Royal Navy

Apr- 2025 -

24 April

Sea

UK Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales is seen leaving Portsmouth Naval Base. 11 people bid farewell in the foreground, waving UK flags.

Juster Domingo

UK Carrier Strike Group Begins Eight-Month Operation Highmast

The UK Royal Navy's Carrier Strike Group has departed on an eight-month deployment to "maintain security and freedom."

15 April

Sea

The Duke-class (Type 23) frigate HMS Monmouth. Photo: LA(Phot) Stuart Hill/UK Royal Navy

Rojoef Manuel

UK Transfers Retired Duke Frigate to Turkey

Turkey has procured the sixth Duke-class frigate from the UK Royal Navy following its deactivation from service.

14 April

Europe

Inder Singh Bisht

UK Seeks Airborne Early Warning Solutions for Aircraft Carriers

The UK Ministry of Defence is exploring potential future airborne early warning solutions to operate from the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers.

11 April

Europe

Giulia Bernacchi

Babcock Secures $84M Contract for UK Type 31 Frigate Capability Upgrades

Babcock has secured a $84-million contract to carry out the Capability Insertion Period (CIP) for the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates.

8 April

Sea

HMS Dauntless took part in a live-firing exercise shooting down drones.

Giulia Bernacchi

Royal Navy’s HMS Dauntless Engages Drone Threats in Live-Fire Exercise

The UK Royal Navy’s HMS Dauntless destroyer has carried out a live-fire exercise off the coast of Wales, engaging multiple drone threats.

4 April

Sea

HMS Albion, a Landing Platform Dock (LPD), is shown operating near the coast of Norway as part of Exercise Hairspring in 2008.

Rojoef Manuel

UK Signs Agreement to Transfer Albion Amphibious Warfare Vessels to Brazil

The UK has signed an agreement to pursue the transfer of its Albion-class landing platform docks to the Brazilian Navy.

3 April

Air

A Merlin helicopter from 820 Naval Air Squadron loaded and fired flares from HMS Prince of Wales, while embarked for Exercise Steadfast Defender. Flares are one element of the Defensive Aid Suite (DAS). The flares make up one portion of the DAS system, they are specifically designed to defeat Infra-Red seeking missiles (MANPADS). The aircraft carrier is taking part in Exercise Steadfast Defender. Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024 will be the largest NATO exercise in decades. NATO forces will be exercising across multiple regions and in multiple domains (maritime, land, air, space, and cyber). The vast scale of this exercise will occur over several months and over thousands of kilometres and will involve tens-of-thousands of Allied troops, all showcasing NATO capabilities to deter adversaries and defend allied territory.

Rojoef Manuel

Leonardo to Continue Upkeep for UK Navy Merlin Helicopters

The UK has contracted Leonardo to extend the fleet-wide integrated support for the Royal Navy’s Merlin helicopters.

Mar- 2025 -

28 March

Europe

Joe Saballa

UK to Expand DragonFire Laser Weapon Deployment by 2027

The UK has expanded its DragonFire laser weapon deployment plan for 2027, increasing the number of warships set to receive the system from one to four.

24 March

Sea