A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The Announcement On December 19, 2025, the U.S. Navy announced its plan to introduce a new class of small surface combatant ships, the FF(X), as a critical component of the …
New Frigate on the Horizon: U.S. Navy Ditches Constellation-class for National Security Cutter Design Read More
Australia’s Department of Defense announced this week that, after a close race, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) had emerged victorious in its bid to fill the country’s General Purpose Frigate (GPF) …
Mitsubishi Wins Landmark Deal to Supply Mogami Frigates to Australia Read More
As naval competition picks up in the Indo-Pacific, Australia has launched several initiatives to modernize and expand the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)’s maritime capacities. Complementing the oft-covered trilateral AUKUS deal …
The General Purpose Frigate: An Opportunity for Japan and Australia Read More
The U.S. Navy’s selection of the Italian version of FREMM for its FFG 62 Constellation class frigate program can only be described as a stunning success for Fincantieri. This decision …
FFG 62 Constellation Class Frigate Program Running Late Out the Gate Read More
In less than a few years, the Type 26 frigate has vaulted from a small, also-ran program to the leading contender in the international surface combatant market. With the signed …
Type 26 Frigate Makes a Show of Force in Market as Possibly Most Successful British Surface Combatant in Decades Read More
The veteran Russian Project 1135(V) class frigate design appears destined to be an Indian-dominated program, with India having 20 ships of record (ordered, under construction, or in service), tying Russia’s …
Can Russian Frigates Outsell FREMM Design Ships? Read More
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper outlined plans to build a Navy fleet consisting of over 500 manned and unmanned ships by 2045. The planned fleet features a larger submarine component, …
Esper Charts Course for Future Navy Fleet Read More
A quick examination of recent Egyptian arms contracts, or a look at the country’s military force structures, demonstrates quite clearly that the Egyptian military prefers to remain flexible in its …
Gunboats and Diplomacy Read More
The Egyptian Navy is said to be close to purchasing a pair of European Multi-Purpose Frigate (FREMM) warships from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. On February 4, 2020, French newspaper La Tribune …
Egypt, Italy in Talks on Possible FREMM Buy Read More
by J. Kasper Oestergaard, European Correspondent, Forecast International. On June 5, the Danish Social Democratic Party and its supporting faction of social-liberal and left-wing parties won a majority of seats …
Liberal Government Defeat in Danish General Election Unlikely to Alter Defense Spending Plans Read More