HD HHI Becomes First Korean Company to Win U.S. Office of Naval Research Project
South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has become the first Korean company to secure research contracts from the U.S. Office of Naval Research. The agreements, signed in Arlington, cover two projects: one leveraging artificial intelligence to boost naval vessel performance, and another aimed at improving shipbuilding productivity. HD HHI will work with Seoul National University’s naval architecture department and its own Future Technology Institute to develop the technologies. The awards signal a deepening partnership between HD HHI and the U.S. Navy.
U.S. Anti-Ship Missiles in the Philippines for Balikatan 2026
The U.S. 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment deployed about 1,300 Marines and Sailors to the northern Philippines for Balikatan 2026, positioning NMESIS anti‑ship missile launchers at Cagayan North International Airport. The unmanned launchers can strike targets up to 185 km into the...
France Establishes New Seabed Warfare Observatory
France has created the Seabed Warfare Observatory (MFM) within the Defence Ministry’s strategic research arm to monitor emerging threats in the ocean floor domain. Led by retired Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, the observatory will publish three monitoring notes in 2026, starting...
U.S.-Japan GPI Workshare Revealed: Northrop Details 50-50 Split in Hypersonic Interceptor Program
Northrop Grumman disclosed a detailed 50‑50 workshare between the United States and Japan for the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI), a hypersonic missile designed to counter glide‑phase threats. The U.S. will provide the first‑stage booster, third‑stage solid motor, and key kill‑vehicle...
Hanwha Ocean Debuts Dual-Use Vessel for Drone and Strike Roles
Hanwha Ocean, in partnership with Leidos Gibbs & Cox, unveiled the 31,000‑ton Global Fast Sealift at Sea‑Air‑Space 2026. The vessel can carry up to 800 containers and roughly half a brigade combat team’s vehicles, while also being configurable for military...
NATO DIANA’s Rapid Adoption Service Enables First R&D Contract Between Allies and Industry
NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) has awarded its first R&D contract on behalf of an Ally, Canada’s Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), to UK‑based undersea robotics firm HonuWorx. The contract tasks HonuWorx with extending the operating depth of its...
Invariant Successfully Demonstrates Counter-Drone Capability From USV
Invariant Corporation’s Surface-to-Air Kinetic Engagement (STAKE) system was successfully integrated onto Textron Systems’ TSUNAMI unmanned surface vessel and completed early‑integration testing at Lake Guntersville. The demonstration proved the system’s ability to autonomously detect, track and kinetically engage aerial drones from...
MACE to Become U.S. Navy’s Primary Hypersonic Strike Munition
The U.S. Navy’s FY 2027 budget designates the Multi‑mission Affordable Capacity Effector (MACE), branded Blackbeard, as its primary hypersonic strike munition, with an initial purchase of 353 all‑up‑rounds funded by $156 million. Production is slated to scale to 500 rounds annually once...
Malaysia Taps Roketsan for Atmaca Anti-Ship Missiles
On April 22 2026, Turkey’s Roketsan signed a contract with Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence to supply 24 Atmaca anti‑ship missiles for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch 2 corvettes being built in Istanbul. The deal, announced at the DSA 2026 exhibition,...
From the Gulf to FREMM EVO: How Fincantieri Is Shaping the Next Generation of Naval Air Defence
Recent Gulf operations featuring Qatar’s Fincantieri‑built Al Fulk LPD and Al Zubarah corvettes demonstrated multi‑layered, networked air and missile defence. The footage highlighted the need for integrated sensors, layered weapons and counter‑UAS capabilities, prompting Italy’s shipbuilder to embed those lessons in the...
U.S. Navy’s New Anti-Radar Missile to Suffer ‘Strategic Pause’
The U.S. Navy has placed the AGM‑88G Advanced Anti‑Radiation Guided Missile‑Extended Range (AARGM‑ER) program on a strategic pause for FY 2027, slashing its budget to just over $24.3 million. Almost all of that money comes from FY 2026 advanced‑procurement, leaving only $20,000 for...
Northrop Grumman and Hanwha Sign MOA for Advanced Reactive Strike Capability
Northrop Grumman and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to develop a first‑stage solid‑rocket booster for the Advanced Reactive Strike (AReS) system. AReS is a surface‑launched, extended‑range weapon designed to deliver stand‑off strike capability in highly...
