Brazil’s First Tamandaré-Class Frigate Nears Commissioning
Brazil’s lead Tamandaré‑class frigate (F200) has left the Itajaí shipyard and is sailing to Rio de Janeiro for formal commissioning. The program, a joint effort by TKMS, the Brazilian Navy and state‑owned EMGEPRON, targets a fleet of four modular frigates based on the German MEKO A100 design. The vessel carries MBDA SeaCeptor, Exocet MM40 Block 3 missiles, a Leonardo 76/62 gun and advanced combat management systems, reflecting a deep technology‑transfer component. Its entry into service will bolster Brazil’s maritime security and offshore resource protection.
Saab Restructures, Launches New Naval Division
Swedish defense firm Saab announced a restructuring that will merge its Kockums division with most of the Naval Combat Systems unit into a newly created business area called Naval, effective April 1 2026. The new division will be led by Mats Wicksell,...
FN and Damen to Develop Next-Generation Maritime Defense Solutions
Damen Shipyards Group and FN Herstal have signed a memorandum of understanding at the BEDEX exhibition to jointly develop next‑generation maritime defence solutions. The partnership will integrate FN’s weapons and sensor technologies into Damen vessels, including unmanned surface vessels, to...
Textron Systems Hands over LCAC 115 to US Navy
Textron Systems delivered the new Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) LCAC 115 to the U.S. Navy on March 10 after successful Board of Inspection and Survey trials. The hovercraft retains the legacy LCAC’s dimensions and well‑deck compatibility while offering a 60‑to‑75‑ton payload capacity....
US Eliminates 16 Iranian Minelayers Near Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Central Command announced that on March 10 U.S. forces destroyed 16 Iranian vessels identified as minelayers operating near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes were part of Operation Epic Fury, which has targeted more than 60 Iranian naval assets since its launch...
UK Moves Forward with Project Beehive, Plans 20 New Uncrewed Surface Vessels
The Royal Navy will acquire 20 uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) under Project Beehive, with a £10.25 million contract awarded to Kraken Works. The agreement, decided on 5 March 2026, moves into signing by 23 March and execution through 31 March 2027. Delivered at Technology Readiness Level...
TKMS and VEM Technologies Join Hands on Torpedo Production in India
German shipbuilder TKMS and Indian defense firm VEM Technologies have signed a teaming agreement to transfer heavyweight torpedo technology and co‑develop modern torpedoes in India. The deal builds on a September 2025 MoU and aims to establish local production for...
Australia Orders 40 Additional Bluebottle USVs
The Australian government has approved a $176 million contract with Ocius Technology to procure 40 additional Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels, raising the navy’s fleet to 55 units. The solar‑, wind‑ and wave‑powered USVs provide long‑endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance across the...
Japan Commissions Fifth Taigei-Class Submarine
The Japan Maritime Self‑Defense Force has commissioned its fifth Taigei‑class submarine, JS Chogei, delivered by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The 3,000‑ton, 84‑meter vessel uses diesel‑electric propulsion powered by lithium‑ion batteries and incorporates a quieter hull and upgraded sonar compared with the older...
Canadian Navy Enriches Fleet with New Naval Large Tug
The Department of National Defence has taken delivery of CFAV Canso, the third naval large tug for the Royal Canadian Navy, after a 1,000‑nautical‑mile voyage to Halifax. The tug joins a six‑vessel program that will replace five Glen‑class tugs and...
Rolls-Royce and PGZ Team up on Joint Projects for Poland’s Armed Forces
Rolls‑Royce and Poland’s defence conglomerate PGZ have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop joint propulsion projects for the Polish armed forces. The agreement covers servicing, overhauling and eventual production of MTU‑based engines for land vehicles and naval vessels. It...
USS George H.W. Bush Ready to Deploy ‘if Called upon’, US Navy Says
The USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) on March 5, 2026, earning certification to deploy at a moment’s notice. Over a 28‑day cycle, Carrier Air Wing 7 executed 1,586 sorties, achieving 693 daytime and 682 nighttime arrested landings....
US Navy Christens Oceanographic Survey Ship
The U.S. Navy christened the future USNS Robert Ballard (T‑AGS 67) on Feb. 28, 2026 at Bollinger Shipyards in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Named for the legendary oceanographer who located the Titanic, the 353‑foot vessel is a larger, modernized version of the Pathfinder‑class survey ships. It will...
Marsun Partners with Eight Shipyards on Thai Navy’s Future Frigate Program
Marsun has joined the Thai Shipbuilding and Repairing Association and eight domestic shipyards in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate large‑scale naval construction projects. The partnership pools expertise in shipbuilding, systems integration and engineering to prepare for the Royal...
