Robots to weld American warships in shipyard pilot
HII and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries are running a pilot programme to install intelligent mechanised welding equipment at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Mississippi, extending automation into areas of warship construction that currently rely on manual welding.
AI submarine hunter flown on American helicopters
Lockheed Martin has demonstrated an artificial intelligence system for anti-submarine warfare aboard United States Navy MH-60R helicopters during RIMPAC 2026 off Hawaii, retraining the software on newly encountered underwater sounds.
American warship downs drones with laser weapon
The US Navy has confirmed that a frontline destroyer has successfully used a ship-mounted laser weapon to defeat multiple uncrewed aerial threats during a recent at-sea demonstration.
Submarine sinks American cruiser in Pacific Exercise
The decommissioned US Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay has been sunk during a live-fire exercise at RIMPAC 2026 in the Pacific, the US Navy stated.
Australian warship ignores Chinese warnings
An Australian frigate has conducted what Canberra described as a routine transit through the South China Sea, with Chinese state media claiming the vessel was tracked and monitored throughout its passage.
America places huge order for 14 more nuclear submarines
The U.S. Navy has placed work worth around $76.6 billion with the two yards that build its nuclear submarines, covering nine further Virginia-class boats, five more Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines and funding for shipyard infrastructure.
Russian warship opens fire near UK as British ship closes in
HMS Tyne closed to five nautical miles and kept watching as the Russian frigate Neustrashimy fired her 100mm gun outside UK and French waters, part of 21 days of Royal Navy monitoring operations in July.
Defence Secretary tours frigate build hall at Rosyth
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has visited Babcock's Rosyth facility, where Type 31 frigates are under construction, on his first trip to Scotland since taking the post.
GE to train RFA engineers on Tide class switchboards
The Ministry of Defence has awarded GE Energy Power Conversion UK a five-year contract to deliver technical training on the 690V switchboards and frequency converters fitted to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Tide-class tankers.
Navy survey team maps seabed in the Firth of Clyde
A specialist Royal Navy hydrographic team has been carrying out continuous seabed surveys in the Firth of Clyde since the spring, gathering data on water depth, seabed features and composition in support of operations.