LIG Signs First Export Deal for K-SAAM with Malaysia
LIG Defense & Aerospace signed a $94 million contract with Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence at DSA 2026, marking the first export of its K‑SAAM (Haegung) ship‑based surface‑to‑air missile. The system, featuring a dual‑mode RF radar and imaging infrared seeker, will be installed...
LIG to Expand Guided Rocket Offerings in the U.S.
LIG Defense & Aerospace showcased its Poniard 70mm guided rocket and larger 130mm and 140mm variants at Sea Air Space 2026, targeting U.S. Navy adoption. The 70mm rocket achieved 100% accuracy in foreign comparative testing from 2019‑2024 and is the...
Pakistan Navy Performs Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile Firing
On April 21, 2026 the Pakistan Navy announced a successful live‑fire of its indigenously developed Taimoor air‑launched cruise missile from a Mirage III over the Arabian Sea. The test demonstrated precision strike capability at ranges of up to 600 km against both...
Anduril and Kraken Partner to Deliver Mission-Ready Maritime Power at Scale
Anduril Industries and Kraken Technology Group announced a partnership at the Sea‑Air‑Space Expo to co‑develop the K7 SABRE and K5 KRAKEN unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The agreement targets rapid delivery of scalable, mission‑ready boats for the U.S. Navy’s hybrid‑fleet transition and NATO...
Japan’s JS Izumo Shows Off Its New Bow for the First Time
Japan’s lead Izumo‑class carrier JS Izumo emerged from dry dock with a new rectangular bow, a key step in its conversion to operate F‑35B STOVL fighters. The redesign, completed around April 2026 at Japan Marine United’s Isogo shipyard, expands the forward flight...
Saildrone Unveils New Spectre USV at Sea Air Space 2026
Saildrone unveiled the Spectre, a 52‑meter unmanned surface vessel capable of carrying up to 25,000 kg of payload, including two 40‑ft containers. Its hybrid diesel‑electric drive delivers ultra‑quiet cruising at 12 knots and a top speed of 27 knots with over 5,000 hp. The...
U.S. Navy Tests New Long-Range GBU-75 JDAM LR
The U.S. Navy successfully completed its first two test flights of Boeing's GBU‑75 JDAM Long Range, each covering 200 nautical miles off California. The demonstrations proved safe weapon separation, powered free‑flight, and pinpoint navigation without requiring new aircraft hardware. Boeing...
MQ-9B SeaGuardian: Enhancing Naval and Marine Corps Operations
General Atomics’ MQ‑9B SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft system is being positioned as a cornerstone of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operations, offering the longest endurance of any platform in its class and a full suite of maritime ISR‑T sensors. The UAV...
Airbus and Partners Sign NH90 Block 2 Architecture Study Contract
NATO’s NH90 agency NAHEMA has signed a two‑year architecture study contract with NHIndustries—a consortium of Airbus, Leonardo and GKN Aerospace—to define the Block 2 upgrade of the NH90 helicopter. Block 2 will introduce modular avionics, greater configuration commonality, improved maintenance and performance,...
Rheinmetall Kraken GmbH Launches Series Production of USV in Hamburg
Rheinmetall Kraken GmbH has begun series production of the Kraken K3 Scout unmanned surface vessel at its Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg. The 8.4‑metre, 55‑knot USV can be configured for surveillance, critical‑infrastructure protection or weapons carriage. The joint venture with Britain’s...
Fincantieri in Malaysia: Integrated Naval Solutions for a Changing Maritime Landscape
Fincantieri is deepening its foothold in Malaysia as regional defence budgets rise, showcasing the LPD San Giusto Enhanced amphibious transport and a suite of digitally‑enabled warships. The 8,800‑ton LPD features a floodable dock, RO‑RO capability and a modular interior that can host...
U.S. Navy Destroyer Disables Iranian-Flagged Cargo Vessel
The U.S. Navy’s destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian‑flagged cargo ship M/V Touska in the north Arabian Sea, disabling its engine with 5‑inch gunfire after six hours of warnings. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded the vessel, which remains...
What’s Next for the Thales Sonar Systems Destined for Cancelled U.S. Navy Frigates?
