As disclosed, the contract is an increase of the life cycle support services that Navantia is currently providing since the commissioning of the first corvette in 2022.

This new agreement includes an increment of a number of additional technicians for the platform and combat system maintenance and support services, to be executed at King Faisal Naval Base in Jeddah. Also, this contract includes the supply of spare parts for the five corvettes.

Additionally, the agreement also comprises a localization plan that includes a number of activities, such as training, transfer of knowledge or spare parts to be produced in the Kingdom, among others, as part of the localization commitment with the Kingdom.

The corvettes are based on the Avante 2200 design, adapted to the requirements of Saudi Arabia, offering advanced performance, excellent seakeeping, high survivability, and the capability to operate in extreme high temperatures, such as in the Gulf area.

The contract for the construction of five corvettes came into force in November 2018, and, since the launching of the first unit (in July 2020), Navantia has launched the five units with a cadence of four months between each of them.

The program included the provision of various services, such as integrated logistics support, operational and maintenance training, provision of training and education centers for the combat system and platform control system of the ships, life cycle support and systems for the maintenance of the ships at the Jeddah Naval Base.

The success of the first batch contributed to the signing of a second batch of three additional corvettes in 2024, with identical design and capabilities.

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When the blaze broke out in March on the USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy said the fire originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces and was not combat-related.

Two sailors sustained injuries during the incident and are currently receiving medical treatment. Officials described their injuries as non-life-threatening, adding that both personnel are in stable condition.

The navy also confirmed that the fire did not damage the carrier’s propulsion plant and that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier remains fully mission capable.

At the time of the incident, the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group were operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury, the US-led military campaign targeting Iranian military capabilities across the region.

However, video obtained by CNN shows extensive destruction in the affected sleeping quarters, with bunk areas burned out, metal frames twisted, and ceilings visibly damaged. The footage also shows exposed wiring and heavy soot and debris throughout the compartment.

One sailor told CNN he believed the situation could have escalated into a catastrophic loss of the ship, describing the incident as a “fight or die” moment during firefighting efforts.

According to CNN and a senior US official cited in the report, the carrier’s fire-suppression system did not function as intended, forcing crew members to respond manually to control the blaze.

Following the fire aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford during its Red Sea deployment, the aircraft carrier continued its operational voyage through the Mediterranean while undergoing damage assessment and repairs.

The vessel first arrived at Souda Bay, Crete, on March 23, where it conducted maintenance, resupply, and technical inspections, including assessments of fire-affected compartments and ongoing repairs supported by naval specialists.

After completing its initial stop in Greece, the carrier proceeded to Split, Croatia, on March 28 for further maintenance, logistics support, and crew respite as part of its extended deployment cycle.

Nearly 4,500 sailors aboard USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Naval Station Norfolk on May 16 after an 11-month deployment across the US 4th, 5th, and 6th Fleets. The ship has broken the record for the longest post-Vietnam War-era deployment.

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The HMCS Preserver is the second JSS that Seaspan is constructing for the Royal Canadian Navy under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Structural consolidation is a major milestone in the lead-up to delivery, signifying the completion of structural welding, with all major components now consolidated to the hull, according to the company.

Ahead of consolidation, additional components of the superstructure were erected, including the foundation for one of two weapon systems that will be used to defend against airborne and marine threats, and the ship’s mast. 

The final major block installation for JSS2, the two kingposts, is key to the ship’s RAS capability. Weighing 30 tons each, the kingposts were lifted into place using Seaspan’s 300-tonne gantry crane and were carefully secured in place onto their foundations.  

The kingposts provide the Canadian Navy with the capacity to support more out-of-area operations, enhancing self-sufficiency and long-range deployability for the navy and NATO.  

With the ship structurally consolidated, the team is now focused on achieving three major milestones: the activation of the switchboard, exterior shaft installation, and painting the underwater hull, all in preparation for the ship’s upcoming launch planned for the end of the year. 

To remind, the keel-laying ceremony for the vessel was held in 2023.

