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German media sources reported that government negotiations for the purchase of Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI’s) <a href="https://www.militaryperiscope.com/weapons/ships/uncrewed-sea-vehicles/bluewhale/overview/">BlueWhale</a> large autonomous underwater vehicle (LAUV) have progressed to the next stage. The unmanned submersible, designed for intelligence collection, reconnaissance, seabed warfare, and interdiction missions, has already undergone extensive trials with the German navy in November 2024. Currently only confirmed in service with the Israeli navy, IAI has been marketing the BlueWhale to European nations including Germany, Greece and Italy. A sale to Berlin would mark a major advance for these initiatives. The 35-ft (10.9-m) system can operate for 30 days at a time at depths up to 984 ft (300 m). Though unarmed, the BlueWhale can be fitted with a variety of mission-specific payloads, including a towed array sonar, mine detection equipment, and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

The U.K.’s two <a href="https://www.militaryperiscope.com/weapons/ships/amphibious/albion-l-14-class/overview/">ALBION-class</a> amphibious transport docks (LPDs) have been taken out of service following a decision made earlier this year to sell the ships to Brazil. The decision to sunset the amphibious vessels was announced in November 2024, with the government citing financial pressures. Though no replacement is currently active, the planned Multi-Role Strike Ships (MRSS) are expected to take over the ALBION class’ role when they enter service in the 2030s. The ALBION class’ sale to Brazil was negotiated at the LAAD defense exhibition in Rio de Janeiro in April 2025. The approximately 15,000-ton ships are capable of carrying 67 support vehicles, up to eight landing craft and 700 troops for amphibious operations or emergency response missions. In Brazilian service, the two LPDs, ALBION and BULWARK, are expected to fulfill a primarily humanitarian role, delivering aid and responding to crises such as floods and earthquakes.

Following a November 2024 government decision, the British Ministry of Defense is phasing out its fleet of 46 Thales <a href="https://www.militaryperiscope.com/weapons/aircraft/rpvsdronesuncrewed-aerial-vehicles/watchkeeper-tuav/overview/">Watchkeeper</a> unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Despite initial plans for an end of service date of early 2025, these intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms are expected to remain in service into 2027. Since making its first flight in 2010, the Watchkeeper has formed a core element of the British Army’s aerial reconnaissance capabilities. The program has, however, run up significantly in costs, rising up to GBP1.35 billion in 2023, up from an original cost of GBP700 million. These drones are capable of, depending on variant, reaching speeds between 70 and 105 knots, operating at a ceiling between 15,000 ft (4,570 m) to 18,000 ft (5,480 m).

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