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French Navy receives fifth FREMM multi-mission frigate ‘Bretagne’
French shipbuilder Naval Group has delivered the fifth FREMM multi-mission frigate, FS Bretagne, to the French Navy. Bretagne was handed over to the French Government Defense procurement and technology agency (DGA) on July 18, nine months after it concluded its first trials. The anti-submarine warfa
UK F-35Bs start vertical landing pad training
The UK’s short take off vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B jets have started training on the first of three vertical landing pads at RAF Marham. The VLPs are built for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation by a joint venture between Galliford Try and Lagan Construction. The Norfolk site is the main op
First female US Navy admiral passes away at 98
Retired US Navy Rear Adm. Alene B. Duerk, the service’s first female admiral, passed away July 21, the US Navy announced. “It took 197 years and a forward-looking Chief of Naval Operations, Elmo Zumwalt, to break with tradition before Alene Duerk became the first woman admiral in the US Navy,” said
Saab receives US Coast Guard OPC radar order
The US Navy has awarded Saab a second contract for the delivery of its Sea Giraffe AMB multi mode radar (MMR) for the US Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutters (OPC). Saab received the initial order worth $16.8 million for the MMR for the OPCs in October 2017. Options for further deliveries could bri
Spanish Navy deploys LPD Castilla to counter-piracy operation Atalanta
Spanish Navy’s Galicia-class landing platform dock ESPS Castilla got underway from her homeport at Rota Naval Base on July 19 to join the counter-piracy operation Atalanta off the Horn of Africa. ESPS Castilla will operate two SH-60 helicopters from the 10th aircraft squadron during the deployment a
UK MoD suspends Type 31 frigate program
The UK defense ministry’s project of acquiring “low-cost” Type 31 frigates has been brought to a halt due to what the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) office described as a lack of “compliant bids”. The process is now being streamlined, according to a IHS Jane’s report, and will be restarted in
US Coast Guard issues RFI for Polar Star icebreaker life extension
The US Coast Guard has issued a request for information (RFI) for a service life extension project (SLEP) for heavy icebreaker ‘Polar Star’. The service life extension project (SLEP) is being undertaken as part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program (ISVS) and will extend the service life of t
NAVCAD contracts Insitu for more ScanEagle UAS deliveries to Afghanistan
The US Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAVCAD) has awarded Insitu Inc. a $10.8 million contract to deliver an additional 27 ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems to Afghanistan. In addition to the systems, the contract includes 37 payloads and spares in support of the government of the Isl
USNS Spearhead deploys for Southern Partnership Station
The US Navy’s expeditionary fast transport USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) got underway from Virginia to join Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2018 – an annual series of US Navy deployments focused on exchanges with regional partner nation militaries and security forces. Spearhead will conduct subject ma
BNS Godetia becomes NATO SNMCMG1 flagship
Belgian Navy command and support ship BNS Godetia assumed the role of NATO Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) flagship on July 22, taking over from Dutch submarine support ship HNLMS Mercuur (A900). Despite having 780,000 nautical miles on the clock, Godetia brings a wealth of capabilit
US Coast Guard commissioning 28th fast response cutter ‘Nathan Bruckenthal’
The US Coast Guard is set to commission its newest fast response cutter, the Nathan Bruckenthal, in a ceremony on July 25. The commissioning ceremony at Alexandria City Pier, will be attended by Coast Guard Commandant, Adm. Karl Schultz, and the crew of the coast guard’s 28th fast response cutter. T
French Jeanne D’Arc task group returns from five-month Asia-Pacific deployment
Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude and La Fayette-class frigate FS Surcouf wrapped up the French Navy’s annual Jeanne D’Arc mission returning to naval base Toulon on July 19. The two ships got underway in late February and sailed a total of 26,500 nautical miles over a period of 145 days.
Canadian frigate HMCS St. John’s returns from SNMG1 deployment
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS St. John’s returned to her homeport in Halifax on July 23 after spending six months deployed to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). Joining SNMG1 on January 18, 2018, the frigate contributed to NATO operations as part of the Canadian operation Reassurance. Duri
Bulgarian-hosted exercise Breeze 2018 concludes
The Bulgarian-hosted international maritime exercise Breeze 2018 concluded in the Black Sea on July 20. Units from Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey, United States and NATO’s Allied Maritime Command took part in a week of drills. During the sea phase of the exercise,