Innovations
Technological and operational innovations in the UAS and counter-UAS space — what emerged first, where, and what it changes. Each entry is sourced, dated, and linked to the drones involved.
JMSDF commissions Mogami-class frigate with high automation and 16-cell Mk41 VLS
Japan commissioned the 10th Mogami-class frigate (JS Nagara), highlighting a highly automated surface combatant designed to operate with ~90 crew and even enable one-person joystick-controlled berthing via an Integrated Ship Handling System…
UK Royal Navy to build Common Combat Vessels as uncrewed-systems control hubs
The UK plans at least six new Common Combat Vessels to replace Type 45 destroyers, emphasizing a hybrid fleet concept where the ship acts as a control hub for multiple uncrewed platforms. The novelty is the explicit design shift toward inte…
Ukraine unveils Sea Trident ST-1000 extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle
Ukraine’s Global Mark presented the Sea Trident ST-1000 XLUUV, an autonomous long-range underwater drone with up to a 1,000 kg payload and claimed 2,000 nm range. Novel aspects include container-transportable design, multi-role missions (st…
Hanwha Striker MUSV concept integrates containerized Chunmoo missiles
Hanwha unveiled the Striker-S medium uncrewed surface vessel concept built to carry modular, containerized payloads including a Chunmoo missile launcher, shifting USVs from one-way explosive boats to reusable autonomous missile carriers. Th…
Drones: Karrar
Kuwait AL DORRA OPVs to receive SPYNEL 360° IR surveillance with CMS integration
HGH will equip eight Kuwait Navy AL DORRA offshore patrol vessels with SPYNEL 360° infrared surveillance cameras and CYCLOPE software, integrated into Leonardo’s combat management system. The novelty is the fleet-wide adoption of a 360° IR …
North Korea commissions Choe Hyon-class DDG with large VLS and modern sensors
North Korea has commissioned its first ocean-going guided-missile destroyer, the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class, featuring a large VLS battery (reported 88 cells across five VLS configurations), phased-array radar panels, and an EW suite—marking…
Belgian-Dutch rMCM stand-off mine warfare motherships integrate unmanned toolbox
Belgium and the Netherlands are integrating a stand-off mine countermeasures concept using dedicated MCM motherships plus a large toolbox of unmanned systems (USVs, AUVs with synthetic aperture sonar, towed sonars, ROVs, and shipborne UAVs)…
Ukraine developing naval-drone system to detain sanctioned ships in Black Sea
A Ukrainian GUR commander says a new system is being developed for naval drones (expected platform: “Katran”) aimed at policing missions—escorting and detaining sanctioned merchant vessels rather than sinking them. The concept includes mult…
Germany cancels F126 and shifts to MEKO A-200 frigates for ASW
Germany plans to discontinue the six-ship F126 program and instead procure eight MEKO A-200 frigates optimized for anti-submarine warfare, reportedly using the same Atlas Elektronik towed sonar intended for F126. The shift also implies adop…
China expands nuclear sub production and develops nuclear-AIP and XXL UUVs
The article describes China rapidly introducing multiple new submarine classes, including a new unnamed nuclear attack submarine class and the Type-041 Zhou class featuring a small nuclear power plant concept (“nuclear-AIP”). It also highli…