News, Articles and Comment

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers the latest edition of Geoffrey Till’s Seapower: A Guide for the Twenty-First Century.

Ed. The author presents a cautionary note as the Royal Navy becomes increasingly reliant on technological developments: the RN’s technological modernisation must be balanced with the enduring principles of resilience, redundancy, and adaptability, which will shape the future course of British maritime power. A 20 minute read.

Ed. The expert author continues his ongoing survey [113/1, p. 61] of the Ukraine War, providing updates on the conflict’s military, economic, and geopolitical developments, with the resulting implications for the Royal Navy. A 30 minute read.

Ed. The author considers the lessons of the late-19^th century Jeune École, a historical cautionary tale reflective of the introduction of naval drone warfare. A 10 minute read.

Ed. The author reviews some principles of sea power, highlighting the differences between land and maritime-based operations and tactics. A 10 minute read.

Ed. This speech by the First Sea Lord, envisioning a paradigm shift with regard to uncrewed and autonomous systems in the RN Fleet, was delivered at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition on 9 September 2025. A 10 minute read.

Ed. The author, professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, employs historical analogy and common sense to solidify the case for totally autonomous naval platforms. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, September edition. A 15 minute read.

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.

Ed. The author, Head of Innovation and Research with BMT, considers the history of arming smaller civilian vessels such as yachts, and their modern applications with an eye towards increasing fleet mass. A 10 minute read.