Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri held a steel cutting ceremony for the Italian Navy’s multipurpose amphibious unit (LHD or Landing Helicopter Dock) at its Castellammare di Stabia shipyard on July 12. The approx. 200 meters long LHD will have a maximum speed of 25 knots and will be equipped with a com
The Italian Navy-operated NATO research vessel ‘Alliance’ started a 20-day Arctic Ocean campaign during which scientists will carry out geophysics, marine geology and oceanography research. Dubbed High North 17, the campaign will be joined by scientists from Italian and international organizations i
Russian Navy’s nuclear-powered Oscar II class submarine Tomsk has launched a Granit cruise missile as part of her training cycle. The supersonic cruise missile was fired from a submerged position in the Sea of Okhotsk towards a land target at the Kura Test Range, Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet press s
Italian Navy frigate ITS Espero is en route to her homeport after over two months of counter-piracy patrols off the Horn of Africa as part of the EUNAVFOR operation Atalanta. During her 108-day deployment ITS Espero’s ship’s company helped deter and suppress pirate attacks which started again in 201
The first of the Royal Marines’ upgraded Mk4 Merlin helicopters recently visited its future home at Yeovilton air base for refueling. The second-generation battlefield Merlin, factory model MLSP 1, tail number ZJ122, made the debut as the air station prepared for its annual air day on July 8. The he
HMS Montrose, the latest Royal Navy frigate to complete her modernization in Devonport, set sail on July 7 for the first time in almost three years. The Type 23 frigate began her refit in 2014 and the opportunity was seized to fit her with the newly developed Sea Ceptor missile system. Sea Ceptor an
Royal Navy’s former flagship HMS Ocean paid one final visit to her affiliated city of Sunderland before it is paid off next spring. HMS Ocean is leaving service as she is set to be replaced by the HMS Queen Elizabeth which took to sea this summer. The ship will be paid off after she completes her [&
NATO is eyeing the German naval station Warnemünde as logistical support for ships assigned to its maritime task groups, German media are reporting. According to the Ostsee-Zeitung which received a confirmation from the German defense ministry, Germany had earlier offered NATO to share the base in R
U.S.-based boat builder Metal Shark has entered a partnership with Dutch shipbuilder Damen for the construction of up to 13 near coastal patrol vessels (NCPV) for South American countries. Metal Shark was contracted by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command in June this year to build the boats for Domin
Australia’s Future Submarine project officially opened an office in Cherbourg, France in a July 9 ceremony attended by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The office is a tripartite secure facility which will house submarine designers, naval architects and engineers who will work alongside e
Royal Navy’s 39 junior submariners have recently completed their Submarine Qualifying Course (SMQ) at HM Naval Base Clyde. There to witness the occasion was Rear Admiral John Weale, Rear Admiral Submarines (RASM), and Gillian and Jamie Molyneux, the wife and son of submariner and George Medal recipi
Defense forces from 17 countries are attending the multinational Black Sea exercise Sea Breeze which is taking place from July 10 to 22, in Ukraine. The exercise is co-hosted by the U.S. and Ukraine and will involve air, land, sea, and amphibious forces. The annual recurring multinational exercise i
