All
Russian Navy to commission sixth Buyan-M corvette Vyshny Volochyok this month
The Russian Navy is scheduled to commission its sixth Project 21631 corvette ‘Vyshny Volochyok’ by the end of this month, the Russian defense ministry announced on Tuesday. Vyshny Volochyok is part of the Buyan-M class of corvettes, an upgraded version of the three Project 21630 (Buyan) vessels whic
Thales begins Sea Fire radar production for French FTI frigate
French defense technology company Thales announced it has started production works on the first Sea Fire radar for the French Navy’s FTI future medium-size frigates. The Sea Fire is fully solid-state multifunction radar with a four-panel phased array antenna. According to the company, it is designed
Canadian frigate stops in Hong Kong for first port call on Asia Pacific deployment
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Vancouver arrived in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on May 3 for the first port visit of her Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment. The Esquimalt, British Columbia, based frigate will visit several ports in the Indo-Asia-Pacific during a deployment dubbed operati
USS Bonhomme Richard arrives at new-old homeport
US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrived at its new homeport in San Diego on May 8, concluding a homeport change from Sasebo, Japan. Bonhomme Richard departed San Diego in April 2012 for Sasebo, Japan, to replace USS Essex (LHD 2) as the Navy’s only forward-deployed amp
US Navy research vessel R/V Thomas G. Thompson back at sea after mid life refit
The US Navy-owned research vessel (R/V) Thomas G. Thompson returned to sea recently following an 18-month mid-life refit at Vigor Marine’s Harbor Island shipyard in Seattle. The vessel was “was refurbished from stem to stern”, according to Vigor Marine, and has received new operating systems and tec
Guatemala Navy, US Coast Guard intercept record cocaine shipment
The Guatemalan Navy, working with the US Coast Guard, intercepted the largest cocaine shipment in Guatemala’s history some 300 nautical miles off its coast. According to a Guatemalan Armed Forces statement on May 8, the narcotics were intercepted aboard a Tanzania-flagged cargo ship. Following the o
Spain-based destroyer USS Ross concludes forward-deployed patrol
US Navy’s Spain-based Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) completed its sixth patrol in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, returning to its forward-deployed location at Naval Station Rota on May 7. Ross departed Rota Jan. 8, 2018, and in the course of its four-month patr
BAE Systems gets $175m contract for APKWS laser-guided rocket production
The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $175 million contract to deliver over 7,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rockets. This latest contract modification was made under the Navy’s 2016 $600 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, which is the contracti
France to build fifth nuclear Barracuda-class submarine
French defense minister Florence Parly announced on May 4 that another Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine was ordered for the French Navy. According to a defense ministry statement, the decision to order the fifth boat in the class was made during a defense ministry meeting on May 2. The new g
German Navy orders AeroVironment’s Puma UAS
The German Navy has ordered three Puma maritime unmanned aircraft vehicles from US-based unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer AeroVironment. As announced by ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, a German system and software company which was chosen as the main contractor for the unmanned aircraft
Construction starts on first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
US shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries has officially started fabrication of the first “Flight III” Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer, the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125). The ceremony took place May 7 after shipbuilders at Ingalls Industries cut the first 100 tons of steel. “The start
German Navy frigate FGS Sachsen concludes operation Sophia deployment
The first German Navy vessel to deploy in 2018 is returning home after concluding a five-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the EU-led operation Sophia. FGS Sachsen, the lead ship of the German Navy’s F124 air defense frigates, is set to return to her homeport in Wilhelmshaven on M
International mine countermeasure drill kicks off in Australia
An international mine countermeasure exercise got underway on Australia’s New South Wales south coast at Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base HMAS Creswell on May 7. The biennial Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) Mine Countermeasures and Diving Exercise (MCM DIVEX) is set to conclude after two week
Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt returns from seven-month deployment
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) wrapped up a seven-month deployment to the Middle East and Asia Pacific returning to San Diego on May 7. CVN 71 returned to San Diego together with guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) which is part of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG)