The laser weapon demonstrator installed on the German Navy's F 124 air-defence frigate FGS Sachsen will inform further development of operational laser weapon systems. (MBDA)

The German armed forces (Bundeswehr) has successfully completed an extended laser weapon trial at sea onboard the Germany Navy's F 124 air-defence frigate FGS Sachsen.

Announcing the milestone on 22 September Rheinmetall Waffe Munition (RWM) said the laser weapon demonstrator (LWD) had performed more than 100 test-firings onboard Sachsen

HMS Venturer seen under construction in Rosyth in July 2023. (Crown Copyright)

Babcock will delay the launch of the UK Royal Navy's first Type 31 Inspiration-class general-purpose frigate to maximise the benefit of outfitting under cover.

The future HMS Venturer, which was originally planned to be in the water before the end of 2023, will now not be launched from Babcock's new Rosyth shipbuilding facility until the first half of 2024, Janes has been told.

The first two Akhisar-class OPVs for the Turkish Navy were launched at Istanbul Naval Shipyard on 23 September. (Devrim Yaylali)

The first pair of Akhisar (modified MILGEM)-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) under construction for the Turkish Navy were launched at Istanbul Naval Shipyard on 23 September.

First steel for first-of-class Akhisar (P 1220) was cut in August 2021, and work on second ship Koçhisar (P 1221) started in November 2022. Under current planning, Akhisar is scheduled to be delivered on 9 June 2024, followed by Koçhisar on 9 October 2024.