Maritime Defense News

ABS, through its affiliate ABSG Consulting Inc. (ABS Consulting), has announced the acquisition of RMC Global (RMC), a provider of industrial cybersecurity, risk management and resiliency solutions.The acquisition strengthens ABS Consulting’s capabilities and market position, bringing together two organizations with complementary expertise, shared values and a common mission. Combining RMC’s capabilities with ABS Consulting’s scale, technical depth and global resources, unlocks…

German defence group Rheinmetall has entered the race to buy shipyard German Naval Yards Kiel with a non-binding bid, a move that would deepen its push into naval defence and pits it against rival warship maker Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).Rheinmetall disclosed the bid as it released its first‑quarter results on Thursday but said it would not provide information regarding its size.CEO Armin Papperger said Rheinmetall has already begun the due diligence process and expects results in the next few weeks, at which point it would be able to submit a binding offer.TKMS, which had submitted a

The Coast Guard is standing up the Special Missions Command to oversee its deployable specialized forces. The command will enhance the operational effectiveness of the Coast Guard in responding to a wide range of national emergencies and events as the demand for deployable specialized forces capabilities increase. The Coast Guard selected the existing Coast Guard C5I Service Center facility in Kearneysville, West Virginia, as the future site of the Coast Guard’s Special Missions Command (SMC).

Rheinmetall could sign a contract to take over Germany'sdelayed F126 frigate programme in the second quarter, CEO Armin Papperger said on Thursday, further highlighting the company's growing focus on the naval sector."The biggest contract will be for sure F126, where we expect that in Q2 there could be a signing," Papperger said on a conference call after first-quarter results.His comments appear to confirm a report in the Financial Times on Wednesday that said Rheinmetall was seeking some 12 billion euros ($14.13 billion) from Germany to take over the program.

France on Wednesday deployed its carrier strike group to the Red Sea as part of planning for a potential mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, urging Washington and Tehran to consider the proposal given the global economic impact of their competing blockades.Fresh exchanges of fire on Monday underscored the stakes as the U.S. and Iran struggle for control of the narrow waterway, a vital artery for global energy and trade, shaking a fragile four-week-old truce and reinforcing…

Introduction. Looking back at history one could argue that it was French author Jules Verne in his book “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, published in 1869, who was speculating about a new power source much in the same out of the box thinking that H.G. Wells employed when he wrote about inter-planetary flight in “War of the World’s. Verne was writing about “electricity” from batteries using seawater which he created after studying the model of the newly developed French Navy submarine “Plongeur” at the Exposition of 1867.In the novel…

Sam Houston State University (SHSU), the Institute for Homeland Security (IHS), and the Organizing Committee of the Maritime Risk Symposium 2026 (MRS2026) have announced that U.S. Navy Vice Admiral (Retired) T.J. White, Chief of Texas Cyber Command, will deliver a keynote address at this year's event. MRS2026 will be held at LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas, U.S.A. (greater Houston-Galveston area).Chief White…

Online Oceans, a UK company building autonomous surface vessels and fleet software for defense and maritime security, has raised USD$5.4 million (£4 million) in funding led by Seraphim Space. The round also includes participation from investors, including Peter Rive, co-founder of SolarCity, Frank Thieser and Florian Seibel, founders of Quantum Systems, and Koro Capital.At the center of the company’s offering is Scout, a compact solar-powered autonomous surface vessel designed for persistent deployment at scale.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and Albania's KAYO have set up a joint venture to build and maintain vessels in Albania, which is seeking to modernise its military infrastructure and deepen its NATO ties.The two sides signed a deal in the presence of the Albanian prime minister and defence minister, as well as the CEOs of Fincantieri and KAYO, according to a government and company statement.Albania has been a member of NATO since 2009 and its Mediterranean location gives it strategic importance beyond its size.

Italy's parliament on Tuesday backed a government plan to donate an ageing aircraft carrier to Indonesia, a move the administration said would strengthen relations with an ally while avoiding the costly dismantling of an obsolete asset.The 54 million euro ($63 million)-valued Garibaldi entered service in 1985, took part in various operations in the Mediterranean area and off Africa, including missions in Lebanon, Libya and Somalia, then was placed in reserve in 2024."Structural…

Iran's use of a swarm of small, fast boats to seize two container ships near the Strait of Hormuz could undermine suggestions U.S. forces have disabled its naval threat and reveals the challenges facing reopening one of the world's most important oil export routes.U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday acknowledged that while Iran’s conventional navy had been largely destroyed, its "fast-attack ships" had not been considered much of a threat.He said any such vessels coming near a U.S.

