https://www.shephardmedia.com/author/william-lupton/News authored by William Luptonen-gbSun, 24 May 2026 03:43:05 +0000https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/hormuz-mine-threat-exposes-baltic-mcm-shortfalls/How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfallsWilliam Luptonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/hormuz-mine-threat-exposes-baltic-mcm-shortfalls/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/HNLMS-Schiedam-Tripartite-Class-Minehunter.jpgAgeing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/what-the-rise-of-interoperability-between-western-allies-means-for-defence-procurement/What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurementWilliam Luptonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/what-the-rise-of-interoperability-between-western-allies-means-for-defence-procurement/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/BAE_Systems_Norway_UK_Royal_Navy_Type_26_frigate_anti-submarine_warfare_fFYmm4J.jpgMajor naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/australia-signs-us28-billion-ship-deal-with-austal-but-pressure-on-company-to-deliver/Australia signs US$2.8 billion ship deal with Austal but puts pressure on company to deliverDamian Kemphttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/australia-signs-us28-billion-ship-deal-with-austal-but-pressure-on-company-to-deliver/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Austal_Australian_Army_Hanwha_Landing_Craft_Heavy_Landing_Craft_Medium-1.jpgThe A$4 billion Landing Craft Heavy contract for Austal follows on from a A$1 billion deal in December for Landing Craft Medium ships, but the Australian government has made it clear that a contract for Mogami frigates is reliant on the success of these two contracts.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/could-asia-and-the-middle-east-offer-growth-opportunities-for-italys-fincantieri/Could Asia and the Middle East offer growth opportunities for Italy’s Fincantieri?William Luptonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/could-asia-and-the-middle-east-offer-growth-opportunities-for-italys-fincantieri/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Constellation-class_Frigate_US_DoD.jpgExport campaigns for Fincantieri’s submarines and frigates are central to the company’s ambitions as billions of dollars in unawarded contracts come into focus.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/european-navies-line-up-1058-billion-in-unawarded-shipbuilding-contracts-for-2026/European navies line up $105.8 billion in unawarded contracts for 2026William Luptonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/european-navies-line-up-1058-billion-in-unawarded-shipbuilding-contracts-for-2026/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Charles_de_Gaulle_aircraft_carrier-Merissa_Daley-US_Navy.jpgFrance, Germany and Italy lead the way on unawarded naval defence opportunities that could be awarded this year, but across Europe countries are ramping up their spending efforts to face geopolitical challenges.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/how-will-safe-shape-naval-procurement-for-both-canada-and-its-highest-receiving-members/How will SAFE shape naval procurement for Canada and its highest-receiving members?William Luptonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/how-will-safe-shape-naval-procurement-for-both-canada-and-its-highest-receiving-members/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/canadian_navy_victoria-class_credit_John_Narewski_US_Navy.jpgCanada’s inclusion on the EU’s Security Action for Europe initiative is set to enhance the country’s defence procurement strategy with important implications for some of its naval programmes, while Poland and Romania have also secured significant SAFE funding.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/thales-awarded-contract-for-portable-autonomous-command-centres-by-des/Thales wins DE&S contract for portable autonomous command centresWilliam Luptonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/thales-awarded-contract-for-portable-autonomous-command-centres-by-des/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Thales_RRC_2025.jpgThe agreement to provide portable autonomous command centres to the UK Royal Navy will enhance the service’s Mine Counter Measure operations and further integrate autonomous and uncrewed systems into its fleet.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/thales-announces-new-sonar-the-sonar-76nano/Thales’ new Sonar 76Nano could equip UK Royal Navy on anti-submarine warfare missionsWilliam Luptonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/thales-announces-new-sonar-the-sonar-76nano/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Thales_Sonar_76Nano_2025.jpgThe new sonar is designed to equip uncrewed underwater vessels, with the potential to be used by the Royal Navy for its Atlantic Bastion and Atlantic Net missions.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/are-south-korean-shipbuilders-being-taken-seriously-in-western-submarine-programmes/Is South Korea finally being taken seriously for Western submarine programmes?William Luptonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/are-south-korean-shipbuilders-being-taken-seriously-in-western-submarine-programmes/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/ROKS_Ahn_Mu_-ROKN.jpgSouth Korean shipbuilders are beginning to make their mark beyond Asia, competing for major North American and European submarine programmes and becoming serious contenders on a global scale.