LOCATIONS
MARITIME
22 Sep 25. His Majesty King Charles III has visited BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness to welcome the country’s newest attack submarine into the Royal Navy. During the ceremony, HMS Agamemnon – named after a mythical ancient Greek king – became the sixth of the seven Astute class boats that will be commissioned into service. The nuclear-powered vessel, which weighs 7,400 tonnes and is 97 metres long, will now complete her test and commissioning programme, before leaving Barrow for sea trials. Earlier in the day, Defence Secretary, John Healey, cut the first steel to officially start construction of the last of four Dreadnought submarines, HMS King George VI, which BAE Systems is building in partnership with the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise to carry the UK’s nuclear deterrent. The Dreadnought submarines, due to enter service from the early 2030s, are the replacement for the Vanguard-class submarines, which currently deliver the Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD) for the Royal Navy. The critical role underpins the nation’s defence as the ultimate security guarantee and sees at least one of the boats deployed in an unknown location at sea every minute of every day.
Steve Timms, Managing Director, BAE Systems’ Submarines business, said: “It’s a privilege to host these ceremonies at our shipyard. Cutting steel on the fourth Dreadnought submarine demonstrates the significant progress we’ve made on the programme, whilst the sixth Astute class boat, HMS Agamemnon, joins the long and distinguished list of Barrow-built vessels to be commissioned into the Royal Navy. The enduring partnership between our Barrow shipyard and the Navy dates back to the Victorian age and our role as the UK’s home of submarine design and build is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, said: “The commissioning of the sixth Astute class submarine, HMS Agamemnon, and the steel cut for the fourth Dreadnought-class submarine, HMS King George VI, mark significant milestones in the Royal Navy’s enduring commitment to safeguarding our nation. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the exceptional workforce at Barrow, whose dedication, skill, and innovation continue to drive forward these vital programmes, ensuring the Royal Navy remains at the forefront of global maritime defence.”
His Majesty also visited Barrow Town Hall to bestow Royal Port status on the town in honour of its 120-year history as the home of UK submarine construction.
AIR
26 Sep 25. V-22 programme officials envision full operations in 2026 while testing continues on upgraded aircraft communications. Joint Program Office (JPO) officials for the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft are still targeting 2026 for the full operational return of the aircraft, according to a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report. As the officials prepare for the operational return, they are still addressing some communication issues noted in a recent Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) report.
“The V-22 JPO has stated that it is working to return the Osprey to full operations in 2026 and is pursuing several upgrades to the aircraft’s parts and components to improve safety and reliability,” CRS said in its report V-22 Osprey Aircraft: Background and Issues for Congress , released 12 September 2025.
“The marine corps, air force, and navy are also modifying training and implementing new operating procedures,” CRS reported.
After recent mishaps, the navy halted V-22 operations and then reinstated the operations in 2024 with a restriction that the craft remain within 30 minutes of a landing site, CRS noted. “The navy and air force fleets remain restricted to that limit, which may not be lifted until 2026.” CRS also cited recent congressional testimony by Osprey programme officials that Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is conducting engineering testing and analysis to establish criteria for a full unrestricted flight by the V-22. The US Navy (USN), V-22 JPO, NAVAIR, and Bell-Boeing were reviewing further risk reduction efforts, CRS said. (Source: Janes)
PLANT CLOSURES, STRIKES AND JOB LOSSES
25 Sep 25. 5,000 BAE Systems staff in Lancashire could go on strike over pay – threatening to bring production to halt Thousands of Lancashire aerospace engineers at BAE Systems could take strike action this autumn over pay. More than 5,000 members of the Unite union based at Warton and Samlesbury are in dispute, and specific groups will be balloted after rejecting the latest pay offer from the company. Unite say strike action could see a number of defence programmes grind to a halt on the factory floor.
