Aboard Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales

The Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales (R09), one of the largest and most advanced warships ever built in the UK, made a port visit to Crete, Greece, on November 1 as part of its global deployment leading the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in Operation Highmast. Operation Highmast is a UK-led multinational deployment of the Carrier Strike Group 2025 (CSG25), centered around the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09), designed to enhance the interoperability and preparedness of NATO and allied forces through multinational exercises and operations with air, sea and land forces, throughout 2025 in the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean regions. The UK’s CSG serves as a significant maritime force capable of projecting power and influence on a global scale. Its goals include reinforcing the strategic capabilities of the UK and its allies and ensuring a coordinated response to global threats, while also strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with partner nations. I went on board to bring you this exclusive report. My story for Naval News, here.

North Korea’s New Destroyer Reemerges with Major Modifications

North Korea showcased its newest and most advanced warship, the 142-meter missile destroyer Choe Hyon, during the opening ceremony of the annual “Defense Development 2025” exhibition, held for the third consecutive year, on October 5, 2025 in Pyongyang to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea. The event was an opportunity for North Korea to present adjustments and refinements made to the destroyer over six months of post-launch work since her official commissioning in April 25, 2025. The display precedes the destroyer’s planned redeployment to the east coast early next year. My story for Naval News, here.

Greece Signs MoU With Italy for Two FREMM Frigates

Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, visited La Spezia, Italy on September 29, 2025, during the opening day of the SEAFUTURE exhibition. There, he met with his Italian counterpart, Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, who was joined by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino. The discussions were held aboard ITS Spartaco Schergat (F598), an Italian Navy FREMM frigate, a symbolic venue that highlighted the maritime focus of the agenda. My story for Naval News, here.

Greece Commits to 4th FDI Frigate Procurement

The Greek government tonight moved forward with the decision to procure a fourth FDI frigate for the Hellenic Navy, which will be named Themistocles, with all four FDI HN frigates slated for upgrades to the Standard 2++ configuration. The Hellenic Parliament now has to vote to approve this decision. This formality is expected to take place next week. The Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, participated today, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, in the meeting of the Government Council for National Security (KYSEA), under the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. My story for Naval News, here.

Upgraded Hellenic Navy P-3B Orion Completes First Flight

The Hellenic Navy’s first upgraded P-3B Orion maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft has successfully completed its maiden test flight on September 1, 2025, marking a key milestone after prolonged delays. The flight validated the aircraft’s onboard systems, including its state-of-the-art glass cockpit and mission data interfaces, which will enhance the Hellenic Navy’s maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Lockheed Martin and Hellenic Aerospace Industry’s announcement is accompanied by my overview of the P-3’s service in Greece, along with a detailed account of the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) program. My story for Naval News, here.

Onboard the First Greek FDI for Sea Trials

Kimon, the first of the Greek FDI HN multi-mission frigates, has entered its second phase of sea trials off the coast of Brittany, France. Measuring 122 meters and displacing 4,500 tons, the FDI HN is poised to become one of the most capable and technologically advanced surface combatants in its class. Naval News was on board and can now bring you exclusive insights into the vessel’s capabilities and performance. My story for Naval News, here.

Angolan Navy BR71 MKII Corvette Program Progresses

Progress advances on future BR71 Mk II light corvettes for the Angolan Navy, with all three vessels under simultaneous construction in France and the United Arab Emirates. Equipped with advanced electronic systems and heavy armament for their size, these ships will rank among the most capable warships in their class on the African continent. Various published photos during the last months showcase the progress on the new BR71 MKII light corvettes being built for the Angolan Navy, simultaneously at the Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) shipyard in Cherbourg, France, and the Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) facilities in the UAE. Some of the photos reveal a fully assembled vessel at CMN, offering intriguing insights into its configuration. My story for Naval News, here.

Hellenic Navy Conducts its Largest Missile Firing Exercise

On Monday, June 23, 2025, the Hellenic Navy conducted training launches of guided missiles in the wider area of the southern Ionian Sea. The exercise was observed by Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis, Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, and Commander in Chief of the Hellenic Fleet Vice Admiral Christos Sasiakos. Greece showcased its naval strength with a spectacular live-fire exercise involving twelve missiles of seven different types—highlighting the full range of the Hellenic Navy’s arsenal and its combat readiness. This marked the largest live missile-firing drill in the Navy’s history. My story for Naval News, here.

India Commissions Its First ASW-SWC Corvette

On June 18, 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned the first of 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), essentially a light corvette, to enhance the protection of its vast coastline against subsurface threats such as submarines, midget submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The commissioning ceremony took place at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, in the presence of General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff. Among the others present were Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, CWP&A, Cmde P R Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, ADG Donny Michael, Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard), senior officials from Indian Navy and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding (L&T), distinguished civilian dignitaries, ex- Commanding Officers of erstwhile Arnala and guests. My story for Naval News, here.