Key Insights

Protection of sea routes and infrastructure remains a top priority for many players on the world stage. Nations continue to face old challenges, such as the vastness of the oceans, and new ones, as more underwater infrastructure is built and relied on. As a result, Navies worldwide continue to invest in new technologies and programmes, including Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). In preparation for our Surface Warships conference, we are publishing our market report covering programmes involving:

• Large surface combatants
• Naval systems employed on surface combatants
• Uncrewed platforms
  

The “Current and Future Warships Engineering Challenges” presentation was delivered at Surface Warships 2023 by Vice Admiral Manuel Antonio Martínez-Ruiz, Director of Engineering and Shipbuilding, Armada Española, and focused on the development of the Spanish Navy and empowering rapid innovation for naval construction, This presentation covers;

• Maritime Specific Challenges
• Modeling and Simulation for LC Engineering
• EM Characterization Applications
• Vibration Behavior Models
• Modelling to Support the Digital Threat
• System Challenges for New Warship Programs
• Assessing Technologies for Future Ships

Cumulatively, the Warships market for the 14 most active nations is set to value almost US$148 billion, with the US leading the way with 63% of the total market. This market report delves into the trends and programmes of the largest warship markets by continent, including those focused on destroyers.

In near-peer competition, the logistical element is arguably the crux that all operations hinder. The nature of peer/near-peer competition creates challenges for logisticians that need answers in the air, on land, and at sea. In this interview, Commodore David Eagles delves into the latest developments within the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary, touching on trends and the latest programmes for the Royal Navy.

The UK is currently undergoing transformation in its shipbuilding strategy. Few military topics have been as contentious politically, economically, and socially. Above all issues, security in the maritime domain remains paramount to the United Kingdom. This poses a challenge to the governments in power to get it right. In the past, being overbudget and late was all too common at the shipyards, which called for a rethink. In this article, thoughts are shared on the current evolution of the shipbuilding strategy and what this means for future warships.

The following report summarises and analyses the findings of the Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2023 while also bringing to light the possible paths the USN Ship Inventory may take.

The US Navy is going through a shift as a mixture of new philosophies, geopolitical pressures, and technologies are converging. Not to mention it is still feeling the impacts of the stalling caused by covid.

As it enters a new era of near-peer competition, the Navy hopes to decrease ship sizes while increasing ship numbers. Investing in a myriad of technologies, especially unmanned, the USN will expand its capability envelope, thus ensuring naval supremacy.

This report:

• Summarises the current shipbuilding plan of the USN

• Highlights the current challenges faced by the USN in shipbuilding

• Identifies the USN goals and ambitions in terms of industrial cooperation

The OPV market is going through a transformation where the offerings are becoming more modular, increasing its mission envelope. In this market report the most active nations in each continent were chosen to give the reader the best understanding of the global market in a succinct package. This is essential reading for anyone interested in finding more about the most significant programmes in the OPV domain.

The current Surface Warship and OPV markets is booming! There are 1,181 Surface Warships currently included in the world’s naval fleets, operated by 63 countries. While at least 26 countries are known to have a total of 165 OPVs on order and 27 countries have plans for up to another 212, at a total value of over $30 billion.

This report provides an in-depth look at the acquisition priorities for the world's navies and insights into global investment trends.

Just over 1,000 Surface Warships larger than OPVs are currently operated by 66 countries, providing vital deterrence, power projection, maritime security, sea control and combat support capabilities. Forecasted at $155.16 billion over the next ten years, the market is booming and is represented in this annual update of the Surface Warships global market report, which outlines key requirements and ongoing programmes of the world’s navies. 

Download your copy on the right >>

This report offers insights into the activity of nations that have confirmed their attendance at Surface Warships 2020, such as:

• Romania – plans to acquire new corvettes at a total value of $1.93 billion to improve the Navy’s capabilities in the Black Sea
• Greece – planned procurement of FREMM frigates reported until the mid-2020s
• United Kingdom – replacement of the Type 23 by General Purpose Frigate, or Type 31, until the Type 26 is introduced in the mid-2020s
• Peru – upgrade of the four Aguirre class frigates
• France – implementation of the Horizon Marine 2025 plan and replacement of its ‘La Fayette’ class frigates
• New Zealand – weapons upgrade of its two ANZAC class frigates
• Netherlands – requirement of two ships for the planned replacement of the M class frigate from the mid-2020s
• United States – requirement of a new multi-mission guided-missile frigate adapted from existing ship designs, labelled FFG(X) to operate in high-end threats environments 

Top three benefits of downloading this report:

1. Know top acquisition priorities from countries that will be present at Surface Warships 
2. Develop business strategies by meeting the right people from countries having active programmes and key requirements at Surface Warships 
3. Gain insights into investment trends from your peers

Surface Warships 2020 will be chaired by Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent KCB CBE, Former Commander-in-Chief Fleet Royal Navy and will see interventions from a panel of senior speakers. To view the agenda of the conference, please click here. 

Ahead of the event, we wanted to share a presentation from the 2018 edition of the conference; Rear Admiral Henry Parker, Director Ships Acquisition, DE&S, UK MoD provided an update on the Royal Navy’s acquisition priorities to maintain maritime superiority. 

The market for new surface warships is expected to reach US$165 billion over the next ten years, with corvettes being its largest segment. 

Ahead of Surface Warships 2019, Defence IQ compiled a report highlighting key programmes and requirements across the world’s navy. Download the full report to:

• Learn more about Australia’s acquisition of nine high-end anti-submarine warfare frigates, worth AU$35 billion
• Read an update on Portugal’s midlife upgrade of the Bartolomeu Dias (F333) M-class frigate
• Learn more about Romania’s plans to acquire four new corvettes to boost its capacities in the Black Sea