An annual joint mission between the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Science Foundation, the lead agency for the U.S. Antarctic programme, provides essential supplies to research stations in the perpetual ice. While the Coast Guard prepares to modernise and renew its icebreaker fleet, the "Polar Icebreaker" will remain in service until new icebreakers arrive.
The Royal Netherlands Coast Guard's portfolio of tasks has expanded in recent years, meaning that a fast crew supply vessel (FCS 5009) from the Damen Shipyard Group will be added to its fleet in mid-2026. The "Enforcer" - a so-called fast crew supplier - is intended to ensure the continuity of general coastguard duties in the North Sea. The...
In parallel to Vladimir Putin's ongoing visit to the 23rd India-Russia Summit in New Delhi, India has signalled that the leasing of a Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), which has been agreed since 2019, can now move into the implementation phase. Although the government rejects the impression of a newly concluded major contract, the key parameters remain unchanged:...
In November, the British Navy once again escorted two Russian warships through the English Channel. The British Ministry of Defence spoke of a round-the-clock shadowing operation. British media report that HMS "Severn" (P282), a 1,700-tonne River-class offshore patrol vessel, escorted the Russian multi-purpose corvette RFN "Stoikiy" (2,200 tonnes, project 20380 -...
The US Navy has stopped its Constellation-class frigate programme (FFG-62) and terminated the construction of further units in addition to the two ships already under construction. Officially, considerable delays, cost increases and an unresolved degree of maturity of the design are cited as reasons. At the same time, the naval leadership emphasises that the decision is part of a fundamental strategic...
USA authorises sale of SM-6/SM-2 The US Department of State has approved a possible export of up to 173 "SM-6 Block I" and 577 "SM-2 Block IIIC" worth up to 3.5 billion US dollars to Germany as part of its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and, as provided for in the Arms Export Control Act, has...
In a region where Europe's infrastructure network and security is vulnerable to Russian attack, the five-day NATO exercise "Playbook Merlin 25" focussed on anti-submarine warfare using advanced technologies and techniques. Submarine crews and surface forces were to be prepared for the realities of underwater operations from 10 to 14 November 2025...
South Korea is taking a highly visible step towards achieving a leading position in the race for the Philippine Navy's first submarine programme. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially met with Hanwha Ocean on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Seoul. The government in Manila subsequently confirmed that the country would not only be offered submarines...
On 25 December 2024, the tanker "Eagle S" lost its anchor and dragged for many miles across the seabed of the Baltic Sea. This resulted in damage to critical infrastructure. The captain and the ship's first and second officers were therefore charged with serious damage to five underwater cables of critical infrastructure.
The existing mutual defence pact between the USA and South Korea restricts Seoul's ability to use nuclear technology for defence purposes. The Trump administration has now agreed an amendment to this treaty with the South Korean government and wants to make the previously closely guarded technology for nuclear-powered submarines available to South Korea. The US President thus authorised the request...
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