Ministry of Defence

New drones, sensors and un-crewed capabilities will be used to protect undersea cables from Russian interference.

New drones and sensors to protect undersea cables from Russia

On Thursday, November 5, 2026, a ceremony was held for the commissioning of the 1st Autonomous Squadron at HMNB Portsmouth. The historic ceremony saw the squadron formally join the force, as it continues to push towards a hybrid navy.

Historic 1st Autonomous Squadron for drone boats commissioned in navy

New British military satellite launched into space.

New UK military satellite launched into space to find threats

Work is continuing on the new Type 31 ships for the Royal Navy. Pictured: HMS Venturer in the Babcock dry dock.

Rollout of new ship delayed 'for a whole bunch of reasons'

Russian Kilo-class submarine spotted in the High North as HMS Prince of Wales and the UKCSG start Operation Firecrest.

'Spotted': Russian submarine seen amid HMS Prince of Wales op

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey before delivering his first Budget to the Houses of Parliament. He outlined various defence policies, but did not mention Portsmouth when discussing areas which will be reindustrialised.

'Portsmouth not being sidelined' despite being absent in Budget speech

Prime minister Andy Burnham is being pressured to award the Skynet 6 contract to Airbus, as alternative proposals risk losing hundreds of jobs.

'Don’t sell Portsmouth down the river!': Jobs at risk over Skynet

Type 45 destroyers will not have their life extended with newer capabilities prioritised.

Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers will not have life extended

HMS Protector is continually plagued by “propulsion defects”, with assessments being made for a replacement.

'Propulsion defects' plague Royal Navy ship - 'analysis' to set future

HMS Duncan returned to Portsmouth on Friday, July 24, 2026, after completing phase one of Operation Firecrest.

'Chronic lack of sea time' hitting Royal Navy amid a lack of Captains

HMS Forth's new helicopter landing system in action

'Complex' and vital upgrades installed on Royal Navy ship HMS Forth

The Royal Navy's fleet is deployed across the globe conducting various missions. Here is the current status of all the ships that are based in Portsmouth.

Every Portsmouth ship - where they are and what they're doing

The 'hard truth' of the Royal Navy not having enough ships has distressed the chair of the defence select committee, who said that government needs to 'wake up' and respond to the issue.

MP distressed at 'hard truth' of Royal Navy not having enough ships

The government has been pushed to accept the Airbus deal to build new Skynet satellites, and not to accept a 'lowball' American offer. From L: Defence secretary Wes Streeting and Liberal Democrat James MacCleary.

MPs pushed to back Airbus satellite jobs and not 'lowball' US offer

Retired Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke being towed to HMNB Portsmouth ahead of the prospect of being scrapped.

Prince William's warship towed to base as she faces being scrapped

British RAF fighters have been deployed to Saudi Arabia to defend against Houthi attacks in Yemen.

RAF deployed to defend Saudi Arabia amid 'outrageous' Houthi attacks
The situation in Yemen has descended into chaos
Freddie Webb

HMS Iron Duke is being towed to Portsmouth after being retired from the Royal Navy fleet.

Retired Royal Navy ship to arrive in base amid uncertain future

Prime minister Andy Burnham is being pressured to award the Skynet 6 contract to Airbus, as alternative proposals risk losing hundreds of jobs.

MPs dispute as Airbus space satellite jobs hang in the balance

Major renovation works are continuing at both Fort Purbrook and Fort Widley after a £2.1m grant was secured. It's a mixed picture in the Portsmouth area, with some landmarks being protected, and others left to rot.

'Remarkable' renovation taking shape at beloved forts - others at risk

Retired Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond being towed to Portsmouth amid an uncertain future on October 15, 2026.

Retired HMS Richmond to 'undergo preparations for disposal'

HMS Richmond most recently joined the UK Carrier Strike Group with HMS Prince of Wales on a large-scale deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

Retired HMS Richmond to be towed to base amid uncertain future

HMS Protector is currently out of action after suffering a double engine fault.

'Catastrophic failure': Royal Navy ship suffers 'double engine defect'

Defence secretary Wes Streeting was grilled about armed forces spending during his appearance before the defence select committee.

Streeting warns unfunded defence could create Liz Truss style crash

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting giving evidence to the Industry and Regulation Committee in the House of Lords, central London. He claimed a Royal Marine had to test an underwater drone in his garden pond due to regulatory red tape.

'Regulatory handcuffs' forces marine to test drone in his garden pond

Doubts have been cast over when the Type 31 frigates will enter the Royal Navy fleet. Pictured: HMS Venturer in the Babcock dry dock.

'Inflationary pressures' hitting Type 31 ships amid delay fears

The iron foundry and smithery was built 1857-1861, by Col GT Greene RE and Andrew Murray, Chief Engineer; extended 1878, with later alterations and the main part of the building was converted to office use in 2003. The east wing (Building 1/136) remains unused and at risk, Historic England says. There were concerns over drainage and regular flooding of the building but this has been resolved. Roof repairs are due to be undertaken.

Repairs progress at former brass foundry in Historic Dockyard

HMS Dragon homecoming on October 9, 2026. Pictured is: Leading Hand Charlie Gill from Littlehampton, West Sussex, with his cousin Finlay Ratan (2). Charlie donated part of his liver to Finlay when he was just four-months-old after needing a transplant.

