Royal Navy • Page 2 of 27

Jun- 2026 -

30 June

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

UK Kicks Off CETUS Extra-Large Submarine Drone Trials

The UK Submarine Delivery Agency has invested $8.8 million to begin trials of the Royal Navy’s CETUS extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle.

29 June

Sea

Pictured: HMS Dauntless as she departs Portsmouth supporting Op HIGHMAST. The UK’s premier naval deployment of 2025 sailed today, led by the nation’s flagship, the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. HMS Prince of Wales left Portsmouth as she prepares to lead an international task force to the Indo-Pacific on an eight-month mission to demonstrate UK and allied collective resolve and determination to maintain security and freedom from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Between now and December, the Carrier Strike Group will conduct a series of exercises and operations with air, sea and land forces of a dozen allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, South-east Asia, Japan and Australia. OP HIGHMAST is a multinational deployment to the Indo-Pacific, led by the Royal Navy Flagship HMS Prince of Wales, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to the security of the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific, while providing an opportunity to promote British trade and industry.

Rojoef Manuel

UK Swaps Type 45 Destroyer Successors for Hybrid Drone Motherships

The UK will replace its Type 45 Daring-class destroyers with six warships designed to operate unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater systems under the government's latest Defense Investment Plan.

26 June

Europe

Christine Casimiro

QinetiQ Accelerates UK Submarine Maintenance With Additive Manufacturing

The Royal Navy is set to improve submarine availability by reducing maintenance time with QinetiQ's additive manufacturing technology.

12 June

Sea

Giulia Bernacchi

Ultra Maritime Tests New Sonobuoy for UK Undersea Warfare Program

Ultra Maritime has completed the first in-water trial of its new Multistatic Active Receive Sonobuoy in Scotland.

May- 2026 -

29 May

Europe

Christine Casimiro

Royal Navy Ship Delivers Cargo for Strait of Hormuz Mine-Clearance Ops

A Royal Navy mine-hunting support vessel has delivered specialized cargo to a UK warship deploying to the Middle East ahead of potential mine-clearance operations.

27 May

Europe

QinetiQ increases underwater signature testing capability at Portland Bill

Giulia Bernacchi

QinetiQ Expands Testing Capacity for Uncrewed Minehunting Systems

QinetiQ has expanded the underwater testing capacity at the UK Ministry of Defence’s Portland Bill facility.

25 May

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

11 MAY 2026 - Wildcat HMA2s from 815 Naval Air Squadron conduct a photo exercise with P2000s and a Royal Norwegian Navy Skjold-class corvette, during Exercise Tamber Shield in Norway. Now in its fourth consecutive year, Tamber Shield continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of enhanced interoperability between the two maritime forces. For the first time, Puma surveillance drones from 700X NAS will also participate in the exercise, enabling the Fleet Air Arm to develop its crewed-uncrewed teaming (CUC-T) capability against small, agile threats.

Rojoef Manuel

UK Tests Helicopter-Drone Tactics in Norwegian Fjord Drills

The UK Royal Navy’s Wildcat helicopter crews have trained alongside unmanned aerial systems during the three-week Tamber Shield exercise in Norway’s fjords, focused on countering high-speed littoral threats.

15 May

Sea

HMS Prince of Wales Maritime Medical Emergency Response Team (MMERT) performs medical response to a simulated injury aboard the HMS Duncan destroyer.

Rojoef Manuel

Royal Navy Trials Air Ambulance Team, Containerized Medical Hub at Sea

The Royal Navy has tested new maritime emergency capabilities, including an airborne casualty response unit and a containerized treatment module designed for ships without advanced onboard medical facilities.

Apr- 2026 -

30 April

Sea

HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth pictured at sea. The water is a deep blue, and the cloudy sky serves as the background.

Rojoef Manuel

10 European Allies Agree on Joint Naval Force to Deter Russia in Northern Waters

Ten European countries have signed a statement of intent to form a special team under the Joint Expeditionary Force to counter Russian threats in northern waters.

23 April

Europe