# babcock (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover babcock. Page: Feed: --- ## [Royal Navy and US Navy prepare to sink retired frigate in Atlantic Thunder live-fire exercise](https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-and-us-navy-prepare-to-sink-retired-frigate-in-atlantic-thunder-live-fire-exercise/) _2026-08-19 · NavyLookout · Navy Lookout_ Originally planned for May, exercise Atlantic Thunder 26 will now go ahead in September after a four-month delay. The exercise will test allied weapons, targeting networks and uncrewed systems in a demanding live environment. Taking place in waters off the QinetiQ Hebrides range in north-west Scotland between 17 and 21 September, AT26 is officially described \[…\] The post Royal Navy and US Navy… ## [The growing threat to Royal Navy ships in harbour](https://www.navylookout.com/the-growing-threat-to-royal-navy-ships-in-harbour/) _2026-08-17 · NavyLookout · Navy Lookout_ The security of the RN’s home bases has recently drawn fresh scrutiny as cheap uncrewed weapons present an expanding challenge. Some will argue this is scaremongering, but there are good reasons to believe that the fleet is now more exposed to unconventional attack while in port than at any time since the Second World War. \[…\] The post The growing threat to Royal Navy ships in harbour first… ## [Full steam in reverse: Trump orders US Navy back to old-style aircraft catapults](https://www.navylookout.com/full-steam-in-reverse-trump-orders-us-navy-back-to-old-style-aircraft-catapults/) _2026-08-14 · NavyLookout · Navy Lookout_ President Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to develop a plan to abandon electromagnetic aircraft launch systems on future Ford-class aircraft carriers and return to steam catapults. The wider memorandum contains some sensible measures to address America’s serious naval shipbuilding problems, but imposing a fundamental engineering redesign on an aircraft carrier already under construction \[…\]… ## [First Polish Type 31 frigate derivative, ORP Wicher launched in Gdynia](https://www.navylookout.com/first-polish-type-31-frigate-derivative-orp-wicher-launched-in-gdynia/) _2026-08-13 · NavyLookout · Navy Lookout_ The first of Poland’s new Miecznik-class frigates, ORP Wicher, has been launched in Gdynia, marking a major milestone in the renewal of the Polish Navy and another success for the British-designed Arrowhead 140 frigate. The 140-metre warship was lowered into the Bay of Gdańsk today using a semi-submersible barge following a complex operation to move \[…\] The post First Polish Type 31 frigate… ## [Royal Navy ships take respite in Kenya after months in Middle East](https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-ships-take-respite-in-kenya-after-months-in-middle-east/) _2026-08-12 · NavyLookout · Navy Lookout_ HMS Dragon and RFA Lyme Bay have arrived in Mombasa for maintenance, resupply and crew rest after several months deployed in the Middle East. The visit takes the two ships temporarily away from preparations for a potential multinational operation in the Strait of Hormuz. HMS Dragon sailed from the UK on 10 March, in the \[…\] The post Royal Navy ships take respite in Kenya after months in Middle… ## [US Navy wants submarine launchers for weapons and underwater drones](https://www.navylookout.com/us-navy-wants-submarine-launchers-for-weapons-and-underwater-drones/) _2026-08-12 · NavyLookout · Navy Lookout_ The US Navy has begun seeking a new generation of submarine payload launchers designed to deploy uncrewed systems as well as weapons. The move raises questions about how far the Royal Navy’s future SSN-AUKUS boats will share in the evolving American approach to undersea payloads. On 29 July, the USN signalled interest in launchers able \[…\] The post US Navy wants submarine launchers for weapons and… ## [Inside the Royal Navy’s new mine warfare mothership programme](https://www.navylookout.com/inside-the-royal-navys-new-mine-warfare-mothership-programme/) _2026-08-11 · NavyLookout · Navy Lookout_ The RN’s autonomus mine hunting systems will be deployed on board up to three new Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) or ‘motherships’ procured in partnership with Norway. Recent work by Dstl and NDP provides the clearest indication yet of what the ships may need to look like, suggesting something much closer to a large commercial offshore \[…\] The post Inside the Royal Navy’s new mine warfare… ## [The thin grey line: Britain’s dwindling frigate force holds the line in the Euro-Atlantic](https://www.navylookout.com/the-thin-grey-line-britains-dwindling-frigate-force-holds-the-line-in-the-euro-atlantic/) _2026-08-07 · NavyLookout · Navy Lookout_ HMS Somerset has returned to Devonport this week after around four months on Operation CETO, while HMS St Albans has taken over this key anti-submarine standing commitment. The low-key handover comes as the frigate fleet reaches its smallest size in decades, with just five Type 23s left in commission. Unlike carrier strike deployments, overseas exercises \[…\] The post The thin grey line: Britain’s… ## [Royal Navy officer cadets complete first initial training course at HMS Raleigh](https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-officer-cadets-complete-first-initial-training-course-at-hms-raleigh/) _2026-08-07 · NavyLookout · Navy Lookout_ The first cohort of officer cadets to pass through the RN’s restructured entry system has completed initial training at HMS Raleigh. Sixty-seven cadets, including 15 from overseas nations, marked the milestone with divisions on the parade ground at the Torpoint establishment in front of families and friends. The cadets are the first to undergo the \[…\] The post Royal Navy officer cadets complete…