THE NEWS DESK
Reporting, source announcements and the context behind them.
11 entries
France's Defence Innovation Agency says it has agreed with Naval Group to build a large UCUV demonstrator, with sea trials planned from 2028. It is a development step, not an operational French Navy vehicle.
Australian Defence says a Japanese REMUS 620 sent position data through Australia's Rock Lobster acoustic node and a US gateway, then received a command back during Keen Sword 27. The trial proves a reported communications chain, not an operational multinational UUV network.
The UK Ministry of Defence says it will lead work on synthetic-aperture sonar, a deployable anti-submarine sensor and a non-kinetic effector for uncrewed underwater vehicles. Availability from 2027 is a plan, not completed fleet acceptance.
STM says its NETA 300 autonomous underwater vehicle detected and identified mine and mine-like objects on an exercise transit route. The company has reported a Turkish Navy sales contract, but the exercise account does not establish fleet acceptance or mine neutralisation.
Australia's defence ministers say payloads are being developed and integrated for Ghost Shark, Speartooth and BlueBottle ahead of an AUKUS maritime exercise. They give mission examples but do not say that every payload has completed testing or entered service.
Sweden's FMV and Saab report that their large uncrewed underwater vehicle demonstrator has been launched. Saab says initial sea trials are complete; further evaluation and any acquisition decision remain ahead.
Voyis says a CGUARD Yellow Tail ROV combined sonar, optical imaging and underwater positioning to identify 26 exercise mine targets at REPMUS 2026. The supplier's figures are demonstration results, not evidence of live mine clearance or naval acceptance.
AeroVironment says VideoRay is part of an AEVEX-led team selected for a US Navy prototype agreement after competitive in-water trials. The test included remote ROV operations and simulated mine neutralisation, not an operational clearance result.
The Royal Navy says its mine-warfare group is training on Thales and TKMS systems, with delivery of the full equipment set expected by year-end. Sea trials and procedural validation continue; this is not confirmation of completed fleet acceptance.
Skarv and Maritime Robotics say a Mariner X surface vessel supported a CORAX 600 underwater vehicle at REPMUS, relaying communications and positioning during a practice-target survey.
Australian Defence named MASU and listed Ghost Shark among the capabilities the unit would operate.
BACKGROUND / 22 Jun 2026
Ukraine’s defence ministry reported that 95% of UAVs bought by its Defence Procurement Agency DOT were Ukrainian-made. It said DOT-Chain Defence had supplied 485,000 UAVs and other equipment in less than five months of 2026. The combined total must not be reported as 485,000 drones alone.
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (opens in a new tab)