Richard Scott

England

Editor at Naval News

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Articles

General Atomics brings Saab onboard for MQ-9B AEW mission package

1 week ago | navalnews.com | Richard Scott

Announced at the Paris Air Show on 16 June, the new AEW mission package will be compatible with the carrier-capable MQ-9B short take-off and landing (STOL) variant being developed by GA-ASI, as well as the standard MQ-9B air vehicle. AEW flight demonstrations are planned to start on the MQ-9B next year, with the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) Carrier Strike Airborne Early Warning requirement already emerging as a major opportunity.
UK declared FOC for Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control

1 week ago | navalnews.com | Richard Scott

The UK Royal Navy (RN) has confirmed that its carrier-borne Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) role fit system has reached Full Operating Capability (FOC). In a 25 April media release, the service said the FOC milestone was achieved at the end of March 2025, just weeks prior to the deployment of Crowsnest-configured Merlin HM2 helicopters with the CSG25 carrier strike group.
PA-Ng aircraft carrier programme approaches key decision point

2 weeks ago | navalnews.com | Richard Scott

Design work on the French Navy’s next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) is close to complete, with the programme approaching a key approval milestone to transition into its manufacture phase, according to the Marine Nationale’s program officer.
Plot Level Data Exchange and Fusion tested by Dutch and French Frigates

3 weeks ago | navalnews.com | Richard Scott

In a 3 June social media post, COMMIT said that PLDEF had been tested in a live environment as part of last month’s ‘At Sea Demo/Formidable Shield 2025’ (ASD/FS25) integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) exercise in the North Atlantic. PLDEF is designed to enable the realtime networking and fusion of radar plot data from cooperating units so as to improve detection performance, increase track quality, and build an improved tactical picture based on more robust composite tracks.
Royal Navy details ambitions for FADS programme, Type 83 destroyer

3 weeks ago | navalnews.com | Richard Scott

The UK Royal Navy (RN) has outlined its ambitions for the Maritime Integrated Air and Missile Defence and Strike (M-IAMDS) capability and associated Type 83 destroyer host platform planned for delivery under the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) programme.
RN Merlin completes ‘hybrid' teaming trial with Puma UAS

3 weeks ago | janes.com | Richard Scott

The UK Royal Navy announced on 30 May that it had completed an initial trial between a Merlin helicopter and a Puma UAV designed to demonstrate manned/unmanned aviation teaming for the interdiction of suspect shipping. (Crown Copyright)The UK Royal Navy (RN) announced on 30 May that it has completed an initial trial designed to demonstrate manned/unmanned aviation teaming for the interdiction of suspect shipping.
UK SDR 2025: Review calls for Royal Navy to take on leading role in CUI protection

3 weeks ago | janes.com | Kate Tringham |Richard Scott

RFA Proteus (background), the UK's first underwater surveillance ship, monitors Russian spy ship Yantar as it passes through UK waters in November 2024. (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)The UK Strategic Defence Review (SDR) 2025 has called on the Royal Navy (RN) to play a new leading role in protecting the UK's critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) and key shipping routes.
Saab to implement air-defence upgrade for Visby corvettes

3 weeks ago | janes.com | Richard Scott

The RSwN's Visby-class corvettes are to be fitted with the Sea Ceptor local area anti-air missile system. Space for a vertical launcher installation for CAMMs already exists in the weapon deck area beneath the main deck hatch. (MBDA)Saab has been contracted by Sweden's Defence Material Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV) to equip the Royal Swedish Navy's (RSwN's) Visby-class corvettes with MBDA UK's Sea Ceptor local area anti-air guided weapon system.
UK SDR 2025: UK outlines plan to build up to 12 SSN-AUKUS submarines

3 weeks ago | janes.com | Kate Tringham |Richard Scott

The UK has confirmed plans to build up to 12 new SSN-AUKUS submarines as part of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review. (BAE Systems)The UK government has laid out ambitions to significantly expand the Royal Navy's (RN's) nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) fleet as part of its 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
UK sets out plans for Offshore Support Vessels under MHC Block 2

1 month ago | navalnews.com | Richard Scott

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is moving forward with plans to buy three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) as part of the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Block 2 programme. Speaking at the Navy Leaders CNE 2025 event on 20 May, Bill Biggs, MHC System of Systems architect in the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation, said the MoD had shaped a requirement for a non-complex commercial derivative design to be delivered from the early 2030s.