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Russia launches seventh Improved Kilo-class submarine Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Russian shipbuilder Admiralty Shipyards launched the first of a second batch of Improved Kilo-class submarines in a March 28 ceremony in St. Petersburg. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky will also be the first Project 636.3 to be built for the Vladivostok-based Pacific Fleet. The first six units in the class
Keel laid for 25th US Navy littoral combat ship Marinette (LCS 25)
Fincantieri Marinette Marine has hosted a keel-laying ceremony for the US Navy’s future littoral combat ship USS Marinette (LCS 25). During a March 27 ceremony in which the beginning of the ship’s construction was formally marked, the ship’s sponsor Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan, ha
Australian frigate HMAS Melbourne starts swan song deployment
Royal Australian Navy’s Adelaide-class frigate HMAS Melbourne got underway from her Sydney homeport to start a two-month deployment to the Pacific and South East Asia. “It’s sad to think about those at home when we sail from Sydney on deployment, but I’m excited about what the ship and crew will ach
Royal Navy landing ship joins US Navy minehunting drill off Virginia
Royal Navy auxiliary landing ship dock RFA Mounts Bay served as the test bed for a mobile US Navy minehunting force during a recent test off the coast of Virginia. The test included helicopters, divers, remote-controlled boats and automated surveying machines and was intended to see whether a task f
Nuclear propulsion system repairs delay USS Gerald R. Ford’s return to fleet
The lead ship of the US Navy’s new class of aircraft carriers, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), will return to operations three months later than originally planned, in part due to issues related to ship’s nuclear propulsion plant. News of the delay comes amid the confirmation of a US Navy plan to r
US Navy awards HII $1.4B contract for first Flight II LPD ship construction
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division a $1.47 billion contract for the detail design and construction of the amphibious transport dock LPD 30. The ship will be the 14th in the San Antonio class and the first Flight II LPD. LPD 30 is
Singaporean company unveils submersible fast attack boat concept
Singapore-based DK Naval Technologies has unveiled a new concept of a fast attack craft capable of operating up to 100 meters below the surface. Called the Seekrieger, the vessel is still a concept and could take up to three years before the first actual vessel hits the water. Seekrieger is envision
US Navy names sixth Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyer
US Navy’s sixth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer will be named in honor of Korean War veteran, and Navy Cross Recipient, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, the US Navy secretary has announced. Neal, a native of Springfield, Ohio, served with Helicopter Utility Squadron ONE (
Austal gets $261m for work on US Navy EPF ships 13 and 14
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Australia-based shipbuilder Austal a $261.7 million contract for additional work on Expeditionary Fast Transport Ships (EPF) 13 and 14. The contract award extends the EPF program to 2022, with construction of EPF 13 to commence in late 2019 and EPF 14 to
Thales establishing UK office to develop Tacticos for Type 31 frigates
France-based defense contractor Thales is opening a UK office for work on the Royal Navy’s future Type 31 frigate program. The company said it would be joining the Babcock-led team which is proposing the Arrowhead design for the new class of general-purpose frigates for the Royal Navy. Should the Ar
HII lays keel for US Navy’s 23rd Virginia-class submarine
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding held a keel authentication ceremony for the US Navy’s Virginia-class attack submarine New Jersey (SSN 796) on March 25. New Jersey is the 23rd Virginia-class fast attack submarine. Construction began in March 2016 and is about 42 percent compl
Australia fast-tracks Romeo helicopter upgrade for third air warfare destroyer
The Royal Australian Navy’s third Hobart-class air warfare destroyer Sydney is set to enter operations a year earlier than originally planned following an accelerated capability upgrade. As explained, the defense ministry was able to streamline a technical upgrade to the ship during its build at the
Damen to develop prototype expeditionary survey boat for Dutch Navy
The Netherlands’ Defense Material Organization (DMO) procurement agency has awarded Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Den Helder (DSDH) a contract to design, build and deliver a prototype expeditionary survey boat (ESB) for the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ESB is to be optimized for rapid environment
US Navy, Marine Corps wrap up integration exercise Pacific Blitz 2019
US Navy and Marine Corps units are wrapping up two weeks of joint drills as part of exercise Pacific Blitz 2019 in and off the coast of Southern California. The scenario-driven field-training exercise kicked off March 12 and is set to conclude on Tuesday, March 26. The exercise involved command and