The inaugural week of 2026 witnessed significant naval and defense activity, from advances to European surface combatant programs to autonomous vessel initiatives across North America and Asia, subsea infrastructure protection moves in the Philippines and even a significant U.S. defense budget signal. This report covers some of the most noteworthy and verifiable developments between 1 January and 8 January 2026.
Fincantieri finished 2025 strong by approving its 2026-2030 business plan which seeks to achieve 40% revenue growth and EUR500M net profit by 2030. They secured major torpedo contracts from Indian Navy, launched first Saudi MMSC in Wisconsin state, delivered Italian Navy LSS Atlante ship, formed joint venture for subsea telecom acquisition as well as extended a Virgin Cruises loan loan agreement.
Voyis Imaging Inc. PAM Covid-expo exhibition out offshore optical sensors and VSLAM technology at NATO’s REPMUS 2025 exercise in Portugal where they supported the Italian Navy’s UUVs and captured stunning underwater footage. Succeeding feats include displays of its underwater optical sensors and VSLAM technology at NATO’s REPMUS 2025 exercise in Portugal supporting the Italian Navy’s REMUS UUVs and capturing stunning underwater footage, through to completing a contract in July 2025 IMAGE2 marine protection project, launching Deep Vision Optics technology, through to an expanded geo-located mapped EIVA.
Of late it would seem that navies and defence ministries have made substantial strides on key carrier, submarine and surface-combatant programmes in the face of regional tensions. NATO completed carrier strike integration; Brazil and Poland picked up the pace on submarine modernisation; and, on the surface side South Korea announced yet another advanced frigate. Handy, uniform regional moves by them tell us of their growing emphasis on deterrence, autonomous systems, and forward naval presence across multiple theatres.
Fincantieri responded deftly to a major shift in direction in November 2025 reconfiguring its Constellation-class frigate program with the United States Navy, winning a EUR40 million expansion for its Ancona shipyard and supplying an all-purpose support vessel to Italy's Navy. Fincantieri reinforced its position, across the defense and commercial sectors alike, in the process.