Look who finally showed up

UK Minehunting Force Arrives in Middle East as Multinational Hormuz Mission Takes Shape

Mike Schuler June 24, 2026

The United Kingdom’s specialist mine countermeasures force has arrived in the Middle East, marking a significant step toward restoring commercial confidence in the Strait of Hormuz as Western allies prepare for what could be a lengthy multinational effort to make the vital shipping lane safe for normal trade once again.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Lyme Bay safely transited the Red Sea escorted by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon and accompanied by German naval vessels, carrying more than 270 personnel and an array of advanced autonomous mine-hunting systems intended to locate and neutralize mines without placing sailors directly in danger.

The deployment comes as European leaders formally endorsed a UK-France led Multinational Military Mission for the Strait of Hormuz aimed at protecting merchant shipping, reassuring insurers and shipowners, and verifying demining efforts as commercial traffic gradually returns to the waterway.

In a joint statement released Wednesday following a meeting in Berlin, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their commitment to “unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz” and pledged participation in the multinational mission as conditions permit.

“It could play an important role in reassuring the shipping industry and re-opening the Strait including through verification of demining,” the leaders said.

The political backing adds momentum to an initiative first announced in April when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron convened an international summit involving more than 50 countries and the International Maritime Organization. At that meeting, the two leaders announced plans for an “independent and strictly defensive multinational mission” tasked with protecting merchant vessels, reassuring commercial operators and conducting mine clearance operations once a sustainable ceasefire had been reached.

“The right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the bedrock of international trade. Freedom of navigation means navigation must be free,” the joint Franco-British statement said.

In May, Britain announced plans to contribute autonomous mine-hunting systems, counter-drone technology, Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets, and the air-defense destroyer HMS Dragon as part of a UK-France led mission involving more than 40 nations.

British officials have repeatedly emphasized that the operation is intended to be “strictly defensive,” focused on mine clearance, protecting merchant shipping and restoring confidence among commercial operators rather than conducting offensive operations. The effort mirrors Europe’s maritime security mission in the Red Sea, with a heavy emphasis on autonomous systems, aerial protection and safeguarding freedom of navigation through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

More:

https://gcaptain.com/uk-minehunting-force-arrives-in-middle-east-as-multinational-hormuz-mission-takes-shape/

IRT General Research #30219 >>24753659

Germany Ditches Delayed Frigate Program in Major Blow to Rheinmetall

Reuters June 24, 2026

June 24 (Reuters) – Germany scrapped a landmark frigate program following delays and expected cost overruns, sending shares in the country’s top defense firm Rheinmetall RHMG.DE, which was supposed to get the contract, into a tailspin on Wednesday.

The plan to build six F126 frigates has been fraught with problems for a while, with Germany examining whether to contract Rheinmetall’s NVL division after initial supplier, Dutch Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, could not meet timelines and budgets.

Germany’s defense ministry said it would terminate the program, saying continuing it would have pushed the bill for six ships to more than €18 billion ($20.4 billion), up from around €10 billion expected initially.

Instead, Berlin will switch to eight smaller Meko A-200 frigates from Thyssenkrupp’s TKAG.DE marine division TKMS TMS.DE at an expected total budget of €11.6 billion, confirming earlier plans.

The decision was taken due to “significant delays, huge cost overruns and unforeseeable risks,” the defense ministry said in a statement.

Shares in Rheinmetall, Europe’s largest ammunition maker, fell as much as 16.7% to their lowest level in nearly 15 months and were set for their sharpest daily fall ever. TKMS’s stock was up 8.2% at 1000 GMT.

Since the F126 order was placed in 2020, more than €2 billion has been spent on it, German magazine Der Spiegel reported earlier. Rheinmetall offered in May to take over the project for a total of €12.8 billion, the magazine said.

COSTLY COURSE CHANGE

The defense ministry had said in March it planned to buy four Meko A-200 frigates from TKMS as a stopgap to meet NATO anti-submarine commitments from 2028, with deliveries from end-2029.

On Wednesday it said it now aims to buy a total of eight Meko frigates “primarily for anti-submarine warfare,” at about €6.3 billion for the first four and €5.3 billion for an option on four more if exercised by end-2026.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said in May the group expected to sign the F126 deal in the second quarter.

TKMS said in a statement it was pleased to be contributing to the strengthening of the German navy, adding it had already begun preparatory work in February, plans to deliver the first Meko A-200 frigate in 2029 and sees scope to involve other German yards if the option for four more ships is exercised.

Rheinmetall declined to comment.

Amid the complex rearmament efforts in Europe, where Berlin and Paris have scrapped their joint FCAS fighter jet project and their MGCS tank program is running about a decade late, Franco-German tank maker KNDS on Wednesday set out plans for a dual Frankfurt-Paris IPO that sources told Reuters could value it at about €15 billion.

In a sign of increased competition, both TKMS and Rheinmetall are in the race to buy smaller peer German Naval Yards Kiel.

($1 = 0.8814 euros)

https://gcaptain.com/germany-ditches-delayed-frigate-program-in-major-blow-to-rheinmetall/

>>24755005

That's okay, outside the USA the NFL American version of "football" is often referred to as "armoured catch"

(faint sounds of rugby players laughing)