Australian Navy Fields Ghost Shark XL-AUV as New Maritime Autonomous Unit Enters Service

Australia activated its Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit on April 14, 2026, bringing the Ghost Shark program into operational service and accelerating its shift to uncrewed naval warfare. The move delivers deployable autonomous strike and surveillance capabilities, strengthening Australia’s deterrence posture across the Indo-Pacific. The Royal Australian Navy’s MASU consolidates Project SEA 1200 programs, integrating Ghost Shark, Bluebottle, and Speartooth into a dedicated force with its own control center and deployable teams. The unit is built to move fast, turning prototypes into operational assets, developing doctrine, and pushing autonomous systems into real-world missions, marking Australia’s transition from trials to frontline capability. Read more...

Australia’s new Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit shows the Royal Australian Navy is moving from testing to operational use of Ghost Shark, Bluebottle and Speartooth, turning uncrewed maritime systems into a real force element for persistent surveillance, undersea strike and distributed deterrence (Picture source: Australian MoD).

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US-built first Saudi MMSC frigate HMS Saud launched at Fincantieri’s shipyard

According to information published by the Saudi Ministry of Defense on December 18, 2025, the first Multi-Mission Surface Combatant frigate constructed in the United States for the Royal Saudi Navy has been officially launched at Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. The ship, designated HMS Saud with pennant number 820 and also known as Jalalat Al-Malik Saud in honor of King Saud, is the lead vessel in a four-ship program ordered under Project Tuwaiq through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework, a deal that defense officials have repeatedly described as a cornerstone of bilateral naval cooperation. Read more. The HMS Saud (820) has an overall length of approximately 118 meters, in some sources detailed as 118.6 meters, with a beam of 17.6 meters, a draft of about 4.3 meters, and a full-load displacement estimated at roughly 3,600 tonnes. (Picture source: Saudi MoD) Read full Defense news. from World Defence News https://ift....

U.S. Army Conducts Gunnery Exercise With Latest Air Defense System Sgt Stout.

U.S. Army officials confirmed that a live gunnery exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, is underway, featuring the latest-generation Sgt Stout short-range air defense system. The drills mark a significant step toward full operational integration as units across the force adapt to evolving threats from drones, rotary-wing aircraft, and low-flying munitions. It matters because Sgt. Stout enhances the Army’s ability to defend forward-deployed troops and critical infrastructure from modern aerial threats. Read full Defense News at this link ... A U.S. Army SGT Stout SHORAD air defense vehicle maneuvers into firing position during live-fire training with the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, on October 3, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/NYmsS1n via IFTTT

Fincantieri becomes Diamond Sponsor of Qatar’s DIMDEX 2026 naval defense exhibition

The Organising Committee of DIMDEX 2026 announced on 11 November 2025 in Doha that Fincantieri will serve as the event’s Diamond Sponsor. The exhibition, hosted by the Qatar Armed Forces, will take place from January 19 to 22, 2026, at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The sponsorship highlights the continuation of Fincantieri’s naval collaboration with Qatar following the completion of its multi-shipbuilding programme. Read full defense news at this link... As a Diamond Sponsor of DIMDEX 2026, Fincantieri secures premium exposure among senior defence-industry decision-makers, gains VIP access to meetings and private discussions, and associates itself with one of the Gulf region’s most influential maritime defence events. (Picture source: DIMDEX) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/tbsB31I via IFTTT

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