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Industry · Uncrewed maritime

U.S. Navy Saildrone Surveyor (SD-3001) uncrewed surface vehicle departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026, July 8, 2026.
Archive photograph · U.S. Navy Saildrone Surveyor (SD-3001) uncrewed surface vehicle departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026, July 8, 2026. Petty Officer 2nd Class Lordin Kelly / DVIDS Taken 2026-07-08. public-domain; reuse terms. The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.

Saildrone’s Norwegian builder plans at least two naval drones monthly, Defense News reports

Umoe Mandal plans a dedicated Surveyor production site near its main plant, Defense News reports, adding manufacturing detail to Saildrone’s previously announced European expansion.

Umoe Mandal plans a factory near its main plant devoted to Saildrone’s Surveyor naval drones, CEO Tom Fidjeland said, according to Defense News. The planned initial production rate is at least two a month. A first mold is already being readied.1

Next generation of the Saildrone Surveyor will be produced at Umoe Mandal in Norway

Umoe Mandal CEO Tom Fidjeland said the company will build a new production site near its main plant devoted to Surveyors

Umoe Mandalat least two per monthplanned

with an initial production rate of at least two per month

Saildroneautonomy suite, navigation, electronics and surveillance technologyplanned

to be mounted on the Norwegian-built Surveyor bodies

Reported by Defense News, Nov. 4, 2026; Saildrone, Aug. 18, 2026. As of Nov. 4, 2026.

Sources
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Saildrone named Umoe Mandal as its next-generation Surveyor builder on Aug. 18, 2026.2 The dedicated site and initial production rate reported by Defense News add manufacturing detail to that expansion.1–2 The outlet names no European government order for Norwegian-built Surveyors.1

Defense News reported that Saildrone plans to supply the autonomy suite, navigation, electronics and surveillance technology for the Norwegian-built Surveyor bodies. The 20-meter craft uses diesel and wind power. Umoe Mandal specializes in naval composite structures, including masts for British Type 26 frigates.1

Saildrone chose a Norwegian builder with an eye on new sales in Northern Europe, company executives said, according to Defense News. Saildrone’s managing director for Europe, Robert Kleist, identified the Nordic defense group NORDEFCO as a potential source of business. Its acquisition track could generate national task orders for unmanned platforms that Saildrone would compete for, he said.1

Sources (2)
  1. Defense News: Saildrone expands its European market reach with manufacturing partner in Norway www.defensenews.com
  2. Saildrone: Major European Expansion with Local Production, Operations, and Business Development (Aug. 18, 2026) www.saildrone.com
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Contracts · Naval capability

Royal Navy falls short of its anti-submarine frigate requirement, MPs find

The Defence Committee warns that naval exports could compete with Royal Navy requirements if British shipyards, suppliers and specialist workforces cannot expand quickly enough.

The Royal Navy has five frigates fitted with towed-array sonar against a requirement of eight, the House of Commons Defence Committee found.1

Royal Navy falls short of its towed-array frigate requirement

Frigates fitted with Sonar 2087 towed-array sonar, October 2026

In service5 frigates
Required8 frigates

Source: House of Commons Defence Committee, Defence in the High North. As of 22 October 2026.

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The committee attributed the gap mainly to ageing Type 23 frigates being unable to remain in service through the Type 26 build schedule.1

HMS Richmond and HMS Iron Duke were decommissioned in mid-2026. Iron Duke's withdrawal came less than three years after a £103 million refit.1

Eight Type 26 frigates are due to take over the anti-submarine role.1 Defense News reported that the UK ordered them from BAE Systems, with the lead ship scheduled to enter service in 2028.2

The committee says Norway has ordered at least five Type 26s for £10 billion. It says Norway wants its first ship in service by 2029–30.1

The committee wants the government to assess how the Norway Type 26 agreement and other naval export programs affect UK delivery timelines and industrial capacity. It also wants the government to explain how those programs will protect Royal Navy capabilities.1

Also announced: The committee is not yet persuaded that the £1.3 billion allocated to the Hybrid Navy will be sufficient to develop, procure and integrate its five planned classes of maritime platform.1

Analysis cited by the committee assumes two Type 26s being built for the Royal Navy are sold to Norway. Under that scenario, the Navy's towed-array frigate fleet could remain as low as five for the next three years. It would not meet its eight-ship requirement until 2037.1

Sources (2)
  1. Defence Committee, “Defence in the High North,” Second Report of Session 2026-27, HC 71 (published Oct. 22, 2026) committees.parliament.uk
  2. Defense News: UK's Royal Navy has 'serious' anti-submarine warfare gap, committee finds (Oct. 22, 2026) www.defensenews.com
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Industry · Unmanned systems

Kratos plans a turbojet production ramp ahead of expected sales

Kratos targets up to 3,000 engines produced in 2027. It forecasts about 1,500 sold, with cash flow estimates including working capital for the ramp.

Kratos plans to increase turbojet production to address expected customer demand for jet engines for small cruise missiles and drones. Its 2027 forecast assumes about 1,500 engines sold, with most deliveries in the second half.1

Kratos plans turbojet production ahead of forecast sales

Turbojet engines, 2027: company production target and sales forecast

Planned productionUp to 3,000
Forecast salesApproximately 1,500

Kratos forecasts the significant majority of engine deliveries in the second half of 2027.

Source: Kratos third-quarter 2026 results. As of Nov. 5, 2026.

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Kratos's fiscal 2026 and 2027 cash flow estimates include working capital for materials, components and equipment to increase production of turbojet engines up to 3,000 engines produced in 2027.1

Third-quarter 2026 revenue grew 35.7% year over year. Organic growth, excluding the current-year contribution from acquisitions, was 23.2%. Turbine Technologies posted 27.1% organic revenue growth.1

Growth is already absorbing cash. Third-quarter 2026 operations used $5.2 million, which Kratos attributed primarily to receivables growth, alongside inventory increases tied to production ramps and development investments.1

For full year 2026, Kratos forecasts free cash flow use of $110 million to $120 million. It forecasts capital expenditures of $100 million to $110 million. It expects investments in inventory, property, plant, equipment and facilities to continue at least throughout fiscal 2027.1

Kratos raised $1,348.4 million from common stock issuance, net of issuance costs, in the first nine months of fiscal 2026. It ended the quarter with $1,404.3 million in cash and cash equivalents.1

Separately, third-quarter Unmanned Systems revenue fell to $74.6 million from $87.2 million a year earlier. Kratos attributed the decline to a prior-year shipment of Valkyries to an international customer that generated $16.1 million.1

Kratos says continuing resolutions typically restrict production-rate increases and new program starts. Its guidance assumes a continuing resolution into its first fiscal quarter of 2027. If it extends beyond March 31, 2027, the company says it will need to reassess its initial forecast for that year.1

Sources (1)
  1. Kratos Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results, Nov. 5, 2026 ir.kratosdefense.com
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