’s Arctic Sentry 2026 exercise in Ramsund, Norway. The USV operated in harsh Arctic conditions alongside the U.S. 6th Fleet, USVRON‑3, and the Royal Norwegian Navy, demonstrating...
L&T Partners with Exail to Offer Mine Warfare Solutions to the Indian Navy
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed a strategic partnership with France’s Exail to supply an unmanned mine‑countermeasure (MCM) suite for the Indian Navy’s 12‑vessel MCMV program, a project valued at roughly $5 billion. The collaboration makes L&T the prime contractor, while...
HII, MetalCraft Marine Deliver ROMULUS-25 USV Prototypes for U.S. Marine Corps
HII and MetalCraft Marine have delivered two ROMULUS-25 unmanned surface vessel prototypes to the U.S. Marine Corps, completing sea trials in December 2025 under a Defense Innovation Unit contract. The 27‑foot high‑speed craft can carry up to 1,000 lb of payload...
PteroDynamics to Supply Transwing VTOL Drone to Royal Australian Navy
PteroDynamics Inc. has secured a contract with the Royal Australian Navy to deliver its P4 Transwing VTOL unmanned aircraft system, with delivery slated for spring 2026 and an option for larger P5 units in 2027. The award follows a successful...
Klein Marine Systems Announces MANTIS UUV with Integrated Sonar Array
Klein Marine Systems unveiled the MANTIS UUV, a side‑scan sonar built for autonomous underwater vehicles. The system leverages SmartArray technology, embedding electronics directly in the transducer to shrink size, weight and power consumption. Operating at a baseline 600 kHz (with 720 kHz...
Navantia Progresses with BAM-IS Submarine Rescue Vessel Construction
Navantia lowered the 597‑ton macrostructure of the Submarine Rescue Vessel (BAM‑IS) into a dry dock in Puerto Real, marking a key construction milestone. The block, comprising three sections, houses cycloidal thrusters, a large‑capacity crane pedestal, a hyperbaric chamber and the...
U.S. Navy Wants New LRAW Stand-Off Anti-Submarine Weapon
The U.S. Navy announced FY 2027 funding of $11.4 million to launch design work on a Long‑Range Anti‑Submarine Weapon (LRAW) slated for late 2026 or early 2027. LRAW is intended to replace the aging RUM‑139C VL‑ASROC, whose range tops out at just over 10 miles,...
Sting Ray Mod 1 Torpedo Poised to Start First P-8A Flight Trials
BAE Systems confirmed that the Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo will begin air‑carriage and jettison trials on a U.S. Navy P‑8A Poseidon in Q3 2026, marking the final integration step for the RAF’s nine‑aircraft fleet. The trials, conducted at Naval Air...
Italian Navy in the Pacific with MPCS Bande Nere to Test Ballistic Missile Defence
The Italian Navy’s fourth Thaon di Revel‑class multi‑purpose combat ship, ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere (P 434), left Taranto on May 3 for a six‑month Indo‑Pacific deployment. The vessel, the first in the “Full” configuration, will showcase its advanced dual‑band radar, Aster...
Major Contract Amendment of Advanced RHIB Capability for German Navy F126 Frigate Programme
Marine Specialized Technology, Damen Naval and Germany’s BAAINBw signed a major contract amendment that expands the FRISC fast‑raiding craft for the F126 frigate program. The amendment resolves prior design issues and adds a network‑enabled C4ISR package, including multi‑channel radios, advanced...
Video: New Comet and Chaser USV by BlackSea Technologies
BlackSea Technologies showcased its new Comet and Chaser unmanned surface vehicles at Sea Air Space 2026. The 13.1‑meter Comet can haul up to 10,000 lb, sport a BRAWLR launcher with AIM‑9X and Hellfire missiles, and sustain 1,000 nautical miles at 40 knots. The...
Vietnam Slated to Order BrahMos and Naval Vessels From India
Vietnam announced plans to purchase three to four Indian offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and 14 high‑speed patrol boats, a deal valued at roughly $300 million under a broader $500 million defence line of credit from India. An additional $200 million is being considered...
