Technical Briefing
The evolution of UK nuclear submarine reactors and Rolls-Royce’s central role
Rolls-Royce Submarines is expanding its reactor production and workforce to support the Royal Navy’s next generation of nuclear submarines and the AUKUS partnership. This technical briefing outlines the evolution of UK naval reactor design, the company’s central role, and the growing industrial effort at Raynesway.
Practical, scalable and proven – Oceanus medium-sized uncrewed surface vessels
Zero USV’s Oceanus12 has moved from concept to credible operational platform, with a larger 17-metre variant now in development. For the Royal Navy, the question is no longer whether such vessels work, but how they might be integrated into operations alongside existing and future warships
In focus: MSI-DS sovereign UK medium calibre gun mount development
MSI Defence Systems has provided the Royal Navy with lightweight, automated weapon mounts that have become a standard feature across much of the fleet. As a sovereign UK capability with a consistent export record, the company provides adaptable gun systems that bridge traditional close-range defence and the growing demands of countering asymmetric and uncrewed threats.
Up close with the Royal Navy’s uncrewed minehunting programme
Recent events in the Gulf have put the UK’s mine countermeasures capability in the spotlight. The RN is transitioning from crewed minehunters to autonomous platforms with the Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme, moving from demonstration to operational reality. Here we consider this complex system-of-systems and the profound cultural shift now underway in how […]
Stability over speed: Pioneer – a different approach to uncrewed surface vessels
In this article, we look at Pioneer, a uniquely stable USV platform developed in the UK capable of deploying serious payloads for naval or commercial applications in sea conditions that would defeat many competitors.
Electronic warfare and the battle to expose illicit maritime activity
In this article, Lee Pilgrim considers the seizure of the sanctioned tanker MV Marinera (formerly MV Bella 1) in the context of signals intelligence and electronic warfare in maritime security. The case illustrates how modern naval operations increasingly rely on control of the electromagnetic spectrum to counter vessels operating in legal and operational grey zones.
In focus: The FDI – France’s mid-size frigate
France’s Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) represents a deliberate attempt to concentrate a balanced mix of air defence, anti-submarine and digital resilience capability into a compact but high-end frigate. Here, we look at the development and construction of this combatant and consider the merits of its design philosophy.
Progress with the Royal Navy’s PODS programme
In this guest article, Paul Keating-Brown considers the RN’s Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) concept and outlines developments to date.
In focus: BAE Systems sovereign UK radar development
BAE Systems’ Cowes facility has re-emerged as one of the UK’s most important centres for radar engineering, anchoring a rapidly expanding national effort to deliver next-generation sensors. This second article examines the site’s evolution, its growing workforce and the technologies now shaping Britain’s future radar capability.
