A 2,017-ton German submarine appeared off the northern tip of Scotland during a recent military exercise, giving British commandos a launch point to reach shore by inflatable boat, climb the coastline, and direct the guns of a 401-foot Portuguese frigate at targets inland. The drill demonstrated how allied forces carry out covert landings from submarines in challenging coastal zones.

The exercise brought together several NATO partners, combining submarine operations with overland commando movements in a high-pressure drill setting. Scenarios like this are growing in number as NATO focuses on submarine-launched landing operations.

Separately, the Australian Naval Institute flagged risks about vulnerable procurement networks underpinning nuclear submarine programs, a warning that creates new urgency to long-term procurement planning for Australia's future submarine fleet. Analysts say reliable sourcing will be a deciding factor as Australia works toward building out its undersea fleet.