- Protest outside BAE Warton as residents fear new wind farm cable poses risk to aircraft
- How a Lancashire company is revolutionising workplaces with their genius product – and scoops the Kings Award
They were offered 3.6 per cent, which is below the rate of inflation and represents a real terms pay cut. It is also below a pay offer made and accepted by BAE Systems shop floor colleagues, who received 4.5 per cent and an additional day of annual leave. (Source: News Now/https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/)
18 Sep 25. Leonardo’s UK workers to vote on strike action, union says. About 3,000 UK workers employed by Italian defence firm Leonardo (LDOF.MI) are set to vote for strike action after rejecting a pay offer across multiple cities, British trade union Unite said on Thursday. The ballot at sites in Yeovil, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Luton and Basildon will run until early October, the union added. (Source: Reuters)
19 Sep 25. Dozens of jobs lost at BAE Glasgow shipyard weeks after £10bn deal. Dozens of jobs are set to be cut by BAE systems in Scotland it has been announced, just weeks after a £10 bn warship deal was struck. Management staff in Govan and Scotstoun were told there would be an organisational overhaul on the naval ships arm of the business, with 116 roles under threat across the whole UK. According to The Times, workers were emailed on Wednesday at 8am and told there would be an important announcement that morning, with Simon Lister, the managing director of the naval ships business at BAE systems, later telling staff that there would be redundancies. It comes after Norway placed a £10bn order for Type 26 frigates designed for anti-submarine warfare at the Glasgow yard. The UK Government said last month that the deal would support 2000 jobs at BAE Systems Glasgow shipyards “well into the 2030s”, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the deal would support “well-paid jobs up and down the United Kingdom, from apprentices to engineers”. BAE confirmed management roles were being scrapped across the naval ships business, which includes sites in Portsmouth, Frimley and Filton.
“We’ve undertaken a review to consider how we reshape and modernise the operations of our naval ships business following considerable investment in our infrastructure in recent years,” a spokesperson from BAE Systems said. (Source: News Now/https://www.thenational.scot/)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
23 Sep 25. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Professor Steven Gunn as Trustee of the Royal Armouries for a 4 year term from 1 March 2025. Steven Gunn is Fellow and Tutor in History at Merton College, Oxford and Professor of Early Modern History. He teaches and researches the history of later medieval and early modern Britain and Europe.
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
22 Sep 25. Chess Dynamics, part of the Cohort plc Group, has appointed Andy Smith as its new Managing Director. Andy brings more than 25 years of experience in the defence sector, including senior leadership positions at Leonardo and Marshall Land Systems. Andy succeeds David Tuddenham as Managing Director, who oversaw the company’s growth in recent years, and will continue Chess Dynamics’ commitment to delivering trusted solutions.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
25 Sep 25. AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced it has appointed Johnathan Jones to its leadership team as Senior Vice President of Cyber and Mission Solutions (CMS). In this role, Jones will lead the strategic direction and operations of CMS, strengthening AV’s advanced cyber, mission-enabling, and national security capabilities to United States government and defense customers. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 Sep 25. Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN and PDYNW) (“Palladyne AI”), a developer of artificial intelligence software for robotic platforms in the defense and commercial sectors, today announced that Stephen “Steph” M. Twitty has joined its Board of Directors. Twitty retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant General after 40 years of distinguished service. General Twitty’s appointment underscores Palladyne AI’s commitment to bridging advanced embodied AI technology with real-world defense applications in the near term. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
23 Sep 25. TEKEVER Strengthens its Footprint in Ukraine With Appointment of Kateryna Bezsudna to Lead Local Expansion and Innovation. The move consolidates the company’s long-term commitment to the country, where it has been operating since 2022, and reinforces its strategy of developing innovation hand-in-hand with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. TEKEVER, Europe’s leading developer of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), today announced the appointment of Kateryna Bezsudna as Director of TEKEVER Ukraine. The move consolidates the company’s long-term commitment to the country, where it has been operating since 2022, and reinforces its strategy of developing innovation hand-in-hand with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. (Source: ASD Network)