Army teams up with touring car squad to drive STEM The British Army has announced a partnership with Speedworks Motorsport for the 2026 British Touring Car Championship season, aimed at promoting technical careers and engaging younger audiences.

The British Army has announced a partnership with Speedworks Motorsport for the 2026 British Touring Car Championship season, aimed at promoting technical careers and engaging younger audiences.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/army-teams-up-with-touri...

American shipyard moves to become seapower integrator Huntington Ingalls Industries has outlined a significant shift in how it sees its role in supporting the U.S. Navy, positioning itself as a broader integrator of crewed warships, autonomous systems and digital warfare capabilities, in addition to being a conventional shipbuilder.

Huntington Ingalls Industries has outlined a significant shift in how it sees its role in supporting the U.S. Navy, positioning itself as a broader integrator of crewed warships, autonomous systems and digital war
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/american-shipyard-moves-...

Saildrone unveils large unmanned warship concept Saildrone has revealed a new high-speed unmanned surface vessel (USV) design intended for naval operations, including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and strike missions.

Saildrone has revealed a new high-speed unmanned surface vessel (USV) design intended for naval operations, including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and strike missions.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/saildrone-unveils-large-...

Downie calls for pension reform to fund defence Graeme Downie, MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, has said the debate around defence funding risks placing disproportionate burden on younger people while avoiding more politically difficult choices.

Graeme Downie @graemedowniemp.bsky.social, MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, has said the debate around defence funding risks placing a disproportionate burden on younger people while avoiding more politically difficult choices.

American supercarrier downs drones with new laser weapon The U.S. Navy has conducted live-fire testing of a containerised laser weapon system aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush.

The U.S. Navy has conducted live-fire testing of a containerised laser weapon system aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/american-supercarrier-do...

UK assessing Aster missile for Mk41 launch system The Royal Navy is continuing to assess the potential compatibility of the Aster missile with the Mk41 vertical launch system as part of wider efforts to expand missile flexibility.

The Royal Navy is continuing to assess the potential compatibility of the Aster missile with the Mk41 vertical launch system as part of wider efforts to expand missile flexibility.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=68607

Allies test drone swarm warfare at UK experiment Troops from the United Kingdom, United States and Australia have tested drone swarm technologies during the British Army’s Warfighting Experiment 2026, focusing on improving interoperability and data sharing between allied systems.

Troops from the United Kingdom, United States and Australia have tested drone swarm technologies during the British Army’s Warfighting Experiment 2026, focusing on improving interoperability and data sharing between allied systems.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=68609

RAF C-17 lands at world’s northernmost settlement A Royal Air Force C-17A Globemaster has landed at Canadian Forces Station Alert, the world’s most northerly permanently inhabited settlement, during a joint resupply mission with Canada in the High Arctic.

A Royal Air Force C-17A Globemaster has landed at Canadian Forces Station Alert, the world’s most northerly permanently inhabited settlement, during a joint resupply mission with Canada in the High Arctic.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=68611

QinetiQ joins Spitfire anniversary flypast QinetiQ’s Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) has taken part in a national commemorative flight marking the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire.

QinetiQ’s Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) has taken part in a national commemorative flight marking the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/qinetiq-joins-spitfire-a...

U.S. forces have disabled an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Arabian Sea after it did not comply with warnings, with the USS Spruance using her five inch gun.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/us-warship-fires-on-vess...

I visited drone factories in Ukraine A first-hand look inside Ukraine’s drone factories reveals how rapid iteration, frontline feedback and low-cost systems are reshaping the defence industry.

A first-hand look inside Ukraine’s drone factories reveals how rapid iteration, frontline feedback and low-cost systems are reshaping the defence industry.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/i-visited-drone-factorie...

BMT shares more detail on MODUS uncrewed ship concept BMT outlines thinking behind MODUS uncrewed vessel concept for ASW and seabed roles, focused on modular design and long-endurance ops. #UDT2026

BMT outlines thinking behind MODUS uncrewed vessel concept for ASW and seabed roles, focused on modular design and long-endurance ops. #UDT2026
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/bmt-shares-more-detail-o...

Huge support deal to sustain British Apache, Chinook fleets More than 1,000 UK jobs are set to be supported under a new GBP 879 million contract to maintain and support the British Army Apache attack helicopters and the Royal Air Force’s Chinook heavy-lift fleet.

More than 1,000 UK jobs are set to be supported under a new GBP 879 million contract to maintain and support the British Army Apache attack helicopters and the Royal Air Force’s Chinook heavy-lift fleet.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/huge-support-deal-to-sus...

Former carrier captain to run marathon for veteran charity Former HMS Prince of Wales commanding officer Will Blackett is raising funds for Tom Harrison House by running the 2026 London Marathon.

