Current RN News and Updates

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US Navy destroyer or Royal Navy frigate – what’s best for hunting Russian submarines?

Walk softly and carry a variable-depth sonar

Today we’re going to discuss fighting Russian submarines using surface combatant warships of the US and Royal Navies: destroyers and frigates, mostly.
The difference between a frigate and a destroyer is a tricky subject. Once upon a time, ‘destroyer’ was short for ‘torpedo boat destroyer’: then destroyers took on the work of torpedo boats themselves. During that period the ‘frigates’ of the days of sail were supplanted by cruisers – the sailing frigates had sometimes been given that name – and then new, smaller frigates appeared alongside the destroyers. Both classes then increased in size to the point where they are now as big as some cruisers of old. Definitions now differ depending on where you are in the world. Sometimes the distinction is based on size, sometimes on capability, and sometimes derived from a political requirement.
Let me be clear at least what the words mean in the Royal Navy. A frigate specialises in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and a destroyer in anti-air warfare (AAW).

Continues https://archive.ph/maq4D

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Navy Lookout
The Royal Navy spent £2.4million on salaries for people employed in dedicated Diversity and Inclusion policy roles from 2019 - 23.

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?i ... #g20128.q0

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Weekly Catchup

NATO marks 75th anniversary in Brussels
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/nato-ma ... -brussels/

Secretary General welcomes Ukraine minister to NATO
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/secreta ... r-to-nato/

UK unable to fight Russia ‘for more than couple of months’
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-unab ... of-months/

Spending of £10m in snowmobiles for Royal Marines
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/spendin ... l-marines/

Commandos look to huskies on the Arctic battlefield
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... al-marines

Defence firm Thales speeds up AI development
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/defence ... velopment/

Government accused of ‘smoke and mirrors’ on defence budget
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/governm ... ce-budget/

New contract award for Merlin helicopter engines
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-con ... r-engines/

Drone shots show milestone in build of new frigate factory
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/drone-s ... e-factory/

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UK outlines commitment to nuclear weapons

New Government Command Paper sets out “full scale of the UK’s national nuclear endeavour”.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-outl ... r-weapons/


Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper

Delivering the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent as a National Endeavour.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... mand-paper

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Ministry of Defence DefenceHQ 3h
Today, we launch the Integrated Procurement Model, changing the way we acquire military equipment for our Armed Forces.
Here’s how https://www.gov.uk/government/news/wide ... med-forces

Note the above Tweet was post at approx. 1300 today but the contents of the link are dated ~ Published 28 February 2024

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Military Robotics and Autonomous Systems - Ministerial speech

Minister for Defence Procurement's speech at the Military Robotics and Autonomous Systems Conference in London.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ ... ial-speech

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The UK Littoral Response Group (South) arrives in the Indo-Pacific

The concept of a permanently forward-deployed UK ‘Littoral Response Group’ has been around since early 2019 but only now has this vision been partially fulfilled. Now that the 2 ships have arrived in India, here we look at the background and future employment of the LRG(S).

LRG concepts
It was always planned that the LRG(S) would be deployed to the Indo-Pacific region from 2023 onward, initially expected to be centred on a Bay class RFA that would be modified as a Littoral Strike Ship. In the end, funding dictated RFA Argus would be deployed as the LSS with an unmodified Bay in support. The intention is that the LSS will be forward-deployed for several years but political enthusiasm for ‘Global Britain’ may be on the wane and the Russian threat is of more immediate concern. RFA Argus has been equipped with a single Phalanx CIWS mount for the first time in her epic career but otherwise self-defence options are limited. RFA Lyme Bay is marginally better protected, fitted with two Phalanx and two 30mm cannons. It is possible improved communications and EW equipment has also been added to the ships. Argus is the first military vessel to receive a Kymeta Peregrine U8 terminal for satellite connectivity which provides fast internet for crew recreational use via the OneWeb network.

Continues https://www.navylookout.com/the-uk-litt ... o-pacific/

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Scottish shipbuilding sees increase in jobs

Employment in Scotland’s shipbuilding industry is experiencing a significant uptick, with naval work now directly employing over 7,000 people and providing more than 1,000 apprenticeships.
Recent data and statements from industry leaders underscore the sector’s growing contribution to job creation and skills development, reflecting a positive trend in Scotland’s maritime manufacturing.

In the earlier part of the decade, the industry supported 6,000 direct jobs, a figure that has since evolved to approximately 7,250 direct jobs. This change in employment levels is indicative of the industry’s response to strategic investments in capacity and capability enhancement.

Babcock currently have more than 180 apprentices and 3,500 people employed in Scotland, with these numbers only set to grow in the coming years with 1,000 new apprenticeships. In addition to this, Babcock has invested £35 million in a new digitally enabled build hall at its Rosyth facility, with the Venturer Building capable of housing two Type 31s frigates side by side for parallel build and assembly.

BAE Systems in Glasgow currently has 3,750 employees and around 600 apprentices and graduates in Glasgow. In 2024, they are set to recruit almost 2,700 apprentices and graduates across the UK, with 300 based in Glasgow. In addition, construction has begun on a new £12m Applied Shipbuilding Academy at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard, which will develop the existing workforce and attract new talent to the historic profession of shipbuilding.

Additionally, construction of a modern shipbuilding hall in Govan is underway and, together with a range of additional investments in technologies and equipment, it forms part of an overall £300m investment in the two sites in Glasgow over the next five years.

Continues https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/scottis ... e-in-jobs/

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Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP
The Armed Forces can’t and won’t be intimidated.
Those inside Defence HQ stand up to dictators & terrorists every day - patriots, many of whom put their lives at risk to protect us all.
Those targeting us today are the opposite, cowardly criminals who I’m glad to see arrested.
Quote Politics UK
NEW: The UK Ministry of Defence has been vandalised by pro-Palestine protestors
See https://twitter.com/PolitlcsUK/status/1 ... 1872268463
Unquote

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout
@docks_uk has oficially taken over global support of HMS Tamar HMS Spey HMS Medway HMS Trent and HMS Forth in addition to their existing contract for HMS Protector.
The 8-year, £250m contract will see the company work in partnership with overseas shipyards to oversee maintenance of these forward-deployed ships.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/u ... rthp-feeds