The first ship in this class, HMCS Protecteur, and HMCS Preserver will replace the former Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels.

Once delivered, the second JSS will fulfil a vital role for the navy by providing underway support to naval task groups, including the re-supply of essential fuel, medical support, and supplies to navy ships at sea.

JSS2 will also support the operation and maintenance of helicopters, transport and deliver cargo, and support a range of operations ashore, including humanitarian aid. 

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SWORD aims to develop a system-of-systems for stand-off anti-submarine warfare (ASW), providing an integrated sensor-to-shooter functional chain that enables naval platforms to detect, track, classify and neutralise submerged threats.

The 36-month project brings together European defense and technology partners to advance a mature concept design for future anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Led by TKMS ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, the SWORD consortium includes partners from across Europe and supports the European Defence Fund’s objective of strengthening collaborative defense research and innovation within the European Union.

The project underlines the growing need for unmanned systems in future naval operations. As part of the consortium, Schiebel will contribute the CAMCOPTER. designed to operate in both maritime and land-based environments.

According to Schiebel, the UAS provides a flexible airborne capability for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as extended mission profiles requiring larger payloads, longer endurance and operational adaptability.

“We are proud that the CAMCOPTER S-300 has been selected for this important European Defence initiative,” said Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group.

“SWORD is a great example of European cooperation in a highly relevant maritime defence domain. The selection of the S-300 highlights the platform’s potential to support future anti-submarine warfare concepts with a flexible, unmanned and operationally efficient capability.”

To remind, in April this year, the French Navy ordered five additional CAMCOPTER S-100 UAVs from Schiebel. They will be deployed on the French Navy’s FREMM frigates.

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The commanding officer, the executive officer and the command master chief of the US Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) were relieved on June 3.

Rear Adm. Dan Lannamann, commander of the Navy Regional Maintenance Center, relieved Capt. Wendel Penetrante, Capt. Edwin Catubig and Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas Howell of their duties at SRF-JRMC.

The decision was made due to a loss of confidence in their ability to command, according to the officials.

Capt. John Bauer, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, has assumed temporary command of SRF-JRMC, while Cmdr. David Reinhardt, waterfront operations officer, has taken over as executive officer.

Master Chief Petty Officer David Marcus, CNRMC command master chief, is serving as the interim command master chief.

SRF-JRMC is located in Yokosuka, Japan, and provides intermediate-level and depot-level repair for Navy ships and the US 7th Fleet.

The navy highlighted that there is no impact on the command’s mission as a result of these reliefs.

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As informed, the agreement was signed during CANSEC 2026, the defense exhibition recently held in Ottawa, Canada.

Within this framework, WASS Submarine Systems and Magellan will work together to explore opportunities for Canadian industrial participation in heavyweight torpedoes and torpedo countermeasures system capabilities.

Areas of cooperation also include the production of components, energetic sections, subassemblies, final assembly and factory testing, as well as maintenance and in-service support activities.

WASS contributes experience in underwater defense systems and related industrial and technological capabilities to the collaboration. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the two companies and supports work related to underwater defense systems in Canada.

By combining WASS’ expertise in underwater systems with Magellan’s industrial presence in Canada, the collaboration is intended to support long-term development of domestic underwater defense capabilities, increase local industrial participation, and enable in-country sustainment across the system lifecycle.

To remind, in January this year, WASS secured a major contract from the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the supply of MU90 lightweight torpedoes. The agreement, valued at more than €200 million, is the largest contract ever awarded to WASS.

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The collaboration will combine Fleetzero’s battery energy storage, propulsion and autonomy technologies with Thoma-Sea’s shipbuilding capabilities and Glosten’s vessel design and engineering expertise.

As part of the effort, the companies are developing an autonomous diesel-electric vessel intended for operations in contested environments, long-endurance missions and supply delivery tasks. According to the firms, the vessel features a low-profile design aimed at reducing radar detectability and supporting long-range operations.

