Austal: First Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boat Launched for ABF
Austal has launched the first of six evolved Cape‑class patrol boats for the Australian Border Force, expanding the original four‑vessel order to six in May 2026. The 58.1‑metre vessel, built at Austal’s Henderson yard, features upgraded crew‑comfort and sustainment technologies. It follows the Royal Australian Navy’s recent delivery of ten similar ships, including Cape Hawke in March 2026. Completion of the ABF boat is slated for the final quarter of 2026, reinforcing national maritime security.
PHOTO: One of UK’s Largest Warships Back at Sea Following ‘Technical Issue’
The Royal Navy’s 65,000‑tonne aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has returned to sea after a brief “minor technical issue” that forced a stop in Stavanger, Norway. The carrier, leading the UK Carrier Strike Group, is now resuming its North...
STM Launches Second LMS Batch-2 Vessel for Malaysian Navy
Turkish shipbuilder STM launched the second Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch‑2 corvette for the Royal Malaysian Navy on June 7 2026 at Istanbul Shipyard. The vessel, named Raja Laut, follows the first ship Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil launched two weeks earlier, with...
Navantia Secures Five-Year Support Contract for Saudi Arabia’s Avante 2200 Corvettes
Navantia has signed a five‑year life‑cycle support contract with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense for the first five Avante 2200 corvettes delivered since 2022. The agreement expands maintenance staffing, spare‑parts logistics and on‑site services at King Faisal Naval Base in...
Canadian Navy’s Second Joint Support Ship Reaches Structural Milestone
Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has installed the two 30‑ton replenishment‑at‑sea (RAS) kingposts on HM CS Preserver, the Royal Canadian Navy’s second joint support ship, completing the vessel’s structural consolidation. The milestone marks the end of major hull welding and integrates all primary superstructure...
Fincantieri’s WASS, Magellan Team up on Canada’s Underwater Defense Capabilities
Fincantieri’s WASS Submarine Systems and Canada‑based Magellan Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding at CANSEC 2026 to develop domestic underwater‑defense capabilities. The partnership will focus on heavyweight torpedoes, torpedo‑countermeasure systems, and the full production chain from components to in‑service support....
Romania Strikes Major €5.7B Deal with Rheinmetall for Defense Systems and Naval Vessels
Romania has signed a €5.7 billion (≈ $6.2 billion) contract with Germany’s Rheinmetall to supply a suite of defense systems, including 298 Lynx combat vehicles, Skyranger air‑defence units, medium‑calibre ammunition and four naval vessels. The deal, part of the EU’s Security Action for...
AUKUS Partners to Develop UUVs with Deliveries Starting Next Year
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have launched the first AUKUS Pillar II signature project to develop advanced payloads and enabling systems for uncrewed undersea vehicles (UUVs), with initial deliveries slated for 2027. The effort will produce trilateral payloads...
Royal Navy Declares FOC for Martlet Missile System
The Royal Navy has declared full operational capability for the Thales‑built Martlet missile mounted on Wildcat helicopters. After a multi‑year testing programme, the system can now be launched from as low as 50 feet, far below its original 500‑foot minimum. The...
Australia Selects Combat Systems Integrator for Virginia-Class Submarines
The Australian government has chosen Lockheed Martin Australia as the preferred combat system integration partner for its upcoming Virginia-class nuclear‑powered submarines. The partnership will deliver phased integration and sustainment, support Submarine Rotational Force‑West operations, and focus on building an Australian...
Australia Kicks Off $11 Billion Upgrade Program for Ageing Collins-Class Subs
Australia has launched a life‑extension program for its six Collins‑class submarines, with HMAS Farncomb slated to begin the first sustainment and upgrade phase at month’s end. The initiative, backed by up to A$11 billion (about $7.3 billion USD) over the next decade,...
RMC Floats Out Second Pohjanmaa-Class Corvette for Finnish Navy
Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) has launched the second Pohjanmaa‑class multi‑purpose corvette for the Finnish Navy, reaching launch readiness in under a year after its keel was laid. The first vessel was launched a year earlier and is now being outfitted,...
Cellula Robotics, Metron Forge 10-Year Partnership to Advance Next-Gen AUVs
Cellula Robotics and Metron have signed a decade‑long agreement to co‑develop autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) systems for the U.S. defense market. The deal merges Cellula’s commercial‑off‑the‑shelf, long‑endurance AUV platforms with Metron’s mission‑autonomy software and operational expertise, emphasizing a modular, open‑architecture...
Bath Iron Works Starts Fabrication of New Flight III Arleigh Burke Destroyer
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works began fabricating the future USS J. William Middendorf (DDG‑138), the latest Flight III Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer for the U.S. Navy. The ceremonial steel‑cutting took place on May 19 at the shipyard’s Structural Fabrication Facility, with Frances Middendorf,...
Leonardo to Deliver Combat Systems for Kuwait’s Al-Dorra Missile Boat Program
Leonardo has secured a €320 million (≈ $350 million) contract with EDGE Group’s Naval Arm and Abu Dhabi Ship Building to supply next‑generation combat systems for Kuwait’s Al‑Dorra missile boat program, specifically the Falaj 3 configuration. The deal continues a 20‑year partnership that has...