The advance in armaments is seen as an opportunity for the economy. However, it could prove to be a crushing burden on the manufacturing SME sector. Money is there - or rather, it has been made available. The new law on accelerated planning and procurement for the Bundeswehr has optimised the framework....

Mit britischer Industrieunterstützung hat die Royal Navy einen markanten Schritt in der Entwicklung autonomer U-Boote getan: Das vor Plymouth operierende Prototypen-U-Boot XV „Excalibur“ wurde von einem Kommandozentrum im 16.000 Kilometer entfernten Australien kontrolliert. Noch ist „Excalibur“ als unbemanntes Unterwasserfahrzeug der Extra-Large-Klasse (XLUUV) lediglich ein unbewaffneter Demonstrator des britischen Unternehmen MSubs,...

The design of modern learning spaces at the MSM enables a critical examination of the historical heritage and strengthens the understanding of maritime tradition for the future. Two years ago, Marineforum reported on the planned remodelling of the Mürwik Naval School auditorium. Now all of the remodelling work has been completed and a new permanent exhibition has been installed in the...

A risk for security and the maritime economy On 23 June 2025, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) published the position paper "Strengthening overall defence" with an overall view of security policy, dependence on raw materials and technology. Back in November 2024, the BDI held a raw materials congress in Berlin to highlight the dangerous dependencies in the supply of raw materials for the German and...

Chinese flotilla in the Bering Strait: In mid-August, five Chinese research vessels operated near Alaska for the first time - alerting the US Navy and US Coast Guard. The Bering Strait is barely 70 kilometres wide - between the virtually uninhabited Russian Naukan and the American Wales in Alaska, which has a small airfield and...

At the major arms show DSEI (Defence & Security Equipment International) in London at the beginning of September, Brazil signed the contract to take over the ex-HMS Bulwark (LPD Albion class, 176 metres, 18,500 tonnes) - which had already been announced at the beginning of the year in the form of a bilateral MoU. The amphibious dock landing ship can look back on an eventful...

Status and developments in the Baltic states The Baltic Sea remains a troubled sea and is the focus of security and defence policy issues. Since the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in autumn 2022, the damage to Maritime Critical Infrastructure (MarKRITIS) in particular has brought the Baltic Sea into the public eye. Primarily submarine cables laid on the...

Europe's strategic interests in the Arctic "High North, low tension" was the motto until a few years ago. The Arctic seemed a remote and inaccessible place. However, progressive climate change, which is warming the Arctic four times faster than the rest of the planet, is opening up new potential and dangers. This means that the Arctic could...

Since 2022, the Royal Australian Navy and Californian drone manufacturer Anduril have been funding and developing an XL-AUV (Extra-Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle), which they call the "Ghost Shark". Three prototypes were to be built and trialled within three years - and the timeframe was actually missed! Now, at the beginning of September, Anduril Australia...

In Washington, the strong man on the Orinoco is seen as the mastermind behind the drug cartels Sinaloa (Mexico) and Tren de Agua / Cartel de los Soles (Venezuela) and the bounty was quickly doubled to 50 million dollars. Afterwards, there were plenty of oaths of allegiance to Nicolás Maduro from senior military officers. Of which, however...

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