The collaboration is intended to support US government priorities, the Department of War, MARAD, and Coast Guard, which are related to modular and open-system vessel architectures. The platform is being developed for a range of applications, including autonomous and remotely operated cargo transport, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, patrol operations and contested logistics.

The companies also see potential applications in electrified harbor craft, tugboats and coastal vessels. They added that the platform is designed to improve operator safety and support compliance with domestic-content requirements, including the Jones Act and Buy American provisions.

“Moving cargo through contested waters is more imperative today than ever before. Fleetzero is building and demonstrating that capability today,” said Steven Henderson, CEO of Fleetzero.

“By partnering with Thoma-Sea and Glosten, we are pairing our Leviathan Energy Storage Systems and Fleetzero’s autonomy stack with two of the most capable shipbuilding and design organizations in the country. This is how we can deliver MOSA-compliant, autonomous vessels at scale.”

“Bringing autonomy and electrification together at the vessel-design level is where this collaboration creates real value,” said Morgan Fanberg, CEO of Glosten.

“Working with Fleetzero and Thoma-Sea, we are designing vessels that are autonomy-native from the keel up, not retrofitted as an afterthought. The design is both functional and low-signature, built for decades of deliveries in the years ahead.”

“Our yards have been building ships for American operators for decades,” said Walter Thomassie, Managing Director of Thoma-Sea.

“Partnering with Fleetzero and Glosten allows us to deliver the next generation of autonomous vessels with stealth capabilities ready for the missions our customers face today.”

Thoma-Sea was selected by the US Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command to design and build the NOAA Oceanographer-class research vessels under a $178 million contract, and has delivered navy-administered Foreign Military Sales vessels for allied customers. 

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As informed, the contract is a follow-on to the Integration and Production Support contract, which was awarded in June 2025, and includes upgrading Flight IIA destroyers with the SPY-6(V)4 variant.

Under the sole source award, Raytheon will provide continued support for the SPY-6 family of radars to the US Navy, including the government of Germany, with the potential for other countries to be added under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

“With over a decade of demonstrated success at sea, SPY-6 remains the U.S. Navy’s most advanced maritime radar, providing the fleet with unmatched sensing power and multi-mission readiness to counter evolving threats,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon.

“Backed by an $800 million investment to modernize our radar manufacturing facilities, we’re accelerating production and are expecting to double SPY‑6 output by 2028.”

SPY-6 is now aboard two commissioned US Navy ships and is installed on 11 others, all of which are undergoing various stages of testing.

Over the next decade, SPY-6 is expected to be deployed on more than 50 US Navy ships, enhancing defense against air, surface, ballistic and electronic warfare threats.

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The incident prompted a large-scale response involving emergency services, military personnel and government authorities after the aircraft came down in a field near Okehampton.

According to Devon & Cornwall Police, officers were notified at approximately 3:45 a.m. local time following reports of a military helicopter crash near Sourton Down. Police, fire and ambulance crews were dispatched to the scene alongside representatives from the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD).

In a statement issued later on Wednesday, the Royal Navy confirmed that three service members lost their lives in the accident.

“We are incredibly sad to report that three members of the Royal Navy have died during a helicopter training exercise near Sourton, Devon in the early hours of Wednesday, 3 June,” the service said.

The Royal Navy added that the families of the deceased personnel have been informed and are receiving specialist support. It also expressed condolences to their loved ones.

Emergency responders remained at the site throughout the day as authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Several roads in the area were closed to facilitate emergency operations and investigative work.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

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According to Devon & Cornwall Police, officers were notified at approximately 3:45 a.m. local time following reports of a military helicopter crash near Okehampton.

Emergency responders, including police, fire and ambulance services, were dispatched to the scene alongside representatives from the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD).

Authorities confirmed that the aircraft came down in a field near Sourton Down. The circumstances surrounding the incident have not yet been disclosed, and officials have not released information regarding the helicopter type or whether there were any casualties.

The crash has led to several road closures in the area, including sections around the A386 and the A30 Sourton Cross slip road and services area, as emergency crews continue their work at the scene.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, with the MoD and emergency services remaining at the site.

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