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Navantia Australia announces opening of Singapore office
Navantia Australia on April 27 opened its first international office in Singapore, the company said in an announcement on May 17. The company further said that it would now be managing the Asia Pacific operations for the Navantia group which is one of three bidders in the Royal Australian Navy’s Fut
UK MoD issues tender for two and “optional” third Fleet Solid Support Ship
The UK defense ministry has issued a tender for the acquisition of Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships which will be operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Compared to the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review which confirmed the need for three Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) Fleet
Construction starts on first of four new Russian Navy Project 21980 anti-terror boats
A keel-laying ceremony at Russia’s Vympel Shipyard on May 15 marked the construction start of the first of four new Project 21980 (Grachonok-class) anti-terror vessels. The vessels are being constructed under a 2017 contract, signed between Vympel and the National Guard of the Russian Federation. Al
Royal Navy Merlins return from ASW drill off Norway
Two Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopters have returned home after two weeks of anti submarine warfare drills in the Norwegian Fjords as part of exercise Rogue Wizards 2018. The helicopters were flown by ‘Flying Sailors’ from the Merlin Training Squadron at RNAS Culdrose. 824 NAS is the unit which train
USNS Mercy, Brunswick cross deck with Canadian frigate in Asia Pacific
US Military Sealift Command operated ships USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) met with the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Vancouver while underway in Asia Pacific, on May 15. While it was not stated, the exercise likely took place in the South China Sea as hospital ship USNS Mercy d
First British F-35Bs to arrive home early June, defense minister says
The first Royal Navy and Air Force F-35B jets are scheduled to fly into their new home at RAF Marham next month, the UK defense minister has announced. Four F-35Bs will arrive in the first tranche of stealth fighters to transfer from the USA to the UK, flying into RAF Marham in East Anglia. The Norf
US Navy orders more Paveway II laser guided training rounds
The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $23.1 million contract for follow-on production of enhanced laser guided training rounds (ELGTRs) to support the service’s Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) weapons training. The award exercises the initial option of the contract negotiated in 2017 and exte
Pelosi: Prompt retesting needed at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
US Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has sent a letter to the US Navy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calling for the prompt retesting of areas of the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard subject to massive potential manipulation and falsification of data. Pelosi also requested the retesti
Audit: Australian multi-billion shipbuilding plan carries extreme risk
Australian government’s $89 billion program to develop new ships and submarines carries a high to extreme level of risk, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) warned in its recent audit. The shipbuilding program for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) encompasses new submarines, major surface comb
US Navy adding solar power to its Hybrid Tiger UAV
The US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) will be adding solar technology to its Hybrid Tiger unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as it seeks to achieve a flight duration of over three days for the system. NRL has awarded Alta Devices a contract to deliver its light-weight solar technology for the UAV. Alta
US Navy lays keel for future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118)
US shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) hosted a keel-laying ceremony for the US Navy’s future Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) on May 14. Irene Hirano Inouye, the ship’s sponsor and wife of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, was in attendance to authe
Korean Navy’s second amphibious assault ship ROKS Marado hits the water
The Republic of Korea Navy has launched ROKS Marado, its improved Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship, at Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction shipyard in Busan. The ceremony took place Monday and was hosted by South Korean defense minister Song Young-moo. According to the Defense Acquisition Prog
US Navy picks Vigor for repair work on USS Sampson
The US Navy has awarded a $42.2 million dollar contract to Vigor for repairs and changes to the guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102). Work on the USS Sampson will be done in Seattle and Everett and may include blasting, painting and surface preparation. Under the deal, work on the ship’s f
SNMG2 stops in Georgia after concluding Romanian-hosted Sea Shield exercise
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) arrived in Poti, Georgia, on May 14 after concluding their participation in the Romanian-hosted Black Sea exercise Sea Shield 2018. During the four-day port call to Poti, the ships’ crews will join Georgian Border Police for drills aimed at incre