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to integrate the Patriot missile, an Army missile interceptor, into the U.S. Navy's Aegis combat system, a milestone the company said on Tuesday marks the first time the weapon will be fielded at sea.Reuters was first to report in October 2024 that the Navy was moving forward with plans to arm its vessels with Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors, driven by fears that China would deploy hypersonic…

The Pentagon on Tuesday unveiled more details of President Donald Trump's $1.5 trillion defense budget request for fiscal year 2027, by far the largest year-over-year increase in defense spending in the post-World War Two era.In a new wrinkle, the Pentagon has created a category it is calling "presidential priorities," covering Golden Dome missile defense, drone dominance, artificial intelligence and data infrastructure, and the defense industrial base, Pentagon officials told reporters.Last year…

The Iranian-flagged container ship Touska, which was boarded and seized by U.S. forces on Sunday, is likely to have what Washington deems dual-use items that could be used by the military onboard, maritime security sources said on Monday.The small container ship, which is part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) group that has been hit with U.S. sanctions, was boarded on Sunday off the coast of Iran's Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman and last reported its position at 1308 GMT, according to ship-tracking data on the Marine Traffic platform.The U.S.

Germany is in principle ready to help secure transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities end, provided there is a mandate, preferably from the United Nations, and German parliamentary approval, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said."We are still a long way from all of that," Merz told reporters a day before talks in Paris that, he said, would also cover whether U.S. armed forces could participate in a mission.The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has caused unprecedented disruption of global oil and gas.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri said on Wednesday its Fincantieri Marine Group unit has won a $30 million contract with the U.S.

Babcock International Group (Babcock) has agreed a two‑year extension to the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), ensuring the continued delivery of vital fleet and infrastructure support for the Royal Navy’s surface ships.The agreement maintains the full scope of the existing FMSP contract, covering ship engineering delivery and management for Type 23 frigates, amphibious warfare ships, Sandown minehunters and landing craft vessels.This work continues to be delivered primarily through Babcock’s facilities at Devonport and Rosyth…

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) announced that George Whittier is returning to lead FMD as its Chief Executive Officer. Across the defense and industrial sectors, Whittier is recognized as a trusted and highly respected leader. Having spent more than a decade at FMD, including six years as its CEO, Whittier is situated to lead the company through this pivotal period as he brings a deep understanding of the business and its critical role within the defense industrial base. “Fairbanks Morse has been integral to America’s industrial and defense strength for more than a century…

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a contract to supply 18 large Kamewa waterjets for the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) program. Each of the vessels will feature waterjets, delivering speed and maneuverability for high-performance naval operations.The NGMV fleet is being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited and will play a critical role in India’s maritime defense strategy.This contract marks Kongsberg Maritime’s largest single waterjet order to date and signals a…

Navantia UK welcomed the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, to the Harland & Wolff shipyard, just over a year since the company’s acquisition and the launch of plans to revitalize the historic site for the future.The visit focused on Belfast’s growing role at the heart of the UK’s shipbuilding capability, with the Secretary of State touring newly extended fabrication facilities, meeting the almost 500-strong workforce including 93 current apprentices…

Cellula Robotics USA Inc. has announced its role in delivering a long-endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) under a contract awarded by the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) as part of the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) initiative. Under the contract led by Metron Inc., Cellula Robotics USA Inc. will be responsible for delivery of a commercial off-the-shelf, fuel cell-powered Guardian AUV. The vehicle is designed for long endurance missions, with the ability to…

The U.S. military is deploying a large amphibious assault ship with thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday, as Iran's new supreme leader hailed Iran's "unity" and "resistance".Reuters had reported that Washington, desperate to reopen the Gulf oil bottleneck of the Strait of Hormuz, shut by Iran since the U.S. and Israel attacked almost three weeks ago, was considering deployments up to and including landings.Oil…

On March 12, following a tender procedure, the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands and Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract for the delivery of three Damen Stan Patrol (SPa) 5009 vessels for the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. The new vessels will replace three Damen SPa 4100 vessels that have been in operation for over 25 years. The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard is a joint effort comprising the constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the region. The coast guard will operate the SPa 5009 vessels…