Amphibious & Support Ships
In a first: Italian Navy uses new M-40 target drones in carrier protection exercise
The Italian Navy recently used the new Leonardo-developed M-40 target drones in an exercise involving the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and Durand de la Penne-class destroyer ITS Francesco Mimbelli. The exercise saw the aircraft carrier and its complement of AV8B+ fighter aircraft training alongside t
USS Porter in Spain for repairs after European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a scheduled training and maintenance availability (TRAV) on February 13. The maintenance is being conducted after the ship completed a patrol in the US 6th Fleet Area of Operations.
SNMG2 frigates conduct force integration training in Eastern Med
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) are currently underway in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, taking part in what the NATO Maritime Command describes as advanced Force Integration Training (FIT). The drills are being conducted as part of the group’s patrols in the region. Composed o
Royal Navy eyeing development of new “littoral strike ships”
The Royal Navy could possibly get a fleet of two new “Littoral Strike Ships” for operations close to the shore, UK defense secretary Gavin Williamson announced during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies on February 11. Research into the feasibility of the
Refurbished Italian Harrier returns home aboard USS Kearsarge
An Italian AV-8B Harrier hitched a ride home aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) after six months of maintenance in the US. The Italian aircraft, along with its flight crew, returned to Grottaglie Naval Base, Italy, on January 3, after the six months of scheduled maintena
Chilean icebreaker Antartica 1 getting Finnish electromagnetic kits
Chilean ivebreaker Antarctica 1 will feature electromagnetic compatibility and interference equipment from Finland’s Surma, under a contract awarded by prime contractor ASMAR. Surma will assist ASMAR throughout the multiyear project managing the EMC working group of the Antartica 1 project. The Finn
France’s Naval Group joins forces with Royal IHC on Dutch submarine replacement project
French defense contractor Naval Group has joined forces with Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC in a bid to secure a contract for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s submarine replacement project. The two companies are combining their experience and expertise in designing and manufacturing complex maritime and de
Royal Navy receives C-Enduro autonomous vessel
The Royal Navy received the long-endurance autonomous vessel known as the C-Enduro, vessel manufacturer L2 ASV announced on February 5. The C-Enduro will be used for military data gathering trials by the mine countermeasures and hydrographic capability (MHC) programme as the navy seeks to exploit au
Sunken Norwegian frigate nearly ready for salvage as all torpedoes detonated
All torpedoes from the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad have been removed and detonated over a course of two days as navy and civilian crews finalize preparations for the lifting of the ship. The country’s defense ministry did not specify exactly how many Sting Ray torpedoes were det
Norway’s new support ship HNoMS Maud starts journey home
The Royal Norwegian Navy’s new logistics and support vessel HNoMS Maud is en route home after getting underway from Busan, South Korea, where it was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The ship started her journey home on Sunday, after being accepted by the navy from DSME in No
UK opens High-G training site for fighter jets
A new High-G training and test facility used by fast jet pilots in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force to replicate flight in aircraft was opened at RAF Cranwell on February 4. Developed under a £44m project, the facility will allow pilots to experience up to 9G – nine times the normal gravitational
HMS Montrose visits Darwin on second Asia Pacific port visit
After becoming the first Royal Navy ship to visit Auckland, New Zealand, in 20 years, Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose visited Darwin, Australia. Continuing a trend, the frigate became the first Royal Navy warship in a decade to visit Australia’s northernmost and remotest city. The Plymouth-based warshi
Babcock nets Royal Navy ship data handling contract
The UK defense ministry has awarded defense contractor Babcock International a configuration management contract for the Royal Navy (RN) and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) surface ship fleet. Supported by Allan Webb Ltd, who will provide specialist data interrogation skills, Babcock will assume res
Atlas pitches MCM toolbox for new Belgian, Dutch minehunters
German-based technology company Atlas is offering a set of mine countermeasures (MCM) systems for a new class of minehunters that are to be built for the Belgian and Dutch Navy. The current minehunters operated by Belgium and the Netherlands were integrated by Atlas Elektronik and are equipped with