Current RN News and Updates

[Pelican]

First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference 2024

The Council on Geostrategy is delighted to be organising and hosting the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference 2024, together with a consortium of British universities, on Tuesday 14th May and Wednesday 15th May 2024 at Lancaster House.

This year’s conference will focus on a particularly important and long-term topic – the future of the Royal Navy, specifically its vision for 2040.

Continues https://www.geostrategy.org.uk/sea-powe ... ence-2024/

RFA Proteus will be alongside HMS Belfast (1938) in London for Sea Power Week.

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout
Best wishes to the retiring Head of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Cdre David Eagles departing after 43 years at sea.
He leaves the RFA in a very poor state, although mostly not his fault.

'mostly' ?

[Pelican]

The Surface, Air and Seabed Warfare conference (18 - 19 June 2024, Portsmouth Marriott Hotel), will explore Warships at the Centre of Innovation: Projecting Naval Power Across Domains.

Surface, Air and Seabed Warfare - 2024 Agenda

We are delighted to share the official preliminary agenda for the first annual, Surface, Air and Seabed Warfare (SASW) conference. We will delve into the highest priorities for naval planners, in delivering next generation capability and meeting future challenges.
Covering a range of the most pressing topics, SASW 2024 will examine how technology and innovation will drive improving naval capabilities across domains, facilitating greater potential in meeting the challenges of the next 20+ years.

Continues https://www.defenceiq.com/events-surfac ... Id=7596910

[Pelican]

Royal Navy endorses new electronic warfare system

The Royal Navy has officially endorsed its advanced electronic warfare system, the Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC), following positive feedback from its first round of testing.

Scheduled to be integrated into the Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, six Type 45 destroyers, and the next-generation frigate force, including eight Type 26 City-class sub-hunters and five Type 31 Inspiration-class general-purpose warships, MEWSIC promises to enhance the Fleet’s electronic warfare (EW) operations.

Electronic Warfare, a pivotal but often under-publicised aspect of operations, involves the use of electromagnetic energy to detect, intercept, and exploit enemy forces and communications. MEWSIC will upgrade the Royal Navy’s radar electronic support and electronic warfare command and control capabilities, essential for planning and executing complex operations.

The initial evaluation of MEWSIC involved a team of six Royal Navy electronic warfare experts, two scientists from DSTL (the government’s military labs), and two experts from Defence Equipment and Support. They tested the first software iteration, offering crucial feedback on its capabilities and user experience compared to existing systems.

A standout feature of MEWSIC is the Electromagnetic Warfare Command and Control (EWC2). This new functionality integrates electromagnetic emissions with the operational tactical picture, enhancing situational awareness in the ops room.

It assists operators in delivering timely and accurate countermeasures by improving their understanding of the operational environment.

The system also supports advanced planning tools that enable operators to configure and update the system with the latest intelligence, rehearsing scenarios en route to operational areas.

Source UKDJ

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout
More funding for UK defence promised but there are major challenges for industry and the procurement process.
http://archive.today/81eBC

[Pelican]

NATO condemns cyber attacks, attributes to Russia

The North Atlantic Council has issued a strong statement in response to recent malicious cyber activities targeting Germany and Czechia, expressing solidarity with the nations and condemning the cyberattacks attributed to the Russian-backed threat actor APT28.
The statement follows incidents involving a cyber campaign against the Social Democratic Party of Germany and various institutions in Czechia.

Continues https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/nato-co ... to-russia/


OSINTdefender
Sky News has revealed tonight a Massive Data Breach within the U.K. Ministry of Defense perpetrated by Hackers linked to the Chinese Government; Members of Parliament will reportedly be told the Extent of the Hack on Tuesday, but the Data Breach, which was against a MoD Payroll System, is believed to have retrieved Personal Details about Thousands of British Servicemembers alongside Veterans.
Attached.


China hacked Ministry of Defence, Sky News learns
MPs will be told on Tuesday of a massive data breach involving the Ministry of Defence, targeting service personnel.
https://news.sky.com/story/china-hacked ... s-13130757
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68966497
https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky?ref_sr ... r%5Eauthor
[Possibly includes Services Pensioners]


Royal Navy to boost ‘Digital Capabilities’ with new contract

The Royal Navy is set to enhance its digital technology systems through a new contract with Sierra Nevada Corporation – Mission Systems UK.

Continues https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-n ... -contract/

[Brian James]

Hopefully a pay rise courtesy of the CCP....LOL..

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout
The MoD suffered a data breach which was made public last night.
An external forces payment network was compromised. This is separate to MoD's core systems and the main JPA HR admin network.
Some current regular & reservist personnel and a small number of veteran's data exposed.
Immediate action to get the network offline to minimise risk was taken. Initial investigations have found no evidence any data was removed from the network.
The RN is working hard to inform its people.
Personnel with concerns can email: navypeople-datacompromise@mod.gov.uk
@grantshapps to make a full statement to Parliament later today.

[Pelican]

The future of surface ship support at Devonport Dockyard

In this article, we consider the potential upgrade projects at Devonport to accommodate Royal Navy warships into the next few decades.

Base and Dockyard
Devonport is fundamental the operation of the RN and is the largest naval support facility in Western Europe. The site can be divided into two main parts, the Naval Base which is owned by the MoD and supports active vessels of the Surface Flotilla and ships undergoing Operational Sea Training. The base also includes HMS Drake, home to about 3,000 personnel and has Single Living Accommodation for 1,800 sailors and marines. The Dockyard (the main focus of this article) is a separate entity, owned and operated by Babcock as a centre of deep maintenance and upkeep for surface ships, submarines and amphibious vessels as well as providing Fleet Time Engineering Support.

https://www.navylookout.com/the-future- ... -dockyard/

[Pelican]

Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP
Today I’ve outlined the eight point plan we have put in place to support and protect Armed Forces personnel after a malign actor compromised a contractor run payment network.
My full statement: https://gov.uk/government/speeches/defe ... 7-may-2024

Meanwhile https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/huge-vo ... by-hacker/