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The Multi-Purpose Modular Patrol Vessel Hrabri (12) delivered to the Bulgarian Navy is based on NVL Group’s proven OPV-90 design – an evolution of the smaller 1,650-tonne OPV-80, which serves as the Darussalam class with the Royal Brunei Navy (four units commissioned between 2011 and 2014) and the Arafura class (six units) currently under construction for the Royal Australian Navy. Photo: Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria

Patrol vessels

The global offshore patrol vessel market is characterised by a robust growth that is driven by increasing maritime security threats,
Fotos: Navantia

Navantia’s proposal for Croatia: a proven ship and long-term robust industrial cooperation

The Navantia proposal for the Multi-role Corvette programme is the Avante 2200/ALFA 3000, a proven vessel that fully satisfies the
Navantia is proposing its light frigate design – ALFA 4000 – for the Swedish YSF2030 frigate programme. Artist’s impression: Navantia

Swedish Frigate Decision

Sweden’s acquisition of new frigates is, at its core, a strategic decision. It is not only a matter of industry,
The GhostFin multi-mission sonar suite for unmanned underwater vehicles provides bistatic sonar detection using a remote active sound source from anti-submarine warfare vessels or fixed sonar systems. Artist’s impression: DSIT Solutions Ltd.

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles

More than ever before, unmanned underwater vehicles will enable navies to achieve a continuous in-theatre presence in varying mission scenarios.
Five unmanned RQ-4D ‘Phoenix’ HALE platforms form the basis of the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF) – a multinational force that provides timely, high-quality intelligence products to NATO decision-makers and member countries. NISRF makes a significant contribution to the operational readiness of the Alliance. Photo: NATO

The future of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture – no longer fit for purpose?

Four fundamental structural shifts – Russian aggression, the rise of China, an unpredictable US and European political instability – have
During her recent visit to Stockholm, the F-100 frigate SPS Almirante Juan de Borbón (F 102) showcased her sophisticated design and performance characteristics, as well as Navantia’s innovative philosophy in modern naval shipbuilding. Photos: Navantia

Navantia in Sweden – through-life support of modern frigates

The visit of the Spanish Navy’s Álvaro de Bazán class guided missile frigate SPS Almirante Juan de Borbón (F 102)
The Polish Navy is in a process of acquiring two new SIGINT ships under the umbrella of the Delfin programme. Photo: Saab Group

Signals Intelligence

Some navies have them and some do not. Signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection ships may seem like a niche capability, according
Two conventional (hard rock) deposit types – carbonatite and alkaline igneous complexes – currently supply global markets with the rare earth elements and rare earth oxides necessary to meet the technological needs of global communities. The knowledge of tectonic setting, typical rock associations, deposit morphology and deposit genesis has led to the discovery of many conventional-type rare earth deposit types in the world. Map: Charles D. Beard et al., 2022

What’s the role of rare earth elements?

Dependence of strategic and critical raw materials may soon replace today’s dependence on oil
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has seen a rapidly expanding rate of drone use on both sides, from tens of thousands per month in 2022 to hundreds of thousands per month in 2024. Pictured is the Ukrainian RAM II drone carrying various explosives for precision strike. Photo: CDET LLC/Ukroboronprom

Drones: decoupling supply chains from China

“The challenge to mass producing hover-optimised [...] drones has revealed systemic vulnerabilities in the West, stemming from a heavy reliance
Stephen Dover is Chief Market Strategist and Head of Franklin Templeton Institute Photo: Franklin Templeton

Coup de Caracas

Early Saturday morning, US military forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. According to US official
Synergie - The first of eight to be delivered Boeing 737-based P-8A submarine-hunting aircraft arrived in German on 7 November. Photo: German Armed Forces/Christoph Kassette

Synergies that matter

To date, the global inventory of P-8 Poseidon submarine-hunting aircraft has completed over 700,000 flight hours. The high speed of
Jim Parrott is Naval Sales Manager at Chess Dynamics and he served as a Royal Navy warfare officer for over 33 years where he specialised in surface warfare and air defence, predominantly serving in destroyers and aircraft carriers. Photo: Chess Dynamics

Chess Dynamics – excellence in surveillance and naval fire control

Naval Forces spoke with Jim Parrott about Chess Dynamics‘ perspective in the field of electro-optics and fire control. Jim has
The first of eight to be delivered Boeing 737-based P-8A submarine-hunting aircraft arrived in German on 7 November. Photo: Lufthansa Technik

