Richard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/author/richard-thomas/News authored by Richard Thomasen-gbSun, 24 May 2026 04:17:06 +0000Modular Type 32 design could gain inspiration from Type 31 frigatehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-modular-type-32-design-could-gain-inspirat/Modular Type 32 design could gain inspiration from Type 31 frigateRichard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-modular-type-32-design-could-gain-inspirat/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Type_31_djYMrla.jpgThe planned class of warship will have an ASW capability in addition to acting as a mothership for autonomous MCM systems.Did MV Saviz attack involve Saudi Arabian intelligence?https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-did-mv-saviz-attack-involve-saudi-arabian-/Did MV Saviz attack involve Saudi Arabian intelligence?Richard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-did-mv-saviz-attack-involve-saudi-arabian-/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/MV_Saviz_Press_TV.jpgAn apparent attack on an Iranian military logistics vessel was the latest in series of maritime incidents in waters off the Arabian Peninsula.Design phase continuation for new French carrier as FDI programme offers mixed baghttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-design-phase-continuation-new-french-carri/Design phase continuation for new French carrier as FDI programme offers mixed bagRichard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-design-phase-continuation-new-french-carri/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/French_carrier.jpgA flurry of announcements in recent days have detailed the structure of France’s new carrier programme and progress on the FDI frigate build.UK RN to lose two frigates and deploy OPVs into Gulf of Guinea and Indo-Pacific in defence shake-uphttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-uk-rn-lose-two-frigates-and-deploy-opvs-gu/UK RN to lose two frigates and deploy OPVs into Gulf of Guinea and Indo-Pacific in defence shake-upRichard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-uk-rn-lose-two-frigates-and-deploy-opvs-gu/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Montrose_IXXIJlw.jpgThe frigates, HMS Monmouth and HMS Montrose, were earlier planned to be decommissioned in 2026 and 2027 respectively.UK government figures urge shipbuilding sector to boost productivityhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-uk-government-figures-urge-shipbuilding-se/UK government figures urge shipbuilding sector to boost productivityRichard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-uk-government-figures-urge-shipbuilding-se/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/ship_dB6T30J.jpgPlans will see 30-year pipeline for all military and government vessels put in place to provide certainty for industry.UK to expand nuclear weapons stockpile as long-awaited Integrated Review made publichttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-uk-expand-nuclear-weapons-stockpile-long-a/UK to expand nuclear weapons stockpile as long-awaited Integrated Review made publicRichard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-uk-expand-nuclear-weapons-stockpile-long-a/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Trident_II_D5_27yH428.jpgInformation on the number of operational UK warheads will no longer be made public, in order to ‘complicate’ calculations of potential aggressors.Planning turns to operational reality as Germany commits frigate to Indo-Pacifichttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-planning-turns-operational-reality-germany/Planning turns to operational reality as Germany commits frigate to Indo-PacificRichard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-planning-turns-operational-reality-germany/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Bayern.jpgThe German Navy frigate FGS Bayern is likely to be chosen to undertake the landmark deployment.Bridging the Gulf – private sector moves to fill naval gapshttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-bridging-gulf-private-sector-moves-fill-na/Bridging the Gulf – private sector moves to fill naval gapsRichard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-bridging-gulf-private-sector-moves-fill-na/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Bastion_SEV.jpegAmid widespread cuts to defence budgets, West African countries see private sector as way to boost naval capacity in Gulf of Guinea.Change of design for next-gen CSC is ‘not an option’, says Canadian Department for National Defencehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-change-design-next-gen-csc-not-option-says/Change of design for next-gen CSC is ‘not an option’, says Canadian Department for National DefenceRichard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-change-design-next-gen-csc-not-option-says/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/CSC_2BBJP0F.jpgA report into the flagship Canadian naval programme has estimated that costs for the build of 15 UK-designed frigates could breach C$80 billion.US takes steps to reorganise labyrinthine defence acquisition texthttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/premium-us-takes-steps-reorganise-labyrinthine-def/US takes steps to reorganise labyrinthine defence acquisition textRichard Thomashttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/premium-us-takes-steps-reorganise-labyrinthine-def/Defence Noteshttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Pentagon_rxjDjjS.jpgThe US Congress, DoD, industry and other stakeholders are all involved in this long-overdue effort to reform Title 10.