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Large-scale Exercise Kakadu kicks off
Exercise Kakadu, the largest maritime drill off its kind in the Australian Northern Territory, is beginning today. Held biennially, Exercise Kakadu is a joint exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force. More countries are attending this year than eve
US Navy’s Nimitz-class ships conduct dual-carrier ops
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) began dual-carrier sustainment and qualification operations on August 29 in the western Atlantic Ocean. “By training and operating together, the USS Harry S. Truman and USS Abraham Lincoln strike groups enhance combat readiness and intero
Sweden: Balex Delta 2018 completes
Numerous naval and coast guard assets participated in Helcom Balex Delta 2018, a major Baltic operational exercise in oil spill response. Coordinated by the Swedish Coast Guard and backed by the EU, the exercise took place in the waters of Karlskrona from August 27 to 31, 2018. Balex Delta is an ann
Boeing wins US Navy’s carrier-based refueling drone competition
The US Navy has awarded Boeing a contract to design and build the MQ-25A Stingray, the first operational carrier-based unmanned refueling aircraft. This fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract with a ceiling price of $805.3 million was awarded August 30 and provides for the design, development, f
Russia announces 25-ship Mediterranean Sea drill
Just days after media reports on Russia’s naval buildup in the Mediterranean Sea first emerged, the country’s defense ministry on Thursday announced a large-scale drill in the Mediterranean. Prior to the defense ministry’s announcement, the Russian Navy was said to have a little over ten warships sa
US Coast Guard cutter Sherman handed over to Sri Lanka Navy
The US Coast Guard handed over its decommissioned cutter USCGC Sherman to the Sri Lanka Navy in a ceremony on August 27. The ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe, Sri Lankan Navy commander, and Rear Admiral Michael Haycock of the US Coast Guard. The cutter was gifted to Sr
German, Dutch Marines set for evacuation drill aboard HNLMS Karel Doorman
Marines from Germany and the Netherlands will be honing their evacuation skills in the Rostock port aboard the Royal Netherlands Navy’s amphibious ship HNLMS Karel Doorman. Named ‘Schneller Adler 2018’ – which translates to Fast Eagle – the exercise starts on September 3 and will consist of port and
USS Jason Dunham intercepts large weapons shipment in Gulf of Aden
US Navy destroyer USS Jason Dunham has intercepted an unflagged boat transporting small arms in the Gulf of Aden. According to CNN, who first reported the seizure, the number of arms seized in the operation on Tuesday could exceed one thousand. Defense officials told CNN that the unflagged dhow’s de
US Navy names its 15th Master Chief Petty Officer
The US Navy has appointed Fleet Master Chief Russell Smith as its 15th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON). The decision was announced by Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson on August 29. Smith is taking over from Master Chief Steven Giordano who stepped down on June 21 a
US Navy medics start subject matter exchanges in Colombia
A team of US Navy medical professionals arrived in Colombia aboard USS Gunston Hall on August 25 to begin subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) with Colombian medical professionals. The visit and partner capacity building engagements taking place in the town of Riohacha are part of Southern Partner
Russia deploys large task group off Syria ahead of potential new Syria attacks
Russia has reportedly amassed a large task group in Syrian waters as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad mulls an assault on rebel positions in the northern Idlib province. With over ten warships deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, this is Russia’s largest naval buildup since the country stated supporti
Phoenix International gets $29m for US Navy SRDRS operation, maintenance
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Phoenix International Holdings a $29.9 million contract modification to exercise options for the continued maintenance and operation of the Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System. Under the contract, Phoenix International will provide personnel
F-35Cs start operational testing aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
F-35C Joint Strike Fighters are conducting first flight ops aboard an aircraft carrier ever as part of their Operational Test-1 (OT-1) on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). OT-1 evaluates the full spectrum of the F-35C’s suitability for operation within a carrier air wing and mission effectiveness to
HMS Prince of Wales’ operations room comes online two months ahead of schedule
The second of two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers, the future HMS Prine of Wales, now has a functional operations room – two months earlier than it was intially expected. The operations room will allow the crew of HMS Prince of Wales to watch for threats, track the movements of the carrier’s F-35B