All articles by Richard Thomas

Richard Thomas

Richard is editor-in-chief for defence and transport at GlobalData. He has worked the UK defence beat since 2014, and previously the defence and diplomatic beats in Muscat, Oman, from 2008-2013.

Europe braces as US returns to Munich Security Conference

The emergence of a New World Order resultant from a radical shift in US policy has left Europe geopolitically adrift…
Should the Royal Navy pursue a Batch 3 River-class OPV build?

The UK Royal Navy is teetering on the brink of unviability, with ageing frigates and fleet now cut to the…
Latest US supercarrier USS John F Kennedy heads out for trials

New US supercarrier heads out for initial builder’s trials to test ship’s system, ahead of handover expected in 2027 The…
Top 5 highlights from the US National Defense Strategy

The new US National Defense Strategy has set out the geopolitical aims of the United States in the years ahead…
UK MoD declines to confirm departure of frigate HMS Richmond

The Royal Navy is in crisis and at a historic low in terms of surface combatants, with few frigates left…

Can US expertise fix the UK’s nuclear deterrent?

A US company has won a deal to provide “unique system engineering support” to the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent The…
US and allies commit more funding to Tomahawk Block V programme

Additional US and international funding has been committed to Lot 5 and Lot 6 of the Tomahawk modernisation programme The…
USS Iwo Jima to undergo two-year Norfolk maintenance period

USS Iwo Jima will undergo modernisation at Norfolk Naval Shipyard under a BAE contract worth $204.1m, potentially $255.8m, finishing February 2028 The…
US DoD awards contract to support strategic Diego Garcia base

The Diego Garcia air and naval base is jointly maintained by the UK and US, although the US military are…
Are the Trump-class battleships, really battleships?

The Trump-class battleships will be the largest surface combatants developed for the US Navy for decades Nato’s 1166 STANAG designator…