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Construction begins on new Australian Navy Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels
A new class of Royal Australian Navy offshore patrol vessels (OPV) officially started construction in a ceremony in Adelaide on November 15. Deputy Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Mark Hammond, joined staff from Navy’s Construction Branch in Adelaide today to see the welding of the first two component b
International submarine escape and rescue drill concludes in Italy
A major submarine escape and rescue exercise hosted by Italy concluded in the Gulf of Taranto on November 8. In addition to two submarines and multiple ships, the exercise was attended by International Submarine Escape & Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO) based in Northwood, United Kingdom. Greek subma
Australian minehunters joining US-Japanese mine warfare exercise
Mine countermeasure ships from the navies of the US and Japan will be joined by their Australian counterparts for a mine warfare exercise off the coast of southern Japan which kicks off November 17. The drill is called Mine Warfare Exercise 3JA 2018 and is part of an annual exercise series organized
USS Somerset gets underway from San Diego for drills with new Peruvian LPD BAP Pisco
US Navy’s amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) got underway from her San Diego homeport on November 12 en route to Peru where she will join the Peruvian Navy’s new landing platform dock ship B.A.P. Pisco for exercises. Somerset and Pisco will carry out joint simulation exercises for
UK places order for additional 17 F-35s
The UK defense ministry announced it has ordered an additional 17 F-35 stealth jets, doubling the total number of aircraft ordered. The 17 new F-35B aircraft will be delivered between 2020 and 2022 and will complement the 16 British aircraft currently based at RAF Marham and in the US, as well as tw
USS Ronald Reagan, USS John C. Stennis begin dual carrier operations in Philippine Sea
US Navy aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan and USS John C. Stennis have kicked off high-end dual carrier operations in the Philippine Sea. Approximately 150 aircraft, 10 ships and 12,600 personnel from the two carrier strike groups will execute complex air, surface and anti-submarine warfare operat
SEA teams up with Daronmont Technologies for SEA 1000, SEA 5000 work
UK defense contractor SEA announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Australian-defense company Daronmont Technologies to address Royal Australian Navy requirements outlined in the Future Submarine (SEA 1000) and Hunter-class Frigate (SEA 5000) programs. Daronmont Technolog
Raising HNoMS Helge Ingstad to take three weeks
An operation to raise the almost-submerged Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad following a collision in the Hjeltefjorden fjord on November 8 is expected to be completed within some three weeks, the navy has said. Should all go according to plans, the stricken frigate will be loaded on
USS Lewis B. Puller embarks first airborne mine countermeasures in Middle East
The US Navy’s expeditionary sea-base platform ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) has embarked an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to the “Blackhawks” of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 for the first time in the US 5th Fleet area of operations. The training, which concluded Novemb
US Navy captain pleads guilty, master chief gets jail time in Fat Leonard bribery case
A former US Navy master chief received jail time and a navy captain pleaded guilty Captain pleaded guilty in the expansive corruption and fraud investigation into an elaborate scheme to overcharge the US Navy for ship husbanding services in foreign ports. In an appearance before the US District Cour
DSME gets funds to build 5th and 6th South Korean FFX II Daegu-class frigate
South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Engineering (DSME) announced on November 14 it has been awarded a contract to build the fifth and sixth second-batch Daegu-class frigates for the Republic of Korea Navy. Also referred to as FFX II, the frigates are an improved version of the Incheon-c
Turkey’s Ares lands Omani fast patrol vessel deal
Turkish shipbuilder Ares announced it has been awarded a contract to deliver fast patrol vessels to the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard (ROPCG). As noted by Ares, this is Turkey’s first naval export program to Turkey. ROPCG has ordered a total of 14 ‘Ares 85’ patrol and interceptor vessel. They are sc
USS Bulkeley returns from deployment with Harry S. Truman carrier strike group
US Navy destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) returned to Naval Station Norfolk on November 11, completing a seven-month deployment to the Navy’s US 6th Fleet area of responsibility. The ship operated as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) and also conducted independent operations in
US Navy P-8A joins Colombian, Peruvian submarines for ASW exercises
A US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 joined Peruvian and Colombian Navy submarines for a tri-lateral submarine exercise in the waters north of Colombia. The five-day exercise concluded on November 6 and provided opportunities to further the interoperability and coordination