HII Lays Keel for US Navy’s LPD USS Philadelphia
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding authenticated the keel for USS Philadelphia (LPD‑32), a Flight II San Antonio‑class amphibious transport dock, marking the vessel’s official start of construction. The ceremony featured welder Cory Dillon etching the sponsor’s initials onto a steel plate, a naval tradition. Philadelphia...
Austal Delivers Tenth Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boat to Australia
Austal has handed over the tenth evolved Cape‑class patrol boat, named Cape Hawke, to the Royal Australian Navy, completing the RAN’s ECCPB program. The project, originally a six‑ship order in 2020, was expanded to ten vessels by 2024. Two additional...
TKMS Inks Two Deals to Support Canadian Patrol Submarine Project
German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has signed two cooperation agreements with Indigenous groups across Canada to back the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). The first pact involves Songhees Development Corporation, Des Nedhe Group Defence and Glooscap Ventures, while the...
German Navy Orders Four Training Boats From Fassmer
German shipbuilder Fassmer has secured a contract with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) to build four SAMSe (mod) training boats for the German Navy. The vessels will support nautical instruction and the “Überleben...
New Industrial Cooperation to Support US Navy’s Operations in Japan
Japanese industrial giant Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI) and IMIA, an operating company of ARMADA, have signed a strategic alliance to support the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet in Japan and the broader Pacific region. Under the agreement SHI will act as...
Navantia and Fincantieri Ink MoU on European Patrol Corvette Project
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia and Italy’s Fincantieri have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly manage the European Patrol Corvette (EPC) programme. The MoU will establish a joint venture that can involve other partners and will focus on the Full Combat...
Naval Group Teams up with Croatian Partners on Gowind Corvette Program
Naval Group signed three Memoranda of Understanding with Croatian firms AITAC, Adria Winch and CoE MARBLE on 24 February 2026 in Split, laying the groundwork for a Gowind‑class multirole corvette for the Croatian Navy. The agreement positions Croatia to acquire...
TKMS, IAI Deliver BlueWhale Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle to German Navy
German Navy received the BlueWhale large autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from a joint venture between ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at Eckernförde base. The BlueWhale combines autonomous navigation, advanced towed sonar, and data‑fusion capabilities to conduct...
BAE Systems to Upgrade US Navy’s Amphibious Assault Ship for Joint Strike Fighter Ops
BAE Systems secured a $204.1 million contract from the U.S. Navy to perform maintenance and system upgrades on the Wasp‑class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD‑7). The selected restricted availability work, slated to start in August at BAE’s Norfolk shipyard, will modify...
Philippine Navy Commissions Two Naval Vessels
The Philippine Navy commissioned the offshore patrol vessel BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS‑20) and the fast‑attack interdiction craft BRP Audrey Bañares (PG‑910) at Subic on February 24. The OPV, built by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries, arrived five months ahead of...
UK’s Destroyer Trains with French Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle
HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer, spent seven days training with the French nuclear‑powered carrier Charles de Gaulle during Operation Orion, a phase of the French Carrier Strike Group Lafayette 2026. The exercise involved 12,500 personnel, 25 ships and 140 aircraft, covering anti‑air, surface...
HD Hyundai Heavy Delivers First Rajah Sulayman OPV to Philippine Navy
South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries delivered the lead offshore patrol vessel, BRP Rajah Sulayman, to the Philippine Navy five months ahead of schedule. The OPV, the first of six ordered, features an acoustic detection system for anti‑submarine operations...
Austal Lands Massive $4 Billion Deal to Build Eight LCH Vessels for Australia
Austal Defence Australia secured a $4 billion Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement to build eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels for the Australian Defence Force. The 100‑metre, 4,000‑ton ships, based on the Damen LST100 design, can carry over 200 personnel, six M1A2 Abrams tanks...
US Navy Tasks Ultra Maritime to Develop Next-Gen Acoustic Countermeasure System
The U.S. Navy has awarded Ultra Maritime a contract to develop the next‑generation acoustic device countermeasure (ADC) MK6, aimed at countering increasingly sophisticated torpedoes. The MK6 will generate rapid, tailored acoustic signatures to confuse and divert incoming undersea weapons, delivering...
US Navy Accepts Delivery of Sixth Berthing Barge
The U.S. Navy has taken delivery of the sixth APL‑72 class berthing and messing barge from Bollinger Shipyards after completing acceptance trials. The 82‑meter vessel can accommodate over 600 sailors and provide meals for more than 1,100 personnel daily, expanding...
UK to Sell Two Wave-Class Fast Fleet Tankers to Private Company
The UK Ministry of Defence has agreed to sell two former Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave‑class fast fleet tankers, Wave Knight and Wave Ruler, to Inocea Group. Built in 2003, the 31,500‑tonne vessels provide fuel, supplies and aviation support, and will...