New INDOPACOM Mission Network Links Allies During Balikatan
The U.S.-led Indo‑Pacific Mission Network (IMN), a zero‑trust platform, was field‑tested for the first time during the 2026 Balikatan exercises in the Philippines. The network linked forces from the United States, the Philippines, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada, enabling secure...
NAVANTIA Marks Keel Laying of Seventh Corvette for Saudi Arabia
Navantia held the keel‑laying ceremony for its seventh corvette, HMS NEOM, at the San Fernando shipyard in Spain. The vessel is the second unit of a three‑ship series ordered by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, with the first ship already delivered and...
Two Milestones Within the rMCM Program: Launch of M943 Liège and First Steel Cut M945 Rochefort
The Belgian‑Dutch replacement Mine Counter Measures (rMCM) program marked two key milestones on May 5: the M943 Liège was launched, concluding its structural build, and the first steel was cut for the M945 Rochefort, initiating construction of the final Belgian vessel. The Liège...
Taiwan‘s New Submarine Launches MK 48 Torpedo for the First Time
Taiwan’s first Indigenous Defense Submarine, Hai Kun (SS‑711), conducted a live‑fire test on May 6, launching two U.S.–made Mk48 Mod 6AT heavyweight torpedoes from its 533 mm tubes. The trial verified the submarine’s combat system ability to detect, track and generate firing solutions for...
MARTAC T38 USV Executes 192-Hour Autonomous Mission 400 NM Offshore
Maritime Tactical Systems’ T38 Devil Ray USV completed a record‑setting 192‑hour autonomous mission 400 nautical miles off California, proving long‑endurance, low‑logistics operation. The vessel maintained station in sea states up to 5, demonstrated 50‑knot bursts, and operated on a single...
Malaysia Signs Contract with Desan Shipyard on Second Multi-Purpose Mission Ship
Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs signed an $83.75 million contract with Turkey’s Desan Shipyard to build a second 99‑metre Multi‑Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) for the coast guard. The vessel, identical to the first MPMS ordered in 2025, will carry a crew...
HAVELSAN Unveils ADVENT-AI Combat Management System at SAHA 2026
At SAHA EXPO 2026 in Istanbul, Turkish defence firm HAVELSAN unveiled ADVENT‑AI, an artificial‑intelligence decision layer built on its existing ADVENT combat management system. The AI module processes high‑volume operational data in real time, detecting patterns, filtering critical information, and...
U.S. Army Island Hops Missile Launcher Near SCS at Balikatan
During the 2026 Balikatan drills, the U.S. Army deployed M142 HIMARS launchers to Balabac Island in the Philippines, marking the first Army fire of the system there. The island‑hopping concept uses watercraft to position missile units across the Indo‑Pacific, extending...
French Carrier Strike Group Transits Suez Amid Hormuz Tensions
The French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group transited the Suez Canal on May 6, 2026, and is now heading toward the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Paris frames the redeployment as a defensive measure to reassure regional partners...
New Details Of Russia’s Super-Weapon Submarine ‘Khabarovsk’
Russia has launched the Khabarovsk, a purpose‑built submarine designed to carry the nuclear‑powered Poseidon torpedo. The 135‑meter vessel combines the stern of a Borei‑class ballistic missile sub with the bow of the Belgorod, eliminating the midsection to free space for...
STM Unveils YAKTU Swarm Kamikaze Unmanned Surface Vehicle
STM unveiled the YAKTU Kamikaze Unmanned Surface Vehicle at SAHA 2026, a 5.8‑meter, 1.7‑ton high‑speed USV capable of over 50 knots and a 200‑nautical‑mile range. The platform features AI‑enabled swarm intelligence that allows coordinated multi‑unit attacks, delivering one‑way lethal strikes...
Meteksan Unveils MILSAS Synthetic Aperture Sonar at SAHA EXPO 2026
Meteksan Defence unveiled its National Synthetic Aperture Sonar (MİLSAS) at the SAHA EXPO in Istanbul, showcasing a high‑resolution underwater imaging system. The NATO‑compliant sonar creates a synthetic wide aperture by merging multiple narrow‑aperture measurements, surpassing conventional sonar resolution limits. MİLSAS...
