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Plymouth-built uncrewed boat armed with Sea Venom missile. September 28, 2026 A twelve-metre armed uncrewed surface vessel built near Plymouth has been launched carrying MBDA's Sea Venom anti-ship missile alongside loitering munitions, jammers and surveillance equipment, according to STARK, the defence technology company behind it. Vanta 12 is described by the company as an AI-enabled modular platform able to integrate missiles, loitering munitions, anti-submarine effectors and electronic warfare systems alongside intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, and it has been designed from the outset for mass production rather than small batch build. The boat can undertake patrols of 1,200 miles, sprint at more than 40 knots and remain continuously at sea for weeks, which STARK says brings the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap, the Baltic and European territorial waters within reach of a single vessel while reducing the number of personnel exposed to danger. Sea Venom is already in Royal Navy service aboard the Wildcat helicopter, where it is used against fast attack craft and larger surface targets, and MBDA is now working on a version fired from the surface. Andrew Blackburn of MBDA said: "MBDA is developing a surface-launched variant of Sea Venom to meet the growing demand for precision maritime strike in complex littoral environments, to both deter and defeat a wide range of threats. This collaboration with Stark has showcased a potent new capability that is made possible through the integration of a precision weapon system such as Sea Venom onto autonomous maritime platforms such as Vanta 12. Participation in REPMUS 26 is giving both MBDA and Stark a wealth of learning that we can feed forward into the battle-winning capabilities that are needed for future Hybrid Navies." Discover more Missile Defence Systems Book European Travel The missile is designed to engage targets up to the size of larger warships as well as coastal and land-based targets, including in congested waters where precision matters. Putting it on a boat of this size gives a vessel with no crew aboard the sort of strike capability that until now has come from a helicopter or a frigate. Vanta 12 spent this week at REPMUS, the NATO exercise in Portugal that serves as the alliance's largest event for robotics and uncrewed maritime systems, taking part in simulated combat missions and working alongside conventional vessels and other uncrewed boats. Mike Armstrong, managing director of STARK UK, said: "Vanta 12 is the first unmanned vessel to bring together missiles, loitering munitions and surveillance to help NATO countries face down the threat. "Vanta is an export success story for British defence, giving its NATO allies capability that can be produced at scale, deployed rapidly and adapted quickly. "Industrial deterrence is what modern warfare increasingly demands, and what Vanta 12 has been designed to deliver." Fred Thomas, the MP for Plymouth Moor View, welcomed the launch in his constituency city. "It is exciting for European security, and also locally for Plymouth as a city, to see STARK launch this uncrewed boat today," he said, adding: "Built right here in Plymouth, it will be a highly capable addition to Europe's maritime capabilities. I am particularly excited to see anti-ship missiles, usually fired from helicopters, launch from the boat." The company sets the vessel against the pattern of activity now familiar in the North Atlantic and the approaches to European waters, where shadow fleet ships mask their ownership to move sanctioned cargo, transponders are switched off, undersea cables and pipelines are interfered with, and civilian-flagged vessels loiter near critical infrastructure. Around 300 shadow fleet vessels transited British waters in the first quarter of this year, and the Royal Navy interdicted the sanctioned tanker Smyrtos in the Channel in June. Vessels capable of deploying deep-sea submersibles have been sighted repeatedly near the cables carrying Britain's data and energy. STARK argues that answering this at scale requires lower cost uncrewed systems rather than warships, an approach it calls the Hybrid Navy and which it says is being taken up by the British, Norwegian and German armed forces. Readers will know the Royal Navy has been moving in that direction for some time, with uncrewed systems trialled for mine countermeasures and seabed monitoring and a hybrid fleet concept running through recent planning. The company was founded in 2024 in response to operational demands from Ukraine and is headquartered in Berlin, with a presence in Germany, Ukraine, Britain, Sweden and Greece. Its first British manufacturing facility opened at Swindon in November 2025 and employs more than 100 people, and Vanta vessels have already been exported from the United Kingdom to other NATO allies. The maritime division that built and tested Vanta 12 is based in the south west of England.

Local defence industry set for a boom in exports. Leading SA manufacturer predicts R70 billion revenue target in five years - buoyed by Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2026 expo 23 SEP 2026, 12:09 With the SA defence industry expected to achieve the R70 billion revenue target in five years, a leading manufacturer - buoyed by this year's five-day Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2026 expo, in its 13th edition, which finished on Sunday - has predicted a boom in export sales. Thousands thronged the Waterkloof Air Force Base for a spectacular air, ground, cyber, maritime and space capability display by state and private-owned aerospace; and the defence technologies industry. Reflecting on the AAD, Daniel du Plessis, Milkor vice president of Africa, said the industry was seeing a boom. "Since the previous edition of AAD, which has been a massive success, the industry is once again set for a big growth. Last year, the whole SA defence industry exported in excess of R10 billion of equipment to other countries. "In the build-up to the AAD, we recently held a strategy gathering to discuss the government's response and strengthen collaboration with the industry - enhancing the export figure to reach R70 billion within the next five-year cycle. I firmly believe that we are able to achieve the targets," said Du Plessis. He described the AAD exhibition as a landmark and significant event on the African continent, predominantly centred around the South African defence industry, with a few international companies also participating on a large scale. Milkor has emerged for the fourth time in a row as a diamond sponsor of the event. "What a privilege it has been to be a part of such a magnificent event. We had some great turnouts in the form of African delegations. Even in the light of the African Union meeting taking place in Burundi this week, delegates from many African countries made an effort to come through. We held discussions on tackling the complex security and defence challenges confronting the continent. There has also been some great international participation - both from the industry and defence forces," said Du Plessis. Milkor has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Safran, a major French international high-technology group, with operations in aviation, defence and space. Said Du Plessis: "Since the previous edition of AAD, we have this time been exceptionally privileged. We have launched a few new products and new vehicles specifically. We have moved and shifted the focus to refining our products for operational use - luckily now also having been operationally deployed. We have fostered good relationships with international companies to continue expanding on their operational platform and looking at what the Milkor 380 has to offer. We signed an MOU with Safran, a French company with major defence solutions, electronic warfare capabilities, electronic and systems integration. It is a huge privilege to be associated with such a company." The Milkor 380 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed, developed and manufactured by the South African defence firm. It is notably the largest drone developed and manufactured on the African continent - primarily designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and precision strike missions. Milkor has also forged a collaboration with MBDA, a European leader in the design and building of missiles and systems. "We have some significant skills in this country and we shouldn't stand back and think that we are less than or not able to compete on a global stage. We should actually pursue international cooperation and look at how we can leverage the skills that we have left in this country - advancing forward to generate substantial technological advancements," added Du Plessis. The AAD, said Du Plessis, showcased on a larger scale and international level, South Africa's defence industry capabilities. "In our two stands, we showed defence solutions across all domains - including air, land, sea and cyber. We focused on the landward systems, including the recently launched Milkor BushCat. The latest variant of the BushCat has essentially also been earmarked for the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) - following a recent very competitive bidding process and tender. "It was selected by Armscor and the SANDF to be implemented on border patrol operations - in line with the Border Improvement Plan," he said.