Thales Defense has already delivered the first two CAPTAS‑4 variable depth sonar (VDS) sets to the U.S. Navy, with the third and fourth units completed in France and production paused for the remaining two. The sonar can be containerized, allowing...
Taiwan Eyes Japan’s New FFM as Frigate Option
Taiwan’s Republic of China Navy is weighing Japan’s upgraded Mogami‑class “New FFM” as a candidate for its next‑generation frigate, aiming for a 6,000‑ton, 100‑person crew vessel. The ROC Navy seeks a design that blends stealth, automation and network‑centric warfare to...
US Approves Possible FMS of AEGIS/SPY-6 Package to Germany
The U.S. State Department has cleared a $11.9 billion foreign military sale to Germany for eight complete AEGIS/SPY‑6 integrated combat system packages. The kits will equip the upcoming F127 anti‑air warfare frigates with AN/SPY‑6(V)1 radars, Mk 41 VLS, and related sensors and...
Australia Announces Contract For First Three ‘Upgraded Mogami’ General Purpose Frigates Under SEA 3000
Australia announced contracts with Japan and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for three upgraded Mogami‑class general‑purpose frigates, the first step of the SEA 3000 program that could field up to 11 ships. The vessels will be built in Japan and delivered to...
U.S. Navy Begins Search for Mk 41 VLS-Launched Hypersonic Weapons
The U.S. Navy unveiled the FLASH (Flight Advancement of Structures for Hypersonics) program to develop low‑cost, boost‑glide hypersonic missiles that can launch from existing Mk 41 VLS and Virginia Payload Module cells. FLASH consolidates prior research on thermal protection, flight‑test hardware,...
Chantiers De L’Atlantique Launches 3rd BRF Supply Ship for the French Navy
The French Navy’s third logistic support ship, Émile Bertin, was launched today at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint‑Nazaire. The vessel is the fifth hull in the OCCAR‑managed Franco‑Italian Logistic Support Ship (LSS) programme, which will deliver six ships—four to France and...
Japan’s MHI Awarded Contract to Build Three Upgraded Mogami-Class Frigates
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) secured a ¥128.6 billion ($806 million) contract from Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency to build three upgraded Mogami‑class frigates, the third through fifth units of the 4,800‑ton “New FFM” series. The award, signed on Feb. 16, 2026, covers...
Sweden Turns Former SIGINT Vessel Into Seabed Warfare Platform
Sweden is converting the retired signals‑intelligence vessel HSwMS Orion into a dedicated seabed‑warfare research and development platform. The 39‑year‑old hull will test concepts for protecting critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, a region plagued by cable cuts and pipeline...
Australia Readies Itself for High-Risk Submarine Life Extension for Collins-Class
Australia is launching the Collins Life‑of‑Type Extension (LOTE) under Project Sea 1450 to keep its six diesel‑electric submarines operational into the 2040s. The program follows a 2024 corrosion crisis that left half the fleet out of the water, with only...
Facing the Evolving Needs of Maritime Security
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is promoting its next‑generation naval suite, highlighted by the BARAK MX air‑defence system, to address a widening spectrum of maritime threats ranging from missiles and drones to sea mines and unmanned vessels. The solution blends advanced radar,...
Germany’s Final Type 424 SIGINT Ship Enters Production
Germany’s final Type 424 signals‑intelligence vessel entered steel‑cutting at Peene‑Werft, marking the start of construction for all three ships in the class. The 130‑metre platform will be operated jointly by the German Navy and the Cyber and Information Domain Service, replacing...
Exail’s DriX H-9 USV Selected for Counter-UAS Research
Exail Technologies has landed a second contract for its DriX H‑9 uncrewed surface vehicle, this time to support Counter‑Unmanned Aerial System (C‑UAS) research for a leading U.S. defense research organization, likely the Navy’s Office of Naval Research. The H‑9 will...
U.S. Navy Seeks Over 600 Surface-to-Air Missiles in Budget Request
The U.S. Navy’s FY 2027 budget request seeks roughly $8.5 billion to buy 676 Standard Missile interceptors—540 SM‑6 and 136 SM‑3 Block IIA. Funding is split, with $730 million for SM‑6 in the base request and $3.59 billion in a reconciliation package, while SM‑3 IIA costs total...
