BAE Systems, the UK-based shipbuilder, was awarded a £13.5m ($20.4m) contract for 60 new Pacific 24 Rigid Inflatable Boats. The announcement was made by the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Fallon during his visit to Portsmouth Naval Base on December 14. This Pacific 24 Mark-4
HMS Artful, the third of overall seven submarines the United Kingdom is building, has joined the Royal Navy fleet. Until now the submarine was owned by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the MOD’s body responsible for procuring and supporting equipment for the armed forces. Defence Minister Phili
Defence and security company Saab has redelivered one of the Swedish Navy’s Gotland-class submarines to the Swedish defence forces after general overhaul and upgrades. In September 2014, Saab was contracted to perform overhaul and upgrade work on the Swedish Gotland-class submarine, HMS Gotland. The
The aft island, the final section of the UK’s second aircraft carrier took to the sea yesterday, December 10. The control tower of the ship is being transferred to Babcock’s dockyard in Rosyth, Scotland. The 750-tonne section, which will control aircraft operations on HMS Prince of Wales, left BAE S
The Royal Netherlands Navy launched the first modified Walrus class submarine, the Zr. Ms. Zeeleeuw, on December 3. The launch marks a milestone in the Life Extension Program (LEP) of the Walrus class submarines with the first one now ready to be commissioned. Zr.Ms. Zeeleeuw has undergone modificat
UK’s Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited defence companies in Scotland December 7 to highlight the impact last month’s Strategic Defence and Security Review will have on the economy. Over the next decade, the MOD plans to spend around £8 billion on conventional warships for the Royal Navy, all
UK’s new defence plan envisions the commissioning of new Type 26 Global Combat Ships from the mid-2020s, upgraded maritime helicopters and the new aircraft carrier in operating capability by 2020. This plan is backed with a £178 B budget which represents a £12 B increase on previous plans. The Natio
The UK Ministry of Defence awarded Bae Systems a £1.3 billion contract to build the fifth Astute-class submarine for the Royal Navy on November 19. The full contract covers the design and remaining build, test and commissioning activities on Anson, the fifth of seven technologically-advanced submari
BAE Systems, a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company, in an update on its business announced a “further headcount reductions” at its Australian shipyard. Despite Australia’s intention to launch a naval shipbuilding strategy, BAE Systems said that “it is unclear whether this i
Royal Navy’s HMS Diamond is to return to her home city of Aberdeen this week for a four-day visit. The Clyde-built Type 45 Destroyer, one of the Royal Navy’s newest ships, will open to the public on Saturday (November 7) from 10am to 3pm. HMS Diamond will arrive in its affiliated port on Friday afte
UK’s Portsmouth-based minehunter, HMS Cattistock returns to service after a major life-extension upgrade. The re-dedication ceremony marking this occasion took place in Portsmouth Naval Base yesterday, Nov. 2. The upgrade, carried out by BAE Systems in Portsmouth, includes new engines and means that
Royal Navy’s HMS Monmouth returned to operational service after refits and upgrades on October 29. The upgrade in Plymouth, performed by Babcock Marine, has included 17 tonnes of steel covering 220 square metres of steel and over 1km of welding. Also, 29 different equipment updates were conducted in
The UK Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, affirmed the Government’s commitment to the Successor submarine programme at a reception in the House of Commons yesterday, Oct 21. Speaking at the House of Commons, Fallon announced that the government is committed to building four Successor ballistic missi
BAE Systems demonstrated new unmanned technology, in partnership with ASV, for the first time at a site near Portsmouth Naval Base. The new system will allow crews to carry out vital tasks such as high speed reconnaissance and remote surveillance while keeping sailors out of harm’s way. The modified
