The US Army has picked Vigor Marine to build the service’s new landing craft, dubbed maneuver support vessel (light) – MSV(L). Worth almost a billion dollars ($979.7m), the contract is the largest award in Vigor’s history. The award comes concurrent with a “Milestone B” decision that moves the progr
UK defense secretary Michael Fallon on Tuesday unveiled a new Royal Navy fleet support model bringing a spate of existing contracts under new, overarching arrangements. Called Common Support Model (CSM), the arrangement will provide a framework for comprehensive support across the Royal Navy’s fleet
US sailors and marines from the Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade are set to take part in amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz 2017 off the coast of Southern California, October 20-30. Dawn Blitz 2017 is a scenario-driven exercise designed to train the Navy and Marine Corps
The US Navy has awarded shipbuilder Metal Shark a $29.8 million contract to build the first eleven of a new generation of patrol boats for the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The contract contains options which could see the shipbuilder build 50 boats for a price o
The Royal New Zealand Navy has contracted Saab to deliver their TactiCall communications system for New Zealand’s future fleet tanker. The new Maritime Sustainment Capability vessel, HMNZS Aotearoa, will be fitted with the integrated communications system which interconnects communication technologi
US defense contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems has been awarded a $418.6 million contract to manufacture additional Trident II (D5) missiles. The US defense department did not specify the exact quantity of missiles to be built and the contract has options which could drive its value up to over
The US Navy has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Technical Solutions division a $25 million contract to provide training services for tactical afloat shipboard, ashore and submarine command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. The
Sailors from the Royal Netherlands Navy’s landing platform dock HNLMS Rotterdam carried out a local maritime capacity building (LMCB) exercise with Seychelles military personnel. The activity took place on September 25 and 26 and was part of the ship’s regular EU NAVFOR activities. The LMCB focused
An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter embarked on the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) rescued two civilians after their private plane crashed several miles off the coast of Dominica, September 28. The civilians, coming from French Guadelupe and Antigua, sustained minor injuries and were tra
The Brazilian Navy’s first upgraded Super Lynx Mk21B helicopter has performed its maiden flight from the Yeovil facility in southwest England. The flight success was announced by aerospace and defense company Leonardo which is in charge of upgrading eight Mk21B helicopters under a US$160 million con
Taking part in the submarine escape and rescue exercise Dynamic Monarch for the first time, NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) supported the exercise using a new digital underwater acoustic communications capability providing more effective command and control to escape a
US Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721) has completed her homeport change, arriving to Hawaii from Guam on September 28. “The crew and I were sad to leave Guam, but at the same time we’re excited to see our new home and start the next chapter for Chicago,” said Cmdr.
US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 19), with over 700 navy medicine personnel aboard, is set to sail for Puerto Rico and hurricane relief efforts on April 29. A total of approximately 750 navy medicine staff is what it is needed to complete the medical manning needs to support the 250-bed ship
The US Navy’s afloat forward staging base-interim USS Ponce (AFSB(I) 15) returned to Naval Station Norfolk September 27 after spending over five years overseas. The navy’s first laser-weapon system fitted ship returned from the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations and is set to be decommissioned and di