Boeing contracts Lufthansa Technik Defense for sustainment of German Navy’s P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft

Boeing and Lufthansa Technik Defense signed a multi-year contract on comprehensive technical sustainment services for the German Navy’s eight P-8A
Fitted with intelligent sensor technology, GREYSHARK undertakes complex intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, mine countermeasures and missions to help protect critical undersea infrastructures.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

EUROATLAS and strategic partner EvoLogics are proceeding with sea trials of their GREYSHARK™ autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)
The second S-80 class (Isaac Peral class) submarine “Narciso Monturiol” (S 82) offers a submerged speed exceeding 19 knots, an operating depth beyond 300 metres and an endurance of up to 60 days. Foto: Navantia

Second S-80 class submarine hits the water and prepares for testing phase

The submarine sits in the water after a long an delicate manoeuvre, carried out over several hours using a floating
Naval Shipbuilding Fleet Solid Support programme achieves Critical Design Review milestone

Fleet Solid Support

The Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme has achieved a pivotal milestone with the successful completion of the Critical Design Review
The Naval Combat Cloud is a prerequisite for the Spanish Navy’s increased responsibilities in the global naval security environment. Photo: Navantia

Spanish Naval Shipbuilding

With the induction of several new state-of-the-art warship classes in recent years, Navantia is continuing to showcase its global leadership
The Spanish Navy is due to commission the second attack submarine SPS Narciso Monturiol (S 82) in 2026. The submarine is enhanced by integrating non-penetrating, all-weather optronic imaging systems, hoistable masts and periscopes supplied by L3Harries. All photos: Navantia

Spain’s S-80 attack submarine programme progresses

Navantia’s shipyard in Cartagena (Murcia) has hosted (on 3 October) the naming ceremony of the S-80 submarine SPS Narciso Monturiol
Ballistic Missile Defence: long-range radar system

Ballistic Missile Defence

The TRS-4D LR long-range radar is used at the German Navy’s Naval Technical School in Parow (State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) as
Ready for Europe’s maritime future: the Unmanned High-Speed Interceptor 32 (UHSI32) offers an autonomous platform for a variety of naval/maritime duties. Photo: CMN NAVAL

UHSI32

The UHSI32 is being developed as a true game changer for future European naval operations.
Group photo of NATO Heads of State and Government at the Summit in The Hague, 24–25 June 2025. (Source: NATO Summit 2025)

The Hague 2025: NATO Adopts 5% Defence Investment Target – Ukraine Remains Strategic Partner

The Hague, 25 June 2025 – In a landmark decision, NATO Heads of State and Government agreed to significantly increase
Western Baltic Sea, February 2025: The Russian state-owned double-hull oil product tanker RFS General Skobelev (seen here returning from the Mediterranean) was commissioned in 2008. (Photo: Michael Nitz/Naval Press Service) - EU Tightens Sanctions on Russia’s Shadow Fleet

EU Tightens Sanctions on Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Brussels, 14 May 2025 – The European Union has adopted its 17th sanctions package against Russia, targeting the so-called “shadow
Naval warships can deliver large amounts of laser power. Photo: US Navy

High Energy Laser

Since Columbia University graduate student Gordon Gould and Bell Laboratories scientists Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow (among others) coined the
The Raider hydrogen-powered drone featuring an extended endurance, enhanced payload capacity plus a modular design to adapt to evolving operational demands. Photo: Heven Drones

Heven Drones unveiled a hydrogen-powered drone for modern multi-role operations

Heven Drones, a company headquartered in Miami, Florida (USA) and specialising in hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial systems designed for complex operational
An effective hypersonic defence must include space sensors and a glide-phase interceptor, but it should not stop there. Artist’s impression: Raytheon Missiles and Defense - Complex air defence - Countering the hypersonic missile threat

Complex air defence

Defending against hypersonic missiles is strategically necessary, technologically possible, and fiscally affordable, but it will not be easy.
The controllable pitch propeller enables adjustable thrust generation, combined with rudders for steering. (Photos: Otto Piening GmbH)

Between proven and innovative – the evolution of military ship propulsion

Robustness in all its facets is a top priority for naval forces, which can, to some extent, hinder or at

Captain (Ret.) Jan Wiedemann passed away

After a varied, diverse and demanding life, Jan Wiedemann, Captain (Ret.) German Navy passed away on 18 February. Jan was
The Greyshark underwater drone is deliberately designed to resemble a penguin. Pictured is a version displayed at XPONENTIAL Europe in Düsseldorf in February 2025 at the EUROATLAS booth. (Picture: Lutz Krieg / Moench Publishing Group)