Pakistan Navy Demonstrates Precision Strike Capabilities with SMASH ASBM Test
On April 15, 2026, the Pakistan Navy conducted a live‑fire test of its home‑grown SMASH ship‑launched anti‑ship ballistic missile. The missile hit a target at extended range with high speed, showcasing advanced guidance and maneuverability. The test was witnessed by...
Airbus and Lakota Connector Partners Successfully Execute Fourth Autonomous Flight Test
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, together with Shield AI, L3Harris and Parry Labs, completed its fourth autonomous flight test on an H145 helicopter, integrating all four partners' technologies for the first time. The test demonstrated real‑time perception, obstacle detection and...
Fincantieri Secures First U.S. Navy Contract for LSM Program
Fincantieri Marine Group’s U.S. subsidiary has secured a $30 million contract to procure long‑lead materials and perform engineering work for the first four vessels of the Navy’s Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program. The award follows the Navy’s February 2026 RFP for...
Japan to Join Largest Balikatan War Games with 1,400 Troops, Type 88 Missiles
Japan will join the Philippines‑U.S. Balikatan war games as an active participant, sending about 1,400 combat troops and its Type 88 surface‑to‑ship missile system. The drills, running April 20‑May 8, involve more than 17,000 personnel from the United States, the Philippines and other...
France Scales Down Participation to Balikatan Exercises in the Philippines
France is scaling back its participation in the upcoming Balikatan exercises, sending only 15‑20 troops instead of the planned 150. The Mistral‑class landing helicopter dock Dixmude and the frigate Aconit have been rerouted from Southeast Asia to a port call...
NAVANTIA to Provide Life-Cycle Support for the Turkish Navy Amphibious Ship Anadolu
Navantia and Turkey’s Naval Shipyards General Directorate (TGM) signed a three‑year framework agreement on April 8 to provide life‑cycle support for the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. The contract, renewable for an additional three years, includes maintenance, repairs, on‑site and remote technical...
HAVELSAN Expands Its Underwater C5ISR Capabilities for the Future Operating Environment
HAVELSAN has broadened its underwater C5ISR portfolio, delivering integrated combat management systems for submarines, unmanned underwater vehicles and hybrid platforms. The company’s flagship SEDA system is now deployed on Turkish and foreign conventional submarines, while the ADVENT MÜREN suite adds...
Metal Shark Completes U.S. Navy Patrol Boat Program
Metal Shark announced the completion of the U.S. Navy’s 40-foot Patrol Boat Flight 1 program, delivering a total of 57 vessels after a contract awarded in 2017. The effort included two first‑article prototypes, full‑rate production authorized in 2020 for more than...
Third Invincible-Class Submarine Returns to Singapore
The Republic of Singapore Navy celebrated the homecoming of its third Invincible‑class submarine, Illustrious, at Changi Naval Base. Launched in Kiel on 13 December 2022, Illustrious joins five sister vessels built for Singapore’s shallow, congested waters. The submarines feature advanced automation, a...
UKEF Secures £128 Million for Indonesian Navy’s Submarine Rescue Systems
The UK Export Finance agency has secured a £128 million ($164 million) loan‑guarantee package to back two British firms supplying submarine rescue vehicle systems to the Indonesian Navy. Submarine Manufacturing and Products (SMP) received a £76 million ($97 million) guarantee, financed by JP Morgan Singapore,...
Philippine Navy Develops Prototypes of Autonomous Logistics Drones
The Philippine Navy has signed an agreement with Cebu Technological University to build two autonomous logistics platforms – a Hybrid Marine‑Air Vehicle (HMAV) and a Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS). Both prototypes aim to improve inter‑island transport, disaster response and...
Kongsberg Signs Waterjet Contract for Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to deliver 18 large Kamewa waterjets for the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) programme, the company’s biggest waterjet order to date. The six‑ship fleet, being built by Cochin Shipyard, is part of...
Video: How Naval Group Builds FDI Frigates so Quickly
French shipbuilder Naval Group showcased its Lorient shipyard’s rapid production line for the new Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) frigates. After a major upgrade, the yard can complete a vessel in three to four years and launch two ships...