RUSI – This research paper explores the strategic concept of the Atlantic Bastion, a key element of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review 2025, designed to bolster NATO’s maritime deterrence against Russian submarine threats in the North Atlantic. The authors assess the Bastion’s current deterrent value and propose refinements to enhance its effectiveness in countering Russian naval strategies.

Navy Lookout – Quarterly figures released by the MoD show the number of trained sailors and marines in the RN declined by about 1.1% in the last 12 months. Although this sounds insignificant, this amounts to about 220 people, equivalent to the crew needed for two Type 31 frigates. Recruitment is improving, but the legacy of shortages continues to impact the frontline.

Navy Lookout – Thales has unveiled its Sonar 76Nano prototype developed in response to a growing recognition within the Royal Navy that traditional approaches to anti-submarine warfare are no longer sufficient. While the system draws lineage from the highly effective Sonar 2076 submarine sonar, its true significance lies in how it has been conceived for uncrewed operations, rapid deployment and roles extending well beyond classic ASW.

Navy Lookout – The status of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary has again become an increasing concern. Due to budget constraints, there is renewed discontent over pay and ships laid up for lack of funds.

Navy Lookout – Speaking at the International Sea Power Conference in London on 8 December, the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, has given his most direct account yet of how the RN intends to transform for a more dangerous era. He set out an approach that is unapologetically urgent, technologically ambitious and rooted in alliances.

Navy Lookout – BAE Systems’ Cowes facility has re-emerged as one of the UK’s most important centres for radar engineering, anchoring a rapidly expanding national effort to deliver next-generation sensors. This second article examines the site’s evolution, its growing workforce and the technologies now shaping Britain’s future radar capability.

Navy Lookout – Tony Carruthers spent 8 years as an officer serving in Royal Navy minehunters. In this opinion piece, he considers the state of RN mine countermeasures and the decision to extend HMS Bangor in service.

Navy Lookout – The House of Commons Defence Select Committee session on 2nd December, considering progress with AUKUS, put the spotlight on issues that will determine successful (Pillar 1) submarine delivery. Although ministers continue to project confidence, the evidence underlined industrial expansion pressures and the implications of forward deploying an Astute-class submarine to Australia.

Navy Lookout – The Anglo-Norwegian Lunna House Agreement will be signed today as the Norwegian Prime Minister visits RAF Lossiemouth, representing the most significant deepening of UK–Norway naval cooperation since the early Cold War.

The War Zone – The U.K. Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Royal Navy’s forthcoming Type 26 City class frigates will be armed with the Stratus missile, two discrete versions of which are being developed under the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) program. The missile will provide an important boost to the Royal Navy’s standoff land-attack and anti-surface warfare capabilities from the early 2030s. However, for the time being, the Royal Navy frigates are set to use only the low-observable (stealthy) subsonic version of the missile, rather than the supersonic one.

Navy Lookout – The RN’s first full-sized remotely-piloted helicopter has completed its initial ground tests. Proteus, a technology demonstrator aircraft developed by Leonardo in Yeovil, is intended to help define the future shape of uncrewed rotary aviation for the fleet.

Navy Lookout – We visited BAE Systems’ facility on the Isle of Wight, the primary site in the UK for naval radar design and manufacture, for a briefing on progress. In the first of two articles, we focus on the work underway to develop new radar technology for the RN.

Navy Lookout – Inchgreen dry dock on the Clyde is set for significant redevelopment under a £20 million government-funded investment, aiming to restore one of the largest docks in Europe to modern standards and strengthen Scotland’s ship repair and maritime industrial base. The work is planned for completion in 2027 and includes both infrastructure renewal and the construction of a new training and skills centre.

Navy Lookout – The MoD declared Full Operating Capability (FOC) for the UK Carrier Strike Group on 17 November 2025. The announcement came during a major NATO exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. Here we consider the implications of the FOC milestone.

The War Zone – The U.K. Ministry of Defense is facing growing questions about the progress of its F-35 program, after key shortcomings were outlined in a recent critical report from the Public Accounts Committee, a body that examines the value for money of government projects…In particular, the committee found that a shortage of maintenance engineers is having a profound effect on F-35B availability and output.

Navy Lookout – Despite previous announcements that all the RN’s Sandown-class Mine Countermeasures Vessels would be decommissioned by 2026, it has been decided to extend the life of the last remaining ship, HMS Bangor. Here we consider this decision and wider MCM developments.

Navy Lookout – Following the announcement made in March this year that the DragonFire programme would be accelerated, the MOD has signed a £316 million contract with MBDA UK to provide the Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) for the RN.

Navy Lookout – As the RN goes ahead with plans for hybrid fleet USVs, this reignited debate about the role, control and configuration of such platforms in the future fleet. In this guest article, Jed considers how vessels of this type could be employed, the datalink architecture and whether lean crewing may ultimately be preferable to full autonomy.

Navy Lookout – The MoD has published its annual report and accounts for 2024-25. Buried amongst its 250 pages are some details of RN programmes that have been axed or written off.

Navy Lookout – The largest number of UK F-35B Lightning jets yet assembled aboard a Royal Navy aircraft carrier has joined HMS Prince of Wales in the Mediterranean for Italian-led Exercise Falcon Strike.

Navy Lookout – The RN is now in a position where ageing frigates are being decommissioned well before the replacements are available. There is little that can be done in the short term, but here we attempt to analyse if and when the situation might be recovered.

Navy Lookout – Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Tidespring has completed her contribution to Operation Highmast, enabling HMS Prince of Wales and allied vessels to operate globally. Since leaving the UK in April, Tidespring has supplied over 30,000 cubic metres of diesel and 4,200 cubic metres of aviation fuel in 79 RAS serials.

Navy Lookout – Discussion of Britain’s two aircraft carriers is primarily framed around the terms ‘Carrier Strike’ and ‘Carrier Enabled Power Projection’ (CEPP). While both are valid descriptors, they risk giving the impression that the ships exist solely to deliver ordnance against land targets. In reality, this is only one of their roles, and they are core to a much broader set of naval missions.