WASHINGTON -- After completing the critical design review stage, covering the overall structural integrity, safety, and risk minimisation, the UK’s Fleet Solid Support (FSS) program can now begin production. Manufacturing of the first FSS will now begin across different shipyards - Navantia in Cadiz, Spain, and Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Northern Ireland. All three FSS ships are expected to enter service by 2032. Notably, the majority of each FSS ship will be built in Cádiz.

FSS ships will deliver munitions, supplies, and provisions to the Royal Navy while at sea. The FSS vessels are 216 metres long, displace 39,000 tonnes, operate with a crew of 101, and can reportedly reach speeds of 19 knots. With the exception of aircraft carriers, the FSS ships will reportedly be the largest ships in the Royal Navy.

Source: Naval Technology
Associated URL: https://www.naval-technology.com/news/uks-fleet-solid-support-ships-will-begin-production/?cf-view

ABU DHABI - Milkor UAE's new Commander high speed patrol craft has completed final qualification sea trials off Abu Dhabi, clearing the way for its market launch. The 16.5 meter aluminium monohull was put through crash stops, high speed turns and figure eight maneuvers to validate its performance as an interceptor platform.

Powered by twin Caterpillar C12.9 or Volvo D13 engines rated at 1,000 horsepower each and twin waterjets, the vessel reaches 45 knots and cruises at 35 knots with a 500 nautical mile range. Its shallow 0.8 meter draught and tight 48 meter turning radius are designed for littoral operations, including border control, anti piracy and IUU fishing patrols.

Class approved for Sea State 5, the Commander features a reinforced hull, bulletproof glass, spall lining and a remote weapon station for crew protection. A multi sensor suite, including multimode radar, EO/IR gimbal and 360 degree thermal camera, supports detection and interdiction missions for coast guard and law enforcement users.

Source: Asian Military Review
Associated URL: https://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/2025/11/milkor-commander-spotted-undergoing-trials/

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced a significant overhaul of the Pentagon's weapons acquisition enterprise, prioritizing "speed" in delivering new capabilities. In a recent speech at the National War College, Hegseth outlined a plan to fundamentally change how the Defense Department defines requirements, manages programs, and tests new systems.

The reforms aim to inject agility into the procurement process to outpace adversaries, particularly in areas like AI, cyber, and space. Key changes include scrapping the existing Joint Capability Integration and Development System (JCID) in favor of a new Requirements and Resourcing Alignment Board. Program Executive Offices will also be replaced with a more flexible "portfolio" management approach. This new structure will emphasize iterative delivery, fielding incrementally improved technology more frequently rather than waiting for a perfect solution.

Additional reforms include a "multi-track" acquisition approach to maintain competition among multiple vendors and the creation of a new Wartime Production Unit to boost manufacturing capacity, replacing the Joint Production Accelerator Cell. The Pentagon also plans to streamline the Foreign Military Sales process by moving oversight from the policy office to the acquisition office, with a new emphasis on designing systems for exportability from the start.

Source: Air and Space Forces
Associated URL: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/hegseth-acquisitions-weapons-pentagon/