News, Articles and Comment

Ed. This article explores some of the undiscussed issues and challenges facing the introduction of large-scale autonomous vessels under the ‘hybrid navy’ plan. The aim of this article is not to nay say and stick one’s head in the sand, but rather to identify the very real challenges facing implementation, their limits, and the importance of maintaining capable crewed warships to restore the RN fleet as a capable naval force. A 20 minute read.

Ed. This article argues that although the Ukraine War has degraded Russian conventional forces, Moscow’s hybrid and grey zone warfare capability remains a persistent and growing national security concern. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The expert authors investigate the history of 21^st century space warfare, a legally undefined arena for grey zone conflict. A 25 minute read.

Ed. With John Mearsheimer’s ultrarealism firmly in mind, the author addresses the logic of abiding by, and violating, the international law of war. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The author provides an overview of the Russo-Japanese War as a watershed for the naval history of the 20^th century. A 10 minute read.

Ed. The author argues against the prevailing binary view of deterrence, favouring instead a grey zone or limited conflict model that places the RN as escalation manager, with nuclear Continuous At-Sea Deterrent (CASD) playing a vital deterrent role. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The author provides a command account of HMS Cattistock’s shadowing of the Russian intelligence ship Yantar in November 2024. A 10 minute read.

Ed. With critical decision-making in mind, our correspondent notes an illustrative case from the late Cold War, having had the potential for nuclear escalation.

Ed. The author considers the rapid progress in drone development, and what challenges will need to be overcome towards maintaining defensive capabilities in an increasingly contested battlespace. A 20 minute read.