Former HMS Prince of Wales commanding officer Will Blackett is raising funds for Tom Harrison House by running the 2026 London Marathon.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/former-carrier-captain-t...

HMS Queen Elizabeth has left Rosyth following her extended maintenance period and is now in the Firth of Forth, with the aircraft carrier expected to head out to sea in the coming days.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-aircraft-carrier...

Why would this be kept quiet?

The piece is explicitly longitudinal. It attributes the current state of preparedness to structural trends spanning decades: post-Cold War drawdown, sustained ~2–2.5% GDP spending, and post-2010 austerity. It does not argue that the situation emerged "all of a sudden", do read it.

The crisis behind Britain’s record-breaking submarine patrols A 205-day Vanguard patrol has exposed the mounting industrial strain behind the UK's nuclear deterrent

A 205-day Vanguard patrol has exposed the mounting industrial strain behind the UK's nuclear deterrent.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-crisis-behind-britai...

Who is blaming a specific government?

The UK is alarmingly unprepared for the threats it faces – security expert explains why.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-uk-is-alarmingly-unp...

The air bridge sustaining US operations in the Middle East Open-source tools have made it possible to track and map the air bridge sustaining U.S. military operations across the Middle East, revealing the structure and scale of a logistics network that until recently would have been largely invisible to anyone outside government and military circles.

Open-source tools have made it possible to track and map the air bridge sustaining U.S. military operations across the Middle East, revealing the structure and scale of a logistics network that until recently
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-air-bridge-sustainin...

Babcock extends Royal Navy support contract The extension maintains the full scope of the existing contract, covering ship engineering delivery and management for platforms including Type 23 frigates, amphibious ships, Sandown-class minehunters and landing craft.

The extension maintains the full scope of the existing contract, covering ship engineering delivery and management for platforms including Type 23 frigates, amphibious ships, Sandown-class minehunters and landing craft.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/babcock-extends-royal-na...

UK and US deepen military space cooperation The United Kingdom and United States have reaffirmed their commitment to closer military cooperation in space, following a joint statement signed by senior leaders from the Royal Air Force and U.S. Space Force.

The United Kingdom and United States have reaffirmed their commitment to closer military cooperation in space, following a joint statement signed by senior leaders from the Royal Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-and-us-deepen-militar...

British air power deploys to Black Sea region Royal Air Force Typhoon jets and personnel have deployed to Romania under Operation Biloxi to support NATO air policing operations in the Black Sea region, according to the RAF.

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets and personnel have deployed to Romania under Operation Biloxi to support NATO air policing operations in the Black Sea region, according to the RAF.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-air-power-deploy...

Babcock secures extension for RAF flying training Babcock has been awarded a four-year extension to its Light Aircraft Flying Task (LAFT) contract, which will continue its provision of military flying training to the Royal Air Force.

Babcock has been awarded a four-year extension to its Light Aircraft Flying Task (LAFT) contract, which will continue its provision of military flying training to the Royal Air Force.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/babcock-secures-extensio...

Royal Navy assesses missile options for Mk 41 launchers The Royal Navy is assessing future missile options as it moves towards adopting the Mk 41 vertical launch system across its fleet.

The Royal Navy is assessing future missile options as it moves towards adopting the Mk 41 vertical launch system across its fleet.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-assesses-miss...

NCSC warns of messaging app targeting by Russia-linked actors The UK National Cyber Security Centre has warned of increasing attempts by Russia-based actors to target individuals via messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Signal and Messenger.

The UK National Cyber Security Centre has warned of increasing attempts by Russia-based actors to target individuals via messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Signal and Messenger.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=68294

AI drones trialled to spot mines for British troops AI-enabled drones have been successfully tested to help British soldiers detect landmines and explosive ordnance more quickly.

AI-enabled drones have been successfully tested to help British soldiers detect landmines and explosive ordnance more quickly.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=68254

People smugglers jailed over Facebook boat crossings Two Vietnamese nationals who advertised small boat crossings to the UK on Facebook have been jailed following a joint UK-French investigation, according to the National Crime Agency.

Two Vietnamese nationals who advertised small boat crossings to the UK on Facebook have been jailed following a joint UK-French investigation, according to the National Crime Agency.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=68297

Recruitment rises but trained strength still slips in forces The overall size of the UK Armed Forces has edged up, with recruitment improving and outflow falling, but the number of fully trained personnel has continued to decline, according to the latest Ministry of Defence quarterly personnel statistics.

The overall size of the UK Armed Forces has edged up, with recruitment improving and outflow falling, but the number of fully trained personnel has continued to decline, according to the latest Ministry of Defence quarterly personnel statistics.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=68256