Amphibious & Support Ships
UK-French future cruise/anti-ship weapon program passes “key review”
A joint French and British program to develop a new generation of anti-ship missiles has passed the “key review” phase, French missile maker MBDA has announced. The review was completed two years into the FC/ASW (future cruise/anti-ship weapon) concept phase, and was carried out jointly by the UK’s
UK starts integration of Meteor, SPEAR missiles on F-35B fighter jets
UK defense contractor BAE Systems announced it has started work on the integration of Meteor air-to-air and SPEAR surface attack missiles on to the UK’s fleet of F-35B fighter jets. As explained by the company, it has received an initial funding award from Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor on th
Spain mulling purchase of US assault amphibious vehicles
Spain could buy BAE Systems-built assault amphibious vehicles(AAV) following a US State Department approval for the possible sale of 11 AAVs to the European country. As outlined in the approval, announced on March 15, Spain is looking to buy 11 AAVs in three different configurations under a deal tha
US guided missile submarine USS Florida stops in Greece
US Navy’s Ohio-class cruise missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) arrived in Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, for a scheduled port visit on March 14. While the Kings Bay, Georgia, homeported USS Florida is on a routine deployment in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, it is rare for the
Scotland hosting 13 countries for tri-service drill Joint Warrior
Scotland is set to host 35 warships, 5 submarines and 59 aircraft and helicopters from 13 countries for this year’s edition of exercise Joint Warrior which is starting on March 30. More than 10,000 military personnel from the UK’s Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and their allies will carry out two
US destroyer Donald Cook completes eighth European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, after completing its eighth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol of Europe and Africa. Donald Cook began its patrol Nov. 17, 2018 to conduct naval operations in the US 6th Fl
Second US, UK, Japan drill in Western Pacific starting this week
Assets from the navies of Japan, the UK and US are scheduled top take part in their second trilateral exercise later this week. The inaugural Asia Pacific exercise took place in December 2018. The drill will take place in the Western Pacific and is scheduled for kick off on March 14. Japan will be r
Royal Navy frigate arrives in Japan on three-year deployment to Middle East
Royal Navy’s Type 23 Frigate HMS Montrose arrived in Japan on March 8, becoming the fourth Royal Navy ship to visit the country in a year. HMS Montrose pulled into Tokyo for a six-day stay at Harumi Wharf before starting exercises with Japan’s Maritime Self Defence Force and the US Navy’s Seventh Fl
Rolls-Royce to power Malta’s new OPV
Italian shipbuilder Cantiere Navale Vittoria has awarded Rolls-Royce a contract for the supply of a marine propulsion package for the new offshore patrol vessel being built for the Armed Forces of Malta. The 1800-ton, 74.8-meter, twin-screw vessel will get a pair of PROMAS controllable pitch propell
US European forces chief calls for more warships to respond to Russian threat
The US needs more surface vessels and anti-submarine warfare assets in Europe to counter evolving threats in the region.
Israel’s Elbit to supply combat suites for Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessels
Italian shipbuilder Cantiere Navale Vittoria has awarded Israeli defense company Elbit Systems a contract to supply combat suites and perform systems integration for the three new Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessels. The three boats are built by Cantiere Navale Vittoria under a contract announced in
Royal Navy tanker Tidespring arrives at Cammell Laird for first docking
RFA Tidespring, the first of Royal Navy’s four 39,000 tonne Tide-class tankers, has moored at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead to start its inaugural docking period. This is the ship’s first overhaul since it entered service in November 2017 after arriving from South Korea in April. Its arrival to Birken
French aircraft carrier gets underway for first deployment since 2016
French Navy aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle got underway from its homeport in Toulon on Tuesday, March 5, to start Clemencau 2019 – its first operational deployment since 2016. The carrier got underway after completing carrier strike group and flight trials, following an 18-month mid-life over
HMS Prince of Wales loads first stores ahead of sea trials
The second of two Royal Navy aircraft carriers – HMS Prince of Wales – loaded first stores aboard in another step towards the ship’s maiden voyage. More than 62 tonnes of supplies – bandages, pots, pans, camp beds, pipe clamps, hoses, valves and firefighting equipment – have been moved on to the shi