All five of the Royal Navy’s active Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarines are reportedly held in port for repairs or maintenance, leaving the UK with no operational vessels of this class ready for deployment.

According to a report by The Telegraph, which cited naval sources, although a sixth submarine of the same class has officially joined the fleet, it is not yet ready for deployment.

The current situation means that the UK temporarily lacks any nuclear-powered attack submarines cleared for active operations. Ryan Ramsey, a former nuclear submarine commander, described the development as a serious warning signal. “We look vulnerable,” Ramsey said. “The Russians know we can’t get our submarines to sea. When you cannot provide a deterrent at sea, you lose credibility in the eyes of the Russians.”

Lord Alan West, the former First Sea Lord and former security minister, also described the state of the submarine fleet as unacceptable and deeply concerning.

The UK Ministry of Defence stated in response to the reports that it does not normally comment on the operational status of the submarine fleet. Emphasizing that British waters remain protected at all times through a range of measures, the ministry added that strengthening underwater capability continues to be a top priority.

Astute-class nuclear submarines are tasked with protecting the UK’s Vanguard-class strategic ballistic missile submarines, which carry the country’s nuclear deterrent, as well as the aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales during their deployments.

Separately, the UK’s Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, General Gwyn Jenkins, admitted in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet in April that the Royal Navy was not sufficiently prepared for a potential war.

While noting that the navy possesses the resources to conduct combat operations and that personnel stand ready to carry out orders, Jenkins added: “But are we as ready as we should be? I think not.” He indicated that efforts to improve readiness levels remain ongoing.

Previously, The Sun newspaper reported that only two of the UK’s six Type 45 destroyers were operational. One of these active vessels, HMS Dragon, was deployed to the Mediterranean to protect British military bases in Cyprus.

The Telegraph also reported that due to a shortage of available ships, the government in London was forced to utilize a German vessel.

The state of the Royal Navy has been described in the British parliament as a “national embarrassment,” while US President Donald Trump has criticized the fleet, referring to it as a “toy navy,” according to reports by The Guardian.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia has no intention of fighting a war with Europe, dismissing such claims as nonsense. Putin has maintained that Western governments are escalating the situation to portray Russia as an adversary.

Two German lawmakers have blocked or forced the renegotiation of defense procurement contracts valued at more than €1 billion, exerting strict parliamentary oversight over the military’s budget spending.

According to a report by the Financial Times, Andreas Mattfeldt of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Andreas Schwarz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) serve on the Budget Committee of the Bundestag, Germany’s federal parliament.

The committee holds the authority to approve all military procurement projects valued at over €25 million.

In January, the two lawmakers vetoed a €600 million contract intended for Munich-based electronics group Rohde & Schwarz to supply a mobile intelligence system. The parliamentarians objected to the contract being awarded directly without a competitive bidding process.

One month later, they blocked a €462 million direct agreement with defense contractors Rheinmetall and MBDA. The contract was aimed at developing a laser system designed to protect naval vessels from drone attacks.

In February, the lawmakers also successfully lowered the maximum cost of three contracts intended for the procurement of kamikaze drones. Later in April, they halted the planned purchase of 900 diesel fuel tanker containers for the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr. The representatives intervened after discovering that the price of the tankers had doubled compared to a similar purchase made five years prior.

“We have brought about a paradigm shift because we are responsible for the immense amount of money entrusted to us by taxpayers,” Mattfeldt said in an interview with the Financial Times. “I want to be able to say that we have contributed to the Bundeswehr getting the best equipment at the best price.”

Schwarz, who, like his colleague, previously served as a municipal mayor, added: “We do not get involved in ideologies; we use our common sense.” While colleagues and aides jokingly refer to the pair as “the two Andys,” the two lawmakers have nicknamed themselves “the A-Team.”

Budget committee powers stem from past cost overruns

The extraordinary powers of the budget committee over defense procurement date back to 1981. At the time, parliament reacted to severe cost overruns in the Tornado fighter jet program by decreeing that all military projects exceeding 50 million deutsche marks must receive legislative approval.

Today, that threshold stands at €25 million, a limit that one official described as “completely outdated.”

A spokesperson for the German Ministry of Defense said: “Parliamentary control over major acquisitions is an important oversight tool in our democracy.”

German defense contractor Rheinmetall is selling its automotive supplier division to the private equity firm Aequita.

Rheinmetall announced on Wednesday that the two companies “signed an acquisition agreement today, opening up a future for Rheinmetall’s former Power Systems division under new management.”

The group described the divestment of its civilian unit as a “milestone in its strategic restructuring,” which allows it to “shift its focus to its military business.”

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year and remains subject to regulatory approvals.

The preliminary purchase price for 100% of the shares has been set at 350 million euros, though this figure remains subject to adjustment prior to the closing of the deal.

Rheinmetall recently reported record profits and swelling order books in its defense business. Conversely, the automotive supply industry remains mired in crisis.

“The further deterioration of the business situation, particularly in the automotive sector, affected the terms and conditions of the final agreement,” Rheinmetall said in a statement.

Rheinmetall, which has seen its business surge since the start of the war in Ukraine as Europe increases its defense spending, had been seeking a buyer for the Power Systems division since last year and classified the unit as discontinued operations in December 2025.

Rheinmetall added that Aequita, an investment firm specializing in acquiring and restructuring companies, plans to retain the unit’s approximately 6,250 employees worldwide.

“This company is an excellent addition to our automotive division, which will now generate approximately 5 billion euros in revenue,” said Axel Geuer, Chairman and Co-CEO of Aequita.

Geuer added that Aequita will support the long-term development of the company and seek to create synergies across its broader automotive portfolio.

Rheinmetall specified that assets excluded from the sale include the three German plants of aluminum casting specialist KS Huayu AluTech, the stake in the automotive sensor joint venture Dermalog SensorTec, and auto parts manufacturer Pierburg’s Abadiano factory in Spain.