L3Harris to Provide Communications Systems for Virginia and Columbia-Class Subs
L3Harris Technologies secured its largest full‑rate production contract to supply communications systems for 26 shipsets destined for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia‑class fast‑attack and upcoming Columbia‑class ballistic‑missile submarines. The award, granted by General Dynamics Electric Boat, spans production through 2033 and...
Polish Navy’s Lublin-Class Minelayer-Landing Ship to Undergo Major Overhaul
Polish Navy’s Lublin‑class minelayer‑landing ship ORP Poznań has entered a scheduled 200‑day overhaul at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna. The refit includes dock repairs, hull maintenance, propulsion servicing, and refurbishment of the bow ramp and mine‑laying equipment, alongside non‑destructive structural testing. At 96 metres...
US Coast Guard Commissions Sixth Arctic District Fast Response Cutter
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned USCGC Frederick Mann (WPC 1160), its sixth fast response cutter (FRC) assigned to the Arctic District and the 60th FRC overall. The vessel was placed in service at Kodiak on Feb 13, 2026 and will operate around the Aleutian Islands,...
Leonardo to Provide Four C-27J MPAs for Saudi Arabia
Leonardo has secured a contract to deliver four C-27J maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense, marking the first C-27J variant equipped with integrated maritime weapon systems. The order follows Saudi’s earlier acquisition of two C-27Js for...
Canada’s River-Class Destroyer Training to Start Before Ships Join Fleet
Modest Tree, a Nova Scotia‑based defense tech firm, secured a $32 million subcontract from Fleetway to create immersive, design‑derived training systems for the Royal Canadian Navy’s upcoming River‑class destroyers. The platform will translate validated digital ship models and OEM documentation into...
Australian Navy’s Anzac-Class Frigate Transits South China Sea
Australia’s Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba completed a routine transit through the South China Sea’s Spratly Islands region from February 9 to 10, 2026, as part of its 2026 regional presence deployment. Commander Alicia Harrison confirmed the passage occurred in...
TKMS and Magellan Ink Torpedo Support Agreement for Canada’s Submarine Program
German shipbuilder TKMS and Canadian‑based Magellan Aerospace have signed a teaming agreement to develop and support heavyweight torpedoes for Canada’s Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). The partnership will combine TKMS’s defense expertise with Magellan’s complex fabrication capabilities to deliver in‑service support...
US Coast Guard Orders Five Arctic Security Cutters From Davie Defense
U.S. Coast Guard awarded Davie Defense a contract to build five Arctic Security Cutters, a new class of polar icebreakers. The first two vessels will be constructed at Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, with delivery expected in 2028, while the remaining...
Naval Group Plots Plan to Offer FDI Frigates to Sweden, Teams up with Local Shipyard
Naval Group announced plans to market its next‑generation Defence and Intervention (FDI) frigates to Sweden, signing a cooperation pact with local shipyard Oresund Drydocks on 2 February 2026 during the Amiral Ronarc’h visit. The agreement covers delivery of the first FDI unit...
DARPA Picks Saronic for Semi-Autonomous Vessel Protection Program
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has chosen Saronic to lead the Pulling Guard program’s Focus Area 2, developing a semi‑autonomous, modular escort vessel for unarmed logistics ships. The platform will feature standardized physical and digital interfaces, allowing rapid integration...
UK’s Type 83 Destroyer Stays in the Shadows with Program yet to Move Beyond Concept
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the future Type 83 destroyer remains in the concept stage, with the outline business case expected by June 2026. The program is being evaluated against the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy Strategy and the broader Defence...
ADSB Floats Out Kuwait’s First Al-Dorra-Class Missile Boat
Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has launched AL NOUKHITHA, the first 62‑meter Al‑Dorra‑class missile boat built for Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense. The vessel is the inaugural unit under a subcontracted contract with EDGE Group, representing the largest naval export deal...
Hanwha Ocean Links up with South Korean Firms to Pursue Submarine Projects in Middle East
Hanwha Ocean has inked an MOU with eleven South Korean submarine builders to jointly pursue contracts in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. The consortium will market the KSS‑III Batch‑II “Jang Yeongsil” submarine, emphasizing platform construction, combat systems, and long‑term...
Saudi Arabia Orders Lightweight Torpedoes From Fincantieri’s WASS
Fincantieri’s submarine arm, WASS, landed a €200 million contract with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence to supply MU90 lightweight torpedoes. The deal, announced at the 2026 World Defence Show in Riyadh, is the largest ever for WASS and the first direct...