What is the purpose of navies in the modern world, and what types of warship does this require? This book tackles these questions by looking at naval developments, both technological and operational, in the quarter century since the end of the Cold War. It provides the overall political and economic context, assesses significant naval operations from the first Gulf War to Russia's annexation of Crimea, reviews changes in the objectives and composition of the principal fleets, describes major design developments amongst the main warship types, and examines wider technological and operational developments, including naval aviation, shipbuilding and manning. It follows the successful approach and format of Seaforth's annual World Naval Review, with individual sections by internationally acknowledged experts, and is heavily illustrated in a similar style. As a succinct, single-volume overview of how contemporary navies have evolved to meet today's challenges it is unrivalled, and will prove invaluable to defence professionals and interested enthusiasts alike.