USNI News – Balikatan 2026 was a rehearsal for the defense of the Philippines amid a “dangerous security environment,” U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Paparo said at the conclusion of the largest iteration of the drills held to date.
Massive U.S. Missile Order May Expand American Anti-Ship Arsenal
Naval News – The Pentagon’s order of over 10,000 Low-Cost Containerized Missiles (LCCM) has the potential to expand Washington’s arsenal of anti-ship munitions, with designs from the five awarded defense contractors capable of accommodating or planned to incorporate dedicated maritime-launch and strike variants.
Sweden Chooses Unusual French Design For Its New Frigates
The War Zone – The security situation in Europe led Sweden to choose the in-production FDI design, but it will be packed with Swedish weapon systems.
Hydrogen-fueled drone submarine with 17 sensors could scan Hormuz for naval mines
Interesting Engineering – A European defense technology company has just unveiled the world’s longest-endurance unmanned submarine, which can remain submerged for up to four months without the need for a support vessel.
(Thanks to Alain)
Seabed War: Russia’s Secretive Defence Units and Undersea Sabotage Architecture
RUSI – Classified Russian government document revelations add to concerns that the adversarial nation’s undersea threat is both acute and invested towards a further-reaching campaign.
A Greek Hellenic Navy Type-214 Submarine Surfaced In The Aegean Sea After Becoming Entangled With Fishing Nets
National Security Journal – A Greek Hellenic Navy Type-214 submarine surfaced in the Aegean Sea after becoming entangled — or potentially nearly entangled — with the nets of a civilian fishing trawler. The incident occurred during the Kataigis 26 (“Storm 26”) naval exercise on Thursday. The submarine was operating submerged in waters between Andros and Tinos when it detected a nearby fishing vessel.
(Thanks to Alain)
The Navy Needs Precise Mass and Here Is How to Get There
War on the Rocks – Investing in medium autonomous warships, lower-cost long-range munitions, and surface drones is not about affordably generating the volume and diversity of effects necessary to survive and fight in a contested environment. The Navy should treat these capabilities not as adjuncts to the existing fleet but as central components of future maritime power.
Turkey unveils its first domestically built mini-submarine
Defence Blog – Turkey unveiled its first domestically built mini-submarine at SAHA Expo 2026, a milestone that Istanbul Technical University-based defense company Datum Submarine Technologies announced after completing the vessel’s first dive tests off the coast of Karamürsel on April 14, 2026.
(Thanks to Alain)
Hellscape Defense in Taiwan: Would it Work?
Modern War Institute – Discussions regarding the defense of Taiwan increasingly feature the idea that low-cost emerging technologies are an answer to China’s geopolitical position and overwhelming military might.
Iran claims it deployed small submarines to cause more chaos in Strait of Hormuz
New York Post – A top Iranian navy commander claimed the Islamic Republic has deployed some of its small submarines, known as the “dolphins of the Persian Gulf,” in the Strait of Hormuz to wreak further havoc on the critical oil chokepoint, according to state media.
(Thanks to Alain)
Valkyrie redux: supercruising bombers could viably replace B-52s
The Strategist – Bill Sweetman opines on a unique solution for replacing the B-52, particularly in its anti-shipping role.
UK F-35 fleet stretched by combat operations and upgrade delays
Navy Lookout – The UK has now received all 48 F-35B Lightning aircraft ordered under its initial programme, supposedly providing the Royal Navy with the nucleus of the fast jet force intended to underpin carrier strike operations for decades to come. This may appear to be a healthy number, but it is far from adequate, given its availability and the multiple roles it must perform.
Marine Rotational Force-Darwin Certified as Special Purpose MAGTF
USNI News – Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 26 was recently certified as a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, marking the first MRF-D unit to earn the certification since the rotational force was established in 2011.
First Sea Lord warns Royal Navy ‘ever bigger, ever more expensive platforms’ era is over
Navy Lookout – In the Keynote speech for the 2026 Combined Naval Event at Farnborough, First Sea Lord General Gwyn Jenkins delivered his sharpest challenge yet to the concept of building ever more expensive warships. His insistence that the RN must move away from the need for “ever bigger, ever more expensive platforms”carries pointed implications for significant warship programmes still in the planning pipeline.
U.S. Navy tests high-tech maritime drones off northern Norway
The Barents Observer – Newly developed high-speed autonomous surface vessels have been seen operating in the fjord outside Ramsund Naval Base during an exercise that runs until 24 May.
Ukrainian FPV & Rocket Armed Surface Drone (USV)
Covert Shores – A new type of Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel (USV) has been employed to strike Russian positions on the Kinburn Peninsula, north of Crimea. The USV is armed with 6 rockets, reportedly RPO-A Shmel thermobaric type (but possibly the Ukrainian RPV-16) and 6-8 FPV (first person view) drones.
French Navy Details Steps Taken to Build Frigate Availability to 80%
Naval News – The French Navy is maximising frigate availability through developing its approach to maintenance and operations.
Italy is forward-deploying mine countermeasures assets in the Middle East
Naval News – The two mine countermeasures vessels that Italy is forward-deploying in the Middle East area to participate to the international coalition to make the Strait of Hormuz free for navigation again, have left Augusta in Sicily on 15 May.
Maritime Cost Imposition: A New Approach to Great Power War
CIMSEC – The U.S. Navy remains intent on using its high-end platforms for sea denial. To its credit, it is developing the kinds of unmanned systems that are ideally suited for this mission, but only at too slow a pace. To optimize its force structure and accelerate the development of technology, the U.S. Navy should instead commit to a strategy of customized, low-end sea denial coupled with high-end global maritime punishment, and then tailor its doctrine, tactics, and weapons systems to each mission.
U.S. Surface Force to Receive Major Round of Investments
Naval News – Under the U.S. Navy’s released shipbuilding plan as apart of the Future Year Defense Program (FYDP), the U.S. Navy’s surface force will receive a major reshuffle in it’s structure, targeted towards fielding continually advanced surface ship based capabilities and increasing industrial output.
US Admiral says Iranian navy and its stocks of sea mines have been substantially eliminated
Navy Lookout – The United States has claimed the destruction of 90% of Iran’s stockpile of around 8,000 mines, as well as 161 naval vessels of all types during 38 days of combat operations. Admiral Cooper, Commander CENTCOM, delivered the assessment in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday.
From destroyers to drones, how a Europe-led coalition aims to open the Strait of Hormuz
Breaking Defense – A coalition of over 40 nations have said they’re committed to the Multinational Military Mission (MMA), led by France and the UK, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once a ceasefire has been agreed.
Nuclear-Powered Trump Class Battleships Will Reverse One Of The Navy’s “Largest Mistakes”: Navy Boss
The War Zone – The Chief of Naval Operations says giving up on nuclear-powered surface combatants was one of the worst decisions his service has ever made.
Iran’s Plan to Charge for Strait of Hormuz Transits Could Spread to Other Regions, Experts Warn
USNI News – Iran’s push to charge merchant shippers for passage through the Strait of Hormuz under threat of violence could spread to other parts of the world, maritime experts said this week.
USVs could be ‘alternate options’ for missions for stretched manned fleet: Navy official
Breaking Defense – USVs are emerging as modular force elements when sending a large combatant ship is too costly or disproportionate.
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