Shipbuilding
Second Royal Navy carrier welcomes its first crew members
Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, currently being built by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance in Rosyth, has received the first twelve members of its crew. As the first ship’s company, the team will work alongside their industry partners over the coming years to learn about the s
HMS Dragon Reaches Major Milestone in Her 12 Month Refit
The Royal Navy’s Welsh flagship, HMS Dragon reached a major milestone in her 12 month refit on January 11th, emerging from dry dock in Portsmouth Naval Base. Currently seven months into an extensive maintenance period, the ‘flood-up’ evolution saw water surge through the dock gates and the Type 45 D
BAE Systems to build 60 RIBs for the Royal Navy
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
Royal Navy receives third Astute-class submarine
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
Prince of Wales’ Control Tower Starts Journey South
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
UK MoD: Defence Procurement Will Boost Economy
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 Announces £178 B of Defence Investment
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
UK Awards £1.3 Billion for Submarine Build
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 to Reduce Workforce in Australia
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 Cattistock Back in Operation
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
Fallon: UK Comitted to Successor Sub Programme
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 Demonstrates New Unmanned Vessel
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
Servowatch’s IPMS for Royal Navy Vessels Pass FATs
Servowatch has completed BAE System’s Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) of the fully integrated platform management system it has built for the Royal Navy’s offshore patrol vessels. Servowatch is a supplier of advanced integrated ship control systems and will now integrate the IPMS package at BAE Syste
Royal Navy’s Diamond Gets New Gadgets
The new-look, souped-up HMS Diamond makes her way to sea for the first time since the summer of 2014. Some 15 months of work by BAE Systems have gone into the third of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers in Portsmouth Naval Base to get the ship ready for her third operational deployment. Since retur