The Netherlands Is Considering AEGIS System For Future Air Defence Frigates
The Dutch Ministry of Defence has issued a Letter of Request to the United States for price and availability information on the Aegis combat system, signaling a possible shift toward the American radar suite for its next‑generation air‑defence frigates. The...
U.S. Navy Wants First FF(X) Frigate in the Water by 2028
The U.S. Navy’s FY 2027 budget outlines an accelerated FF(X) frigate program, targeting the first ship’s launch in the first quarter of FY 2029 (late 2028) and delivery by Q3 FY 2030. The lead vessel will be built by Huntington Ingalls Industries using...
Japan’s US-2 Joins Balikatan Exercises in South China Sea
Japan’s Maritime Self‑Defense Force deployed its ShinMaywa US‑2 amphibious aircraft for a live casualty‑evacuation drill during the 2026 Balikatan exercises in the South China Sea. The drill paired the US‑2 with the U.S. Navy’s landing‑dock ship USS Ashland, showcasing joint medical‑response...
Future Anti-Ship PrSM Prioritizes Indo-Pacific Ops and 1,000 Km Range
The U.S. Army is developing a future variant of its Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) with anti‑ship capability, targeting a range of up to 1,000 km. PrSM Increment 4 is being fast‑tracked for deployment on HIMARS launchers, with a requirement to operate in...
Zumwalt-Class Destroyers May Receive SPY-6 Radars From Frigates
The U.S. Navy is evaluating a backfit of Raytheon's AN/SPY-6(V)3 radar onto its three Zumwalt-class destroyers, replacing the existing AN/SPY-3. The proposal leverages radar modules originally built for the cancelled Constellation-class frigates and aligns with the broader Zumwalt Enterprise Upgrade...
Textron Awarded DIU Contract to Provide Tsunami USV to U.S. Navy
Textron Systems received a Defense Innovation Unit contract to build and deliver multiple TSUNAMI uncrewed surface vessels for the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) exercise in Key West, Florida, and three months of joint operations with SOUTHCOM and the Fourth...
J.A. Group Appoints Former SH Defence CEO to Lead Ambitious International Expansion on Containerized Mission Payloads for Defence and the...
J.A. Group has acquired LJ Industries and will rebrand it as J.A. Solutions, appointing former SH Defence CEO René Bertelsen to lead its international expansion. The Danish firm aims to shift from a fleet‑only supplier to a global provider of containerized...
India Conducts First Salvo Launch of New NASM-SR Missile
India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully conducted the maiden salvo launch of the Naval Anti‑ship Missile‑Short Range (NASM‑SR) on April 29, firing two missiles from a Sea King Mk.42B helicopter over the Bay of Bengal....
Pakistan Navy Commissions First Hangor-Class Submarine in China
On April 30, 2026 Pakistan commissioned its first Hangor‑class submarine, PNS/M Hangor, at a ceremony in Sanya, China, attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf. The Hangor class is an export version of China’s Type 039B Yuan‑class, part of an...
JMDSF Sets up Patrol and Defense Group with Mogami-Class Vessels
At the end of March 2026 the Japan Maritime Self‑Defense Force reorganized its surface fleet, creating a new Patrol and Defense Group headquartered in Yokosuka. The group consolidates peacetime surveillance duties and fields the modern Mogami‑class frigates alongside Hayabusa‑class patrol...
HII Builds on Submarine MUM-T Success with New Pentagon Deal
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) secured a Defense Innovation Unit contract to supply a torpedo‑tube launch and recovery (TTLR) system that autonomously deploys its REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles from U.S. Navy submarines. The award builds on HII’s 120‑year undersea warfare legacy...
U.S. Navy Drills in At-Sea USV Fueling Ahead of CSG Deployment
The U.S. Navy successfully demonstrated at‑sea refueling of the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) Seahawk using the fleet oiler USNS Guadalupe off Southern California. The test clears a key logistical hurdle for the upcoming deployment of the Seahawk with the...