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German minehunter Dillingen deploys to SNMCMG1
German Navy minehunter FGS Dillingen will be departing its Kiel homeport on January 21 to join the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group (SNMCMG1) for a six-month deployment. The vessel will first head for Zeebruge, Belgium, where it will join the international task group. After Dillingen joins
US Navy orders third FY2019 littoral combat ship
After completing contract negotiations with Austal for the construction of two fiscal year 2019 (FY 2019) littoral combat ships in December last year, the US Navy announced it is exercising a contract option with Lockheed Martin Corporation to purchase the third FY2019 LCS. In an announcement on Jan
Four-nation aircraft carrier drill underway in Persian Gulf
Frigates, destroyers and an aircraft carrier from four nations are currently underway in the Persian Gulf as part of the annual, multinational exercise Intrepid Sentinel 2019. The multilateral exercise is designed to increase capability and interoperability between the four nations. According to pho
Royal Navy frigate joins US destroyer in South China Sea operations
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll (F231) joined the US Navy’s Arleigh-Burke guided missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) for joint operations in the South China Sea between January 11 and 16. At sea, McCampbell and Argyll conducted communication drills, division tactics, and a personnel exch
Raytheon brings in Phoenix Products for NSM production
US defense contractor Raytheon announced it has signed an agreement with Kentucky-based Phoenix Products, Inc. (PPI) for the production of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM). The two sides signed a contract under the US Department of Defense’s Mentor-Protégé program and will see PPI produce NSM transpor
Spanish Aegis frigate joins Carrier Strike Group 12 in Norfolk
The Spanish Navy’s Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez (F 104) arrived at Naval Station Norfolk on January 14 where it will become part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 and conduct joint training and exercises. Méndez Núñez, homeported in Ferrol, Spain, was commissioned in 2006. She join
Lockheed Martin gets $172M for Long Range Anti-Ship Missile production
Lockheed Martin announced it has received a $172 million contract from the US Navy and Air Force for Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) production. The contract continues the production for the air-launched variant of LRASM, including a full production run of missiles and engineering support. This
Saab to equip new Norwegian Coast Guard vessels with communication systems
Swedish defense contractor announced it has been contracted to deliver its TactiCall communication system for the three new Norwegian Coast Guard vessels. The company said it entered an agreement with Vard Group AS, the main contractor on the Norwegian Coast Guard project P6615, to take on the commu
China opposes US, ally support for Taiwan’s submarine development program
China’s ministry of foreign affairs has voiced its opposition to foreign countries supporting the development of Taiwan’s indigenous submarine program. Speaking at a press conference on January 14, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China “firmly opposes arms sales to Taiwan by any coun
HMS Protector delivers equipment, supplies ahead of new Antarctic research mission
Royal Navy survey ship HMS Protector broke through nearly 300 miles of Antarctic ice to help scientists begin a five-year mission to understand how West Antarctica is contributing to global sea-level rise. Working together with British Antarctic Survey’s vessel RRS Ernest Shackleton, the Plymouth-ba
HMS Montrose first Royal Navy ship to visit Auckland, NZ, in 20 years
Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose arrived at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday, becoming the first Royal Navy ship to do so in 20 years. Welcoming the frigate to Auckland was the crew of Royal New Zealand Navy multi-purpose vessel HMNZS Canterbury who performed the traditional hak
Australia, US kick off anti submarine warfare exercise Sea Dragon in Guam
The US Navy and Australian Air Force kicked off the annual anti-submarine warfare exercise Sea Dragon on January 14. The multilateral exercise is based out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, with this year’s event running until Jan. 25. Participating US units will include Patrol Squadron (VP) 47, VP-
US destroyer Gravely becomes NATO group flagship
US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) assumed the role of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) flagship in a change of command ceremony in Denmark on January 14. US Navy Rear Adm. Edward Cashman assumed command of SNMG1 from Royal Danish Navy Commodore Anders F
French Navy receives first F3-R upgraded Rafale
The French Navy officially received its first Rafale M fighter jet upgraded to the F3-R standard in a ceremony at the Landivisiau Naval Air Base. The first flight of F3-R from Landivisiau took place on December 17, the defense ministry said. The aircraft was delivered after the upgrade was approved