Sea

Britain’s CETUS underwater vehicle is now entering deeper trials work. The XV Excalibur programme will now test autonomy, payload integration, support procedures, and the industrial path toward larger undersea robotic systems.

QinetiQ has brought Type 31 radar integration ashore at Portsdown. The work reduces first-of-class risk and puts land-based test infrastructure inside the frigate production system.

BAE Systems is preparing an updated Herne XLAUV for trials. The new build puts modular payloads, aluminium structures, underwater autonomy, and naval production repeatability into focus.

The Royal Navy has tested one-way effectors from Patrick Blackett. The work brings shipboard launch, autonomy control, counter-UAV experimentation, and low-cost naval effectors into a practical maritime trial environment.

Britain will pursue Common Combat Vessels for future naval air-defence. The shift puts uncrewed-system control, UK shipbuilding capacity, combat-system integration, and fleet design at the centre of the Royal Navy’s next surface combatant.

Japan has now commissioned JS Nagara, the tenth Mogami-class frigate. The ship underlines MHI’s production tempo, automation-led design, lean crewing, and Japan’s growing naval export credibility.

Clyde is now getting submarine spares closer to the dockside. QinetiQ-supported additive manufacturing will support selected parts, legacy components, scanning, and AUKUS-aligned sustainment standards.

Korean shipbuilders are turning US capacity gaps into industrial opportunity. The $150bn push links shipyard finance, naval sustainment, workforce pressure, and maritime manufacturing capacity.

Hunter prototype blocks are turning ship fitout into production evidence. The Osborne work gives Australia’s frigate programme earlier visibility of routing, access, installation, and workforce constraints.

Belgian-Dutch mine warfare ships are entering their integration phase now. The programme links naval construction with unmanned systems, sensors, and software.