As usual he was in charge of sniffing.

Brasilien will bis zu vier weitere Tamandaré-Fregatten kaufen Bei den heutigen Regierungskonsultationen haben Deutschland und Brasilien eine deutliche Stärkung ihrer Zusammenarbeit im Bereich der Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik vereinbart.

Brazil has signed a declaration of intent with Germany to acquire a second batch of up to four additional Tamandaré-class frigates. The first of class in the initial batch of four hulls commissions with the Brazilian Navy this month.
www.hartpunkt.de/brasilien-wi...

So I have written something short and serious for edina-defence.org about the European AFV industrial base. It is supposed to be a primer for non-experts. BLUF: We have very good capabilities and good capacities but rely for certain specialty equipment on single or very few non-european suppliers.

Australia-Japan Frigate Deal Faces 3 Critical Challenges Australia’s frigate purchase will likely end up being more complicated than the “zero-change” framing suggests.

Crisp write-up by Kosuke Takahashi covering program details and challenges for the Australian acquisition of "Upgraded Mogami" frigates under SEA 3000 in the wake of signed contracts. Recommended read for an Australian, including analyst audience.

thediplomat.com/2026/04/aust...

The good boy is knackered.

Australian Defence Strategy Spends Big On Submarines, Frigates The Australian government has published a new national defence strategy, containing significant funding increases for naval shipbuilding.

I've written about notable naval trends in the Australian National Defence Strategy 2026 and the corresponsing Integrated Investment Program outlining intended defence spending by Canberra for the next decade, for @navalnews.com:
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Mediation fails in dispute over Franco-German fighter jet, Handelsblatt says Mediators have failed to resolve a dispute between the companies involved in the ​Franco-German FCAS fighter jet project, though political leaders still have scope to ‌intervene, Handelsblatt reported...

"A person ​familiar with the matter told Reuters that the German mediator would ​conclude that building a joint fighter jet, once a key pillar ⁠of the project, was no longer feasible."

www.reuters.com/business/aer...

One week of beach and bush. Part one: Straddie.

US Approve AEGIS And SPY-6-Sale For German F127 Frigates The US approved a German FMS-request equipping eight new F127 combatants with the AEGIS/SPY AAW suite. The approval does not confirm a sale.

As part of a process started two years ago, the United States have now approved a German request for purchase of the AEGIS/SPY-6 suite. Germany will purchase 8 complete sets intended to fit out the future F127 AAW combatants 🇺🇸 🇩🇪
Comments by @alxluck.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

A few remarks by myself on the FMS approval by the US regarding AEGIS & SPY-6 for future German Navy F127 frigates.

This is a good overview illustrating how costs for purportedly "cheap" drones continue to grow, in increments ranging from twofold to tenfold for each improvement & order. An end is not yet in sight, adding to uncertainty over what these assets may provide.
www.iiss.org/online-analy...

Recommended reading

Kudos to The Japan Times picking up on the cost discrepancy on SEA 3000, which the Australian government does not appear very keen to explain. Meanwhile Australian media keeps quoting the original 10 billion figure. Perhaps because they havent read the IIP 2026. www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04...

Thank you!

Australia Signs Contract With Japan For Three Upgraded Mogami The Australian government has now committed to the purchase of three Upgraded Mogami general purpose frigates from Japanese builder MHI.

Australia Announces Contract For First Three ‘Upgraded Mogami’ General Purpose Frigates Under SEA 3000 🇦🇺🇯🇵
Comments by @alxluck.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Australia Signs Contract With Japan For Three Upgraded Mogami The Australian government has now committed to the purchase of three Upgraded Mogami general purpose frigates from Japanese builder MHI.

My coverage for @navalnews.com of todays signing by Australia for (at least) 3 "Upgraded Mogami" frigates from builder MHI in Japan, in addition to (up to) eight more hulls to be build at Austal in Western Australia. Questions over cost & timeframe continue.
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Australia just announced they have signed a contract with MHI for first three 06FFM aka "Upgraded Mogami" for RAN under SEA 3000. Further acquisition depends on progress at Henderson, WA. Total value now up to A$20 bln, doubling the original figure given.
www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releas...

Chinese device found in strategic waters near Bali identified A large torpedo-shaped device discovered near an island in a strategically important strait between Bali and Lombok has been identified by defence analysts as a Chinese undersea monitoring system.

Maritime approaches and chokepoints will see an increasing amount of sensor presence, courtesy of related technological advances. More signs of things to come.

