Navy plans new safety authority for uncrewed vessels
The Royal Navy is seeking industry input on establishing a Platform Authority for maritime uncrewed systems, intended to provide the governance, engineering expertise, certification support and through-life assurance needed to operate current and future capabilities safely.
Indian-flagged ship sunk in Red Sea attack off Yemen
An Indian-flagged commercial vessel has sunk in the Red Sea after being attacked off the coast of Yemen, with all 14 crew members rescued, according to reporting by AFP published in Arab News.
Royal Navy shadowed 61 Russian warships around UK waters
Royal Navy vessels were activated 116 times during 2025-26 to shadow 61 Russian warships and 28 Russian merchant vessels within the United Kingdom's Exclusive Economic Zone, amid a 30% increase in Russian naval activity over the previous two years.
MoD to tender five-year tanker vetting contract
The MoD is preparing to tender a five-year contract for the assurance vetting of ocean tankers carrying its fuel, worth an estimated £87,530 and running from February 2027. Two ships on long-term charter carry most of the requirement.
AUKUS navies test seabed defence in Exercise Lanternfish
Royal Navy divers and hydrographic specialists have spent six weeks with US and Australian counterparts on Exercise Lanternfish, testing how the AUKUS partners detect and respond to threats to critical undersea infrastructure.
First combat medic course run aboard a Royal Navy ship
Nineteen medics from Portsmouth Flotilla ships have completed the first Combat Medic Course taught partly at sea, with practical training aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. It is the eighth time the course has run, and the first on a warship.
Russian subs submerge in harbour fearing Ukrainian drones
Three of the Russian Black Sea Fleet's four Kilo class submarines have partially submerged inside their own harbour at Novorossiysk, according to British Defence Intelligence.
BAE wins £135m Royal Navy torpedo support contract
The Torpedo Repair and Maintenance contract runs from July 2026 to June 2029 and covers both torpedo weapons in Royal Navy service, carried by submarines, surface warships and maritime patrol aircraft.
Saildrone USV credited in $81m cocaine interdiction
Saildrone says one of its Voyager unmanned surface vehicles directly enabled a US Navy interdiction that seized over $81m of cocaine, as the U.S. Navy awards a $16.3m task order extending the fleet's time on station in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Six Common Combat Vessels, no design yet, a 2035 deadline
A new paper wants the CCV built on the existing Type 31 design to cut the risk and keep Rosyth working.
