Seaforth World Naval Review 2026

192 pages

John Roberts

Seaforth’s unique and authoritative World Naval Review continues (17th edition) to provide an excellent overall view of the world naval scene, and as usual is absolutely crammed with a mass of detail. It is the ideal companion to The Naval Review and Jane’s Fighting Ships which incidentally now costs almost £2,000. With its impressive group of international contributors, the format is unchanged, with four sections: overview, brief summaries of the main navies, focus on three ‘significant ships’, and technological reviews. The two special Fleet Reviews are the bonus in this edition, covering Russia (2.4A, James Bosbotinis) and the Royal Navy (2.4B, Richard Beedall).

Conrad Waters’ encompassing overview, was of course written prior to the war with Iran and the increasingly dangerous geopolitical world situation. Ironically, he opens quoting Trump regarding Ukraine’s defence of its sovereignty “…You should have never started it. You could have made a deal…” He goes on to stress Trump’s new unreliable and transactional approach to the traditional US long standing leadership of the rules-based system, now viewing defence partners as economic adversaries to be hit with tariffs. The consequence is to force increases to the budgets, importance and roles of European armed forces (to achieve 5% of GDP by 2035), with much to be devoted to naval budgets and indigenous defence industrial capabilities. At the same time, Trump is strengthening his own defences with his first ever US $1 trillion FY2026 national security budget. Waters includes his usual fascinating tables of world defence expenditure and major fleet strengths, showing the UK’s decline. He stresses that it takes time for higher budgets to feed through to larger or more effective navies demonstrating the challenge of rebuilding eroded industrial infrastructure.

Section 2 reviews the world’s fleets in four regional groupings. The US “ship battle force” continues to decline now down to 293 and projected to fall to 287 due to the contraction of the US naval industrial base. To help cover this the US is extending the life of 12 Arleigh Burkes (DDGs) and three Ticonderogas (CGs). [Then-] Sec Nav, John Phelan’s priorities are to strengthen the maritime industrial base and increase procurement of amphibious assault ships. The carrier programme continues to suffer slippage and technical problems as well as uncertainty over the next generation F/A-XX, shelved to provide funding for the US Air Force’s F-47. Most navies reflect minor incremental change. The Iranian orbat: four SSK, nine FFF, 30 attack craft, may no longer be valid.

The Russian Navy, Russia’s strategy is to remain a great maritime power claiming it “cannot exist without a strong Navy [which]…is one of the most effective instruments of strategic deterrence…”. Putin has allocated (US)$ 107 bn to build new ships over the next 10 years, in pursuit of his neo-imperial ambitions. After nuclear forces the development of long-range precision strike missiles (3M14 ‘Kalibr’ and 3M22 ‘Tsirkon’) is the main priority. Apart from attrition of the Black Sea Fleet by Ukraine (15 vessels sunk or severely damaged) the other fleets have not been involved. The bulk of the navy consists of old former Soviet era ships: one CV, four CGs, 10 DDGs, four FF, 27 corvettes, five SSBNs, 17 SSNs, eight SSKs augmented by more modern: 34 FF, seven SSBNs, five SSNs & 12 SSKs.

The Royal Navy, “…is facing a level of threats and demands unprecedented since the 1980s, [with] an ever-smaller fleet…a perfect storm of insufficient funding, worn out unreliable ships, delays in delivery of new vessels and a crewing crisis…”. Sadly, the reduction in capability continues (one (one)CV, five (one) DDG, eight FFG, four SSBN, five SSN, three LPD/LSD) increasing overstretch facing the worsening security situation.

SDR 2025 assigned the Navy three roles: 1. Defend the UK and overseas Dependencies, 2. Deter and defend in the ‘Euro Atlantic’, 3. Shape the global security environment. It must evolve to a new type of hybrid navy with a cheaper and simpler fleet. Impetus was given to the ‘Atlantic Bastion’ concept, (‘Project Cabot’) the establishment of a remotely operated autonomous ASW barrier across the GIUK gap, with contracted lean or uncrewed systems. Trials ship XV Patrick Blackett is testing systems for new Type 92 ASW (unmanned) sloops and a layered system with UUVXV Excalibur for the new Type 93 sloops. But increased focus on home waters will inevitably reduce global presence capabilities.

The biggest single component of UK defence spending remains the nuclear deterrent with £31bn, plus £10bn contingency for the Dreadnought programme to replace the aging Vanguards, and £15bn for the new Astraea A21/Mk 7 warheads. The new Type 26 (eight) City class ASW frigates and Type 31 (five) Inspiration class GP frigate programmes have slipped several years behind schedule. Meanwhile the MRSS (Multi-Role Strike Ship) programme (three plus three), to be RN manned continues.

Section 3 (‘Significant Ships’): 3.1 The Milgem indigenous generation programme of Turkish warships, includes four Istip-class frigates, four Ada-class corvettes and two Hisar-class OPVs. In addition, warships are being built for Ukraine and Pakistan. 3.2 Covers the impressive Japanese Mogami (FFM-1) programme of 12 new 4,000 tonne compact multi mission frigates. Whilst 3.3 covers Vikrant, India’s first own built 45,000 ton aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2022. She deployed in Operation SINDOOR against Pakistan in 2025.

Section 4 Detailed technological Reviews includes 4.1 David Hobbs’ 18 page round up and analysis of ‘World Naval Aviation’, covering carriers, aircraft and an update on F-35B Lightning II experience. 4.2 RIM-116, the success of the joint US/FRG lightweight quick reaction anti-ship defence missile system, primarily against anti-ship cruise missiles. 4.3 Norman Friedman’s interesting history of ship-based ASW: weapons, missiles, torpedoes, sonars, countermeasures and decoys and finally 4.4 HMS Venturer’s launch. The floating barge launch of the first Type 31 Inspiration-class frigate highlighting the modernisation in British warship construction.

Superbly presented as usual with many fascinating data tables, summary boxes, splendid photographs and John Jordan’s excellent line drawings. Most strongly recommended.