Evaluated screen

Military Naval Vessels and Underwater Systems

Identifies companies and other entities that design, develop, manufacture, assemble, finally integrate, materially modernize, or sell complete crewed vessels or underwater platforms specifically designed or materially configured for military use. Qualifying platforms include surface combatants, all complete military submarines (including nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed submarines), amphibious vessels, mine-countermeasure vessels, patrol and surveillance vessels, and dedicated auxiliaries whose primary design supports naval operations. Nuclear-armed submarines also qualify under the Nuclear-Armed Submarines screen when a verified nuclear-weapons delivery role is established. Complete unmanned maritime platforms, separately supplied weapons or components, and ordinary commercial vessels supplied without material military conversion are classified separately or excluded.

Type
Evaluated
Version
2026.08.21.2
Published
Aug 21, 2026
Inclusions
5
Exclusions
5
How to read this definition

Inclusion criteria describe evidence that can establish this activity. Exclusion criteria identify circumstances that do not establish it on that basis alone. The evaluation remains connected to its taxonomy version and supporting evidence.

Can establish this activity

Included when supported

Evidence may support involvement when it matches one or more of these inclusion criteria.

5 criteria
  1. 01Criterion

    Include entities responsible for complete destroyers, frigates, corvettes, patrol combatants, mine-warfare combatants, aircraft carriers, and other military surface combatants.

  2. 02Criterion

    Include entities responsible for complete military submarines and other crewed underwater platforms that are not configured to carry nuclear weapons; nuclear propulsion alone does not establish nuclear-weapons involvement.

  3. 03Criterion

    Include entities responsible for complete amphibious-assault, landing, mine-countermeasure, surveillance, intelligence, special-operations, or comparable purpose-built military vessels.

  4. 04Criterion

    Include entities responsible for complete replenishment, hospital, command, survey, rescue, training, or other auxiliary vessels specifically designed or materially configured for dedicated naval operations.

  5. 05Criterion

    Include entities responsible for the design, construction, assembly, material modernization, final integration, or sale of complete submarines with a verified nuclear-weapons delivery role; also classify the entity under Nuclear-Armed Submarines.

Does not establish this activity on its own

Excluded on this basis alone

These circumstances do not establish this activity unless separate evidence also meets an inclusion criterion.

5 criteria
  1. 01Criterion

    Historical-Only Military Naval Vessel Involvement

    Defined as: Entities with verified past development, manufacture, assembly, material modernization, sale, export, or supply of complete qualifying military vessels or underwater systems, where reliable evidence establishes that the qualifying activity has fully ceased, been divested, transferred, dismantled, terminated, or otherwise ended and no current qualifying involvement remains. Historical-only activity does not qualify as current involvement. Preserve the historical record separately with the activity period, effective cessation or transfer date, relevant entity, product, programme, facility, or contract, and supporting evidence. Absence of recent evidence alone is not sufficient to establish cessation.

  2. 02Criterion

    Exclude civil, merchant, passenger, fishing, offshore-energy, research, and other commercial vessels supplied without material military conversion.

  3. 03Criterion

    Exclude naval weapons, combat systems, propulsion equipment, hull sections, sensors, and other components when the entity lacks responsibility for a complete qualifying vessel.

  4. 04Criterion

    Exclude routine shipyard work, maintenance, repair, refit, or port services unless the work constitutes material military modernization or complete-vessel integration.

  5. 05Criterion

    Exclude decommissioned vessels held only as museums, memorials, displays, or replicas, while preserving separately evidenced historical production or operation.

Evidence and evaluation methodology

How sources, entity pathways, decisions, qualifiers, and review history are handled.

Map screens to a client policy

How to choose provider screens, document coverage, and decide what happens after an outcome.

Other screens under Military Weapons, Munitions and Combat Platforms