Exclusive 'Hero' HMS Dragon sailor saves boy given days to live - reunited again
Finley Ratan was given just days to live, but Landing Hand Charlie Gill stepped in with a life-changing decision
Freddie Webb

From L-R: Nick Evans (brother), Alan Evans, (father), Leading Seaman Harry Evans and Lesley Evans (mum) reunite after 214 days

Recap: HMS Dragon docks back home in Portsmouth after Iran operation

The Ministry of Defence has paid out nearly £2.5m in compensation. Picture: PA

Police name Royal Navy sailor charged with spying for a foreign power

The grave of Private (Pte) Sidney Allen, 7th Battalion Hampshire Regiment, was discovered 81 years after his death. Pictured: Corporal Wendy Robert, The Band of the Mercian Regiment sounds Last Post at the rededication service as Colonel (retired) Stephen Owen OBE, Royal British Legion, pays his respects.

Lost soldier killed in WWII identified 81 years after death

Royal Marines Commandos aboard U-Boat off the North coast of Scotland during Strike Warrior 26.

'Largest test in 15 years' for Royal Marines as they ride German sub

Prime minister Andy Burnham is being pressured to award the Skynet 6 contract to Airbus, as alternative proposals risk losing hundreds of jobs.

'Minimise US blowback': PM under pressure as Airbus job decision looms

A Fareham-headquartered firearms firm GMK Ltd have been handed a hefty fine after a woman suffered serious burns to her hands, face and legs.

Firearms firm fined £800k after woman suffers burns to hands and face

HMS Spey and Tamar will be conducting patrols with international allies in the South China Sea despite previous warnings from Beijing. Pictured: HMS Tamar personnel conducting gunnery exercises.

Royal Navy set for Indo-Pacific drills despite China threats

A sailor had to be evacuated from HMS Sutherland while she was docked in Plymouth Sound. Pictured: The ship passing Tower Bridge, London, earlier in 2025.

'Negligent' officer abandoned £143m ship leaving trainee on watch

Former First Sea Lord Sir Ben Key

Former Royal Navy head stripped of knighthood

A large section of the fifth Type 26 frigate HMS Sheffield being worked on in Glasgow, Scotland.

Exciting construction update for new Type 26 frigate HMS Sheffield

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Daring being refuelled for the first time in years as she takes a step closer to returning to sea.

HMS Daring takes step closer to returning to Royal Navy fleet

The deadline to save HMS Ambuscade, now known as PNS Tariq, from being blown up has not be extended. Pictured: Pakistan sailors aboard PNS Tariq arrange souvenirs on board the vessel at the Colombo port, 15 November 2004, during an official port call on Sri Lanka.

Deadline extension to save Falklands War taskforce ship rejected

The Royal Navy and US forces blow up the retired warship USS Klakring while testing a new ship-busting missile.

Watch Royal Navy flow up warship with ferocious new missile

The former Royal Marines Museum at Eastney is on sale after plans for a 96-room luxury hotel were approved earlier this year.

Former Royal Marines Museum is back on the market as hotel plan stalls

HMS Agamemnon has sailed from the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

Powerful new Royal Navy nuclear submarine at sea for first time

The naval base at Faslane on the Clyde hosts the UK's nuclear submarines which are armed with Trident missiles (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

No punishment for Iranian man who tried to get into Royal Navy base

Group photo of all members of Portsmouth Diving Threat Exploitation Group Bravo Squadron.

'Selfless' sailors who destroyed 100kg Southsea bomb honoured

World-leading medical pods are being built for the Royal Navy by Force Development Services in Fareham. Pictured is: Managing director Claire Hemmings and business development director Paul Keating-Brown, former Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander.

'Plug-and-play' flexible medical pods being developed for Royal Navy

Millions of pounds is being invested into Portsmouth defence firms by BAE Systems. Pictured: Cutting of steel on HMS Sheffield.

Large city employers among cohort to offer job opportunities

RFA Lyme Bay (centre), and HMS Dragon (right), linked up in the Middle East ahead of a possible Strait of Hormuz mission.

HMS Dragon leaves Middle East amid 'dangerous' threat developing

Air Vice-Marshal Jamie Thompson, head of Britain's military space operation. has been suspended amid an investigation into an alleged serious sexual offence.

Top military boss booted for alleged 'serious' sex offence

Able Seaman Sian Dowsett, 25, has been jailed and kicked out of the armed forces after being found guilty of six sexual assaults aboard HMS Dauntless.

Bisexual 'predator' branded 'cancer' of HMS Dauntless jailed

Greater powers will be passed on to Royal Navy, Army and RAF families to make decisions relating to their service accommodation. Pictured: Secretary of State Wes Streeting visited the Defence Housing Service.

'More power' for families to make changes to military houses

The preliminary works have finished at the Royal Navy Rum Store at Victoria Quay in Gosport, and the task is now to transform the historic structure itself.

Pictured is: (l-r) Cllr. Zoe Huggins, leader of Gosport Borough Council, Ben Mason, business development director at UK Docks and Caroline Dinenage MP for Gosport.

Dilapidated Royal Navy Rum Store being 'brought back to life'

Chief executive of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Mike Green, said nine out of ten military houses need serious attention. Properties housing Royal Navy, Army, and RAF personnel were found to be in poor condition.

Nine in ten 'neglected' military houses need 'serious attention'

Two senior Army officials were found not guilty of wrongdoing relating to the death of Gunner Jaysley Beck.

Two senior officers cleared of Jaysley Beck death wrongdoing

Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at the Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021. This followed an incident on Thorney Island near Emsworth.

Army Colonel cleared of wrongdoing 'always believed' Jaysley Beck

Lieutenant Rhodri Leyshon who died following a helicopter crash in The English Channel.

'Compounded errors' cause death of Navy helicopter pilot after crash

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