Greyshark: Autonomous Underwater Drone for Maritime Security and Reconnaissance

The rapid development of autonomous systems is not only transforming aerial and land-based operations but also increasingly revolutionizing the underwater
US Vice President JD Vance accused the European leaders of violating democratic values and thus shocked the audience at MSC 2025. (Photo: MSC/Preiss)

Munich Security Conference 2025

The Munich Security Conference (MSC) was founded in 1963 as an event to discuss the issues and challenges as well
Ahmet Akyol, President & CEO of ASELSAN: „We will continue to produce the highest technologies with the most qualified capabilities and the fastest processes, and present them to the world in frame of our strategic vision for 2030, which we call aselsaneXt2030.“ (Photo: ASELSAN)

ASELSAN closed 2024 with over 1 billion USD export deals

ASELSAN, Turkey’s leading defence company, achieved an outstanding performance in international sales in 2024 and exceeded US$1 billion of export
Admiral Naveed Ashraf NI(M) T Bt in an interview with Naval Forces Editor-in-Chief Stefan Nitschke on 15 October 2024 in Amsterdam. (Photo: Mönch Group)

Balanced, modern, capable!

Admiral Naveed Ashraf NI(M) T Bt was commissioned in the Operations Branch of the Pakistan Navy in 1989. The Admiral
Copyright 2 25-00581 Spain F-110 SPY-7(V)2 EDM Tower

The Sky’s No Limit: Lockheed Martin’s SPY-7 Radar for Spain’s F-110 Frigate Successfully Tracks Airborne Objects

14 January 2025.– In partnership with Navantia, Spain’s national defense and shipbuilding company, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), a global leader
STYRIS has been designed to enable seamless integration of above and underwater sensors. (Artist’s impression: AEUK)

Known unknowns

The protection of critical maritime infrastructures has become a top political priority since the September 2022 attacks on the Nord
The FC/ASW (Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon) is a next-generation missile programme launched by France and the United Kingdom in 2017 to succeed their jointly-developed Storm Shadow/SCALP as well as their respective Exocet and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. (Artist’s impression: MBDA)

FC/ASW programme: MBDA evolves its sovereign weapon systems for maritime superiority

Current events continue to underline that sovereign deep strike capabilities are of critical importance to European nations. Today’s context has
People Talk: Dr. Gunter Freitag, Aeromaritime Systembau GmbH

People Talk: Dr. Gunter Freitag, Aeromaritime Systembau GmbH

Dr. Gunter Freitag joined AEROMARITIME Systembau as head of research & development in January 2023. He is responsible for the
At Euronaval, ELT Group and Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN) signed a contract for the supply of an advanced system to counter drone threats. Pictured are Domitilla Benigni CEO, ELT Group, and Giovanni Sorrentino CEO OSN. (Photo: ELT Group/OSN)

EURONAVAL 2024

ELT Group takes part in the 29th edition of Euronaval, Europe’s most important showcase for the naval community that will
Rohde & Schwarz has been contracted to supply the NAVICS IP-based naval communications system for anti-submarine warfare frigates currently on order for the Netherlands and Belgium. (Artist’s impressions: Damen Naval)

Rohde & Schwarz to deliver turnkey communications solutions for Dutch and Belgian ASW frigates

Germany’s Rohde & Schwarz has been awarded a contract by the Dutch Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT), part of the

Damen Naval brings Alfa Laval on board for anti-submarine warfare frigate project

Damen Naval has contracted Alfa Laval Benelux to provide fuel oil separators, cleaning tables, the Oily Bilge Water Separators and
As per August 2024, Germany and Norway approved the design review, and both nations negotiate together to order each six submarines in total, with a decision planned for 2024. (Artist’s impression: thyssenkrupp Marine Systems)

HENSOLDT passes critical design review for Norwegian Ula class submarines

Submarines will play an increasingly important role in the defence of Norway and NATO. Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has reached
The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service with the Royal Navy since 2010. The final Astute class submarine, Agincourt, is in an advanced stage of manufacture inside the Devonshire Dock Hall. (Photo: BAE Systems)

Sixth Astute class nuclear-powered fleet submarine is launched

Agamemnon (S 124), the latest Royal Navy (RN) Astute class attack submarine has been launched at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness,

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