Current RN News and Updates

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Exercise Strike Warrior 2024 - see https://lewin-of-greenwich-naval-histor ... 016#p37016

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What’s happening at Harland and Wolff shipbuilders?
As a result of financial turmoil surrounding the company, on 16th September administrators were appointed to take over Harland and Wolff plc.
Here we attempt to summarise the complex current situation and the potential impacts for a key future supplier to the Royal Navy.
Extract:
Politics
There is a view that the UK shipbuilding should essentially be consolidated around BAE Systems and Babcock, and there is not enough work to sustain a third player. However, there is a need for a yard with the capacity to build or consolidate blocks for big ships. There are 3 naval projects in the shipbuilding pipeline that will need a large facility, including three FSS, three (or more) MRSS and the replacements for the four Point-class strategic sealift vessels. While both companies are interested in some form of participation in these projects, BAES does not have the space on the Clyde for this kind of work and is focused on complex warships. Babcock’s large dry dock in Rosyth is earmarked for aircraft carrier maintenance.
See https://www.navylookout.com/whats-happe ... pbuilders/

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Navy Lookout Sep 23
John Healey MP tells the UK Labour conference he has scrapped 100 policies that restrict entry to the armed forces.
Applicants will be told whether they have been accepted within 10 days and be given a start date for training within 30 days.

[So what were the Tories up to?]

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Royal Navy puts technology and uncrewed systems through their paces in Portugal exercise

A range of drones and uncrewed vessels are deployed on a major international exercise in Portugal as the Royal Navy looks to push its latest technology to its limits.

An armed autonomous Pacific 24 RHIB, hand-launched mini quadcopters, uncrewed surface vessels and surveillance drones will join specially-designed shipping containers, known as PODS, and experimentation vessel XV Patrick Blackett for NATO’s annual uncrewed wargames.

More than 200 UK personnel from the Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence and defence industry along with US personnel are working with 25 other nations for the exercise, known as REPMUS, in Troia, southern Portugal.

Continues https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/ ... n-portugal

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Defence Review 2024 – There will be cuts, but what’s going?

The Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary are struggling. At the time of writing, none of the UK’s Astute-class hunter-killer submarines is deployed. Four of our six destroyers and four of the remaining nine frigates are temporarily out of action, as are both amphibious assault ships of the Albion-class.

The RFA is seeing more and more of its ships laid up due to a lack of funds, and those few ships that can sail are now lacking crew as the RFA demands better pay from the new government (having watched the NHS and train drivers get above-inflation pay rises in recent months, despite the new Chancellor stating there is a £20bn black hole in the UK’s finances).

See https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/defence ... ats-going/

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Drone conducts ‘bombing run’ on Royal Navy test ship

A drone has successfully ‘dropped bombs’ on the Royal Navy’s experimental vessel, XV Patrick Blackett, as part of the uncrewed systems training exercise REPMUS24 in Portugal.
The event saw the drone, UAV Rotron, conduct an artificial bomb drop on the ship, showcasing the latest advancements in autonomous warfare technology.

The exercise, held in Troia, southern Portugal, involved personnel from 27 nations, including the UK, and was designed to test and integrate cutting-edge drone and uncrewed vessel technologies into operational task groups. The Royal Navy deployed a wide range of uncrewed systems, including hand-launched drones, surveillance drones, mini quadcopters, and uncrewed Pacific 24 boats.

Continues https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/drone-c ... test-ship/

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UK explores possible future where Russia wins, China leads

The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) newly released Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055 outlines several possible future global scenarios, one of which envisions a world where Russia wins the war in Ukraine and China rises to global dominance, leading a new world order.

This potential future, among others explored in the report, highlights how global power dynamics could shift dramatically in the coming decades. These scenarios are part of a broader effort by the MOD to help policymakers prepare for an uncertain and volatile future.

Released on 27 September 2024, the 456-page document presents a range of potential futures. Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055 describes key drivers of change and illustrates alternative future worlds to test planning assumptions and help decision-makers prepare for an uncertain world.

The Ministry of Defence are keen to note: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-expl ... ina-leads/

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UK missile defence project shortlists tendering companies

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has taken a step forward in its Science and Technology Oriented Research and Development in Missile Defence (STORM) programme by announcing the shortlist of companies vying for the six-year contract.
This phase brings the UK closer to implementing a comprehensive missile defence strategy, aimed at countering an array of advanced missile threats, including ballistic missiles, hypersonic vehicles, and hybrid systems.

The contract, valued between £110 million and £251 million, covers the research, development, and delivery of next-generation missile defence technologies.

The shortlisted companies include: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-miss ... companies/

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Do the Armed Forces need cyber warriors? Yes, but they must be real warriors too

At the Labour Party conference this week, Defence Secretary John Healey put out a call for cyber military recruits.

He announced a new direct route to recruit such people because, he said "if you’re a top gamer or a coder – your country needs you!".

Interestingly, he then went on to reassure the audience about maintaining the "highest standards", making specific reference to Armed Forces personnel being "better fit to fight".

Continues https://www.forcesnews.com/opinion/do-a ... rriors-too

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Royal Marines mark 360th anniversary with parade in Gibraltar

Royal Marines celebrated the 360th anniversary of their formation with a celebratory parade in Gibraltar – the site of some of the Corps’ most glorious actions.
The Royal Marines captured the Rock of Gibraltar in 1704 alongside the Dutch and, having accrued so many battle honours in the three and a half centuries since, it is this action that still adorns their world-renowned regimental cap badge.

The sheer number of additional honours won are symbolised by the great globe itself, an honour bestowed on the Corps by King George IV in 1827.

It is Rock nonetheless that remains atop the cap badge and was the chosen location for this celebration to mark the 360th anniversary of their formation – which officially lands on the Corps’ birthday on the 28th October.

To mark this grand anniversary, the Royal Marines Band from the Commando Training Centre, the Royal Marines rugby team and around 140 veterans marched up Main Street from Casemates to John Mackintosh Hall to commemorate their historic freedom of the territory.

They were garbed in full dress uniform and proudly made their way through the Rock, with locals turning out in droves to watch the Bootnecks march by along the streets.

"The freedom of Gibraltar is very important to all Royal Marines, be that Commandos or Royal Marines Band Service, as it is the main battle honour worn on our insignia," said Sergeant Matt Abbott, the Drum Major for the Commando Training Centre Band based in Lympstone, Devon.

"Marching through the town of Gibraltar behind a band, with colours flying, drums beating, and bayonets fixed always brings a tremendous amount of pride to those serving marines and former Royal Marines.

"The comments made by former Royal Marines: It always makes your chest stick out and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when you hear a Royal Marines Band play."

Continues https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/ ... lebrations

Video https://x.com/i/status/1841784819220447250