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UK rejects suggestion British jets downed Russian drones

UPDATED: The UK has clarified that both RAF Typhoons returned to base without engaging any targets, after Romania's Ministry of National Defence reported the jets were authorised to engage drones near the Ukrainian border and that multiple explosions subsequently followed.
Group of military crew in green flight suits standing in front of a large white Marine aircraft on a tarmac with stairs deployed, posing for a photo.

German maritime patrol aircraft deploys to Scotland

A German Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has been deployed to RAF Lossiemouth for the first time under the Trinity House Agreement.

Britain is about to have two aircraft carriers at sea

Britain is set to have two aircraft carriers at sea for the first time in over a year, after HMS Queen Elizabeth completed a major maintenance period at Babcock's Rosyth dockyard this week and HMS Prince of Wales is due to sail from Portsmouth this evening.

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NAVAL NEWS

HII wins Royal Navy underwater drone support contract

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a GBP 3 million contract to HII Unmanned Systems Inc for in-service support of the Royal Navy's REMUS 100 and REMUS 300 unmanned underwater vehicle fleets.

British carrier puts to sea to prepare to protect Atlantic

HMS Prince of Wales has sailed from Portsmouth to begin preparations for the deployment of the Carrier Strike Group to the High North and North Atlantic later this year, the Royal Navy confirmed, with the carrier set to operate under NATO's Arctic Sentry mission.

Britain is about to have two aircraft carriers at sea

Britain is set to have two aircraft carriers at sea for the first time in over a year, after HMS Queen Elizabeth completed a major maintenance period at Babcock's Rosyth dockyard this week and HMS Prince of Wales is due to sail from Portsmouth this evening.
A large gray military ship with angular camouflage on the hull sails past while a fast inflatable boat speeds in choppy water in the foreground.

Royal Navy seeks low-cost small drone boats for targets

The Royal Navy is looking for industry options to convert a rigid hull inflatable boat or similar vessel into a remotely operated uncrewed surface vehicle to be used as a mobile target in naval exercises.
Metallic, rectangular research catamaran riding rough seas with a tall mast and lab equipment on deck.

Royal Navy tests drone tech for North Atlantic sub hunting

The Royal Navy has completed a four-month trial with industry partners testing off-the-shelf drone and autonomous technology for anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic, under the Atlantic Bastion programme.

AVIATION NEWS

British jets scrambled as Russian drones at NATO border

British Typhoon jets were scrambled from Romania and authorised to engage Russian drones near the Ukrainian border in the early hours of Saturday morning, though both aircraft returned to base without firing.

UK rejects suggestion British jets downed Russian drones

UPDATED: The UK has clarified that both RAF Typhoons returned to base without engaging any targets, after Romania's Ministry of National Defence reported the jets were authorised to engage drones near the Ukrainian border and that multiple explosions subsequently followed.
Group of military crew in green flight suits standing in front of a large white Marine aircraft on a tarmac with stairs deployed, posing for a photo.

German maritime patrol aircraft deploys to Scotland

A German Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has been deployed to RAF Lossiemouth for the first time under the Trinity House Agreement.
Close-up of a gray military fighter jet with RAF roundel on the fuselage, parked on a runway.

RAF puts aircraft painting contract out to tender

The MoD has launched a tender for a contract to provide surface finishing and painting services across all RAF fixed and rotary wing aircraft at stations in the UK and overseas, estimated at just under £100 million over a decade.

Former MoD permanent secretary rejects fall guy claim

The former Permanent Secretary of the MoD has pushed back on suggestions he was made the "fall guy" for the Afghan data breach.

LAND NEWS

UK declares Falklands sovereignty ‘steadfast and consistent’

The UK government has flatly rejected calls by the President of Argentina for renewed negotiations over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

Scot Gov yet to respond to defence college match funding

The Scottish Government has not responded to a request from UK ministers to match fund a GBP 10 million commitment to establish two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in Scotland, Minister Luke Pollard confirmed.

Iran conflict has not hit defence manufacturing, UK says

The Ministry of Defence has assessed that the Iran conflict has so far had no significant impact on the UK's ability to manufacture defence equipment, though it is continuing to monitor potential disruption to critical supply chains.

UK armour to remain in Estonia for foreseeable future

The UK will keep armour in Estonia for the foreseeable future, with the Forward Land Forces battlegroup continuing to draw on lessons from Ukraine as part of NATO's eastern flank deterrence.
Black SUV silhouette in front of Westminster and Big Ben, overlaid with the Chinese flag in a red hue.

UK assessing risks from Chinese electric vehicles

Labour MP Graeme Downie has asked the MoD to assess the national security threat from Chinese electric vehicles, including remote kill switch capabilities. The government says it is working to manage the risks.

Features

Harland and Wolff's Belfast yard is undergoing a major overhaul under Navantia UK, with new steel-processing lines, upgraded facilities and workforce expansion aimed at supporting Fleet Solid Support and future naval construction.
We went behind the scenes at Thales UK’s optronics site in Glasgow, where the same people who build periscopes and sighting systems for the armed forces are also opening paths into engineering for young people across the city.

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