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Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER completes French Navy qualification flights
Austrian unmanned aerial system (UAS) manufacturer Schiebel announced its CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS completed qualification flights for the French Navy from 29 May to 3 June 2017. The flight trials were performed from the deck of the Bâtiment de Projection et de Commandement (BPC) Dixmude, the newest of
UK invests £135m in new F-35B hangar
The UK defense ministry announced it has awarded a £135million contract for the construction of a new hangar for its F-35B aircraft. The hangar will be located at RAF Marham and will house 12 of the new fast jet aircraft which will deploy from there to the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. It
Canadian Coast Guard increasing Arctic presence
The Canadian Coast Guard announced it has started its 2017 Arctic operational season during which seven Canadian ice breakers are set to deploy. The Coast Guard said it is expanding its Arctic season in 2017-2018 and will continue to gradually increase its presence over the next several years. Icebr
USS Ronald Reagan underway again after Singapore visit
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), got underway from Singapore June 21 following a four-day port visit. Ronald Reagan arrived in Singapore June 17, and sailors had the opportunity to experience local culture and participated in a variety of command-sponsor
US Navy updates grooming standards for women
The U.S. Navy has updated grooming standards which, among other, now allow women to wear a hair bun through the rear opening of a command or Navy ball cap. The change was prompted by a question from a San Diego Sailor June 6, according to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. “Effective im
Gryphon Technologies bags MDA’s Sea-Based X-Band Radar support contract
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded Gryphon Technologies, LC a $57 million contract to provide mission integration services in support of the Sea-Based X-Band Radar as it conducts its strategic mission. The SBX is part of the missile defense agency’s ballistic missile defense system. The SBX
Only NATO member without army hosts anti submarine warfare drill
Having no standing army and operating just four coast guard vessels has not prevented NATO-member Iceland from hosting one of the organization’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercises. From June 26 to July 8, NATO ships and submarines will gather in Iceland for a series of drills aimed at improvin
Video: Israel tests LORA missile in cargo ship launch
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced on June 20 a successful test firing of the LORA (Long-Range Artillery weapon system) from a cargo ship towards a pre-planned target. The tested missile is a long-range tactical ground-to-ground missile developed by IAI’s MALAM division. The weapon system w
Japan Coast Guard orders three Airbus H225 helicopters
The Japan Coast Guard has awarded Airbus Helicopters a contract for the delivery of three additional H225 Super Puma helicopters. This new order will bring the JCG’s total H225 fleet to nine units by February 2020. The JCG already placed an order for a sixth H225 in 2016, which will be delivered in
US Navy contracts Leidos for AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 ASW system installation
The U.S. Navy has awarded Leidos a $27.4 million contract modification that covers costs of waterfront support and the installation of the Navy’s AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 surface ship undersea warfare systems. The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 is a surface ship undersea warfare combat system with the capabilities to searc
Belgian Navy picks SeeByte for unmanned systems software delivery
The Belgian Navy has selected Batelle’s SeeByte to deliver its software and personnel training for the operation of unmanned maritime systems. The company’s SeeTrack software package will be integrated onto the Belgian AUV fleet which will be deployed for mine counter measures (MCM). The announcemen
USS Essex returns to sea after maintenance
The U.S. Navy’s Wasp-class multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) departed her homeport of San Diego, June 19 to recertify the ship after its maintenance availability. Essex has undergone more than a year of planned maintenance availability and is now testing its systems to return it
EMSA picks UAVs for surveillance activities
The European Maritime Safety Agency has picked a fixed-wing and a rotary-wing unmanned air vehicle to aid its border surveillance and control activities, according to two company announcements. The Tekever and Collecte Localisation Satellites consortium announced it has been contracted by EMSA to us
Airbus starts autonomous flights of VSR700 Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV)
Starting autonomous flight trials of its VSR700 Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) demonstrator, Airbus Helicopters has come a step closer to the first flight of the actual VSR700 prototype in 2018. A light military rotary-wing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle, the VSR700 is being developed jointly by