Germany and U.S. Seal major Patriot and strike missile production pact. Germany will serve as an additional production hub for scarce American munitions, with PAC-3 MSE interceptor work beginning later this year and officials examining German supply opportunities for Tomahawk components as Berlin builds deeper strike capacity. September 17, 2026 * Germany will become an additional production hub for scarce munitions used by American weapons when U.S. manufacturers face overwhelming demand. * MBDA plans to begin producing PAC-3 MSE Patriot interceptors at its Schrobenhausen plant later this year. * German and American officials will examine which Tomahawk cruise missile components Germany could supply. * Germany has ordered 35 F-35 aircraft, with Berlin defense officials considering additional planes. Discover more Download Reference Apps Get Language Courses Stream History Documentaries Germany and the United States have signed an agreement designed to make Germany an additional production hub for scarce munitions used by American weapons. Under the arrangement, German workers could produce those munitions when firms in the United States are overwhelmed by demand. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the pact Tuesday during Pistorius's Pentagon visit. German officials have been seeking practical anchors in the transatlantic defense relationship amid President Trump's recurring criticism of NATO and Europe. Hegseth presented the agreement as linking defense acquisition reform in both countries. "When we align the two, you expand opportunities for joint development, production, licensed manufacturing and expanded maintenance and sustainment capacities - exactly what allied countries should be doing," he said. Germany's branch of pan European missile manufacturer MBDA already produces older PAC-2 Patriot air defense interceptors. Production of the newer PAC-3 MSE interceptor is scheduled to start at the company's plant in Schrobenhausen later this year, Pistorius told reporters. Following recent reports that Congress is considering a nationwide voter ID requirement for federal elections, do you support requiring voters to show identification before casting a ballot? By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from Objectivist.co, occasional offers from its partners and that you've read and agree to its privacy policy and legal statement. Officials from both nations will also examine which Tomahawk cruise missile components Germany could supply. Berlin wants Tomahawks and Typhon launchers for its emerging "deep precision strike" complex, though manufacturing timelines are longer than German defense leaders want to wait. Patriot interceptors and Tomahawk cruise missiles have emerged as leading examples of scarce weaponry. European countries sent much of their Patriot inventories to Ukraine to help Kyiv counter Russian missiles and attack drones, leaving those nations racing to replenish their own arsenals. American forces have reportedly reduced the Pentagon's Tomahawk inventory considerably during the war against Iran. The missile's precision and 1,000 mile range have made it difficult to obtain for European countries such as Germany, which wants to create a long range strike capability. Berlin is keeping other medium and long range options available while developing an upgraded version of the German and Swedish Taurus missile. Germany also belongs to a European group pursuing a domestically developed alternative called ELSA. German officials are also considering the Anthem cruise missile from U.S. company Covenant and potential cooperation with Ukraine, Pistorius said in Washington. Those possibilities sit alongside Berlin's interest in Tomahawk missiles and the upgraded Taurus weapon. The new German industrial initiative with Washington could irritate European autonomy advocates, particularly in France. Paris has watched Berlin leave joint weapons development programs in recent years for faster American purchases, including Boeing's P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft and Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jets. Some French officials viewed those purchases as weakening bilateral projects to develop next generation aircraft for the same missions. France has repeatedly objected to spending European money on American weapons built under license, arguing that EU funds should expand European industrial capacity instead. Sebastien Lecornu, who was Armed Forces Minister at the time and is now prime minister, said in February 2025 that such licensed production would be a "historic mistake." The French government has contrasted German Patriot interceptor production with investment in the French and Italian SAMP/T system, whose design authority remains in Europe. At the Pentagon, Hegseth concentrated on the agreement's mechanics, while Pistorius supplied the geopolitical case. Pistorius said the West may be confronting its greatest threat since the height of the Cold War, citing Russia's war against Ukraine, nuclear modernization, Arctic presence and militarization of space. "Russia will remain the biggest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in the foreseeable future," Pistorius said. After his meeting with Hegseth, the German minister was scheduled to meet U.S. lawmakers and local defense company executives, according to the German Ministry of Defense. Pistorius's trip is set to conclude Friday with a ceremony marking the handover of Germany's first F-35 from the production line at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas, plant. Germany has ordered 35 aircraft, and defense officials in Berlin are considering more. The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact Objectivist for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.