However, it remains debatable how effective services are at digesting collected data.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

All relevant German ordnance in use now uses Mk 41, as they are all American sourced anyway. There was some talk of integrating Iris T SLM in the past, however I suspect they will go with a separate launcher like on F125 (planned) instead, if this occurs.

VLS interoperability remains a challenge.

Sweden turns former SIGINT vessel into seabed warfare platform - Naval News Faced with the growing threat of sabotage to critical underwater infrastructure and a high-tempo security environment, Sweden is transforming its decommissioned signals intelligence (SIGINT) vessel HS...

"An interesting twist is that it isn’t just the vessel that is being brought out of retirement, but her crew will also be sourced from a somewhat unusual pool consisting of officers no longer in active service..."

www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Germany – Integrated Combat System, Supporting Equipment, and Support - United States Department of State The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Germany to Integrated Combat System, Supporting Equipment, and Support. The estima...

The US have approved a German FMS request for eight shipsets for the AEGIS/SPY-6 CMS & sensor suite intended for the future F127 AAW FFG. The package includes eight Mk 41 VLS sets, nine Mk 45 5" guns & several Mk 38 Mod 4 30 mm RWS. Total value $11.9 bln.
www.state.gov/releases/bur...

Fresh claims emerge in Australia, Japan $10b warship deal A contract for the Navy’s $10 billion Mogami warship program will be ‘signed’ this weekend — but figures close to the project claim it was already quietly inked by officials last month.

"Sources close to the SEA3000 project claim the contract was quietly finalised and signed by senior officials in March but a special “signing ceremony” has now been arranged which has involved the Japanese Defence Minister flying to Australia."

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

The 2026 Australian National Defence Strategy, and, just as important, the Integrated Investment Program have dropped. It will take some time to digest all the details, and implications for naval aspects. Here's the link for your reading pleasure, though.
www.defence.gov.au/about/strate...

Perhaps worth noting, again, that the estimated A$10 billion are not indicative of the total value for SEA 3000. This is the money the Australian government intends to allocate over a ten year timeframe, until FY34. But production of 11 frigates will have to occur past that date.

We've got a date for the signing of the SEA 3000 contract between the Australian government and MHI, for the purchase of up to 11 "Upgraded Mogami", aka 06FFM.

It remains to be seen how a purchase will be structured, with the first three hulls of course coming from Japan. Screenshot via Twitter/X.

Phl, US, Japan to blow up retired BRP Quezon in Balikatan’s ship sinking drills The Philippine, United States (U.S.), and Japanese forces will sink a decommissioned Philippine Navy vessel, the BRP Quezon (PS-70), in a high-im

Philippines in cooperation with Japan and the US will conduct a SINKEX as part of this years Balikatan exercise. Japan will participate with shore-based Type 88 AShM batteries. The target ship will be former BRP Quezon, which PN retired in 2021.
tribune.net.ph/2026/04/15/p...

Live: Geelong oil refinery fire 'very confronting', CEO says as firefighters battle blaze Authorities are working to douse a fire engulfing the Geelong Viva Enery oil refinery, one of two major refineries in the country. Follow live.

"I don't want to get ahead of any coronial inquest, but as I understand, one of the pipes has actually failed resulting in a leak that caused combustion that resulted in a large fire..."

Whatever the technical cause, this is firstly a policy failure.

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

TKMS and Navantia ink MoU on Shipbuilding Cooperation Roadmap - Naval News The agreement between the German and Spanish shipbuilders envisages potential production of TKMS vessels, particularly submarines, at Navantia’s shipyards in Spain.

TKMS & Navantia sign MoU on shipbuilding, especially submarine cooperation. Interesting development. While I can see potential in surface combatants and auxiliaries, I would have thought both companies pursuing distinct submarine products is an issue here.
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Work underway on seven new UK submarine builds Work underway on seven UK submarine builds, with long-lead activity for the new AUKUS SSN fleet, Rolls-Royce says. #UDT2026

"The company recently completed the critical design review of its PWR3-based reactor, establishing a baseline for future UK and Australian submarines."
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/work-underwa...

Albanese names new defence force chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, who has spent 40 years in the navy, will replace current defence force chief David Johnston when he retires in July.

Lots of talk going around how this or that person is a great appointment, how people met or know them etc. But, as usual, the proof is in the pudding. To what extent appointments matter, let alone change trajectories on known challenges remains to be seen. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...