The Canadian Coast Guard is nearing the mid-way point of its 2018 Arctic operational season, which runs into November. All seven scheduled vessels have been deployed to the Arctic, the last being the CCGS Terry Fox, which departed Montreal on August 27 to conduct icebreaking assistance in the Northw
Austal USA has delivered its ninth Independence-class littoral combat ship (LCS) to the US Navy. The future USS Charleston (LCS 18) is the third Austal designed and built LCS delivered to the navy this year and will be the fourteenth to enter the fleet. The newbuilding completed its acceptance trial
Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) has selected Optimarin to supply ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) for nine offshore patrol cutters (OPC) to be built at its Panama City, FL shipyard. The agreement with ESG will see the Optimarin Ballast Systems (OBS) fitted in the new OPCs, designed to support
The US Navy has awarded Boeing a contract to design and build the MQ-25A Stingray, the first operational carrier-based unmanned refueling aircraft. This fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract with a ceiling price of $805.3 million was awarded August 30 and provides for the design, development, f
A team of US Navy medical professionals arrived in Colombia aboard USS Gunston Hall on August 25 to begin subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) with Colombian medical professionals. The visit and partner capacity building engagements taking place in the town of Riohacha are part of Southern Partner
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Phoenix International Holdings a $29.9 million contract modification to exercise options for the continued maintenance and operation of the Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System. Under the contract, Phoenix International will provide personnel
F-35C Joint Strike Fighters are conducting first flight ops aboard an aircraft carrier ever as part of their Operational Test-1 (OT-1) on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). OT-1 evaluates the full spectrum of the F-35C’s suitability for operation within a carrier air wing and mission effectiveness to
Virginia-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance specialist MAG Aerospace (MAG) has acquired Ausley Associates to boost its naval unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) services offering. MAG said the acquisition adds over 200 system engineering, program management, and logistics professionals t
The US Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) completed the first flight of the recently-delivered Airborne Systems Training and Research Support (ASTARS) III, August 21. The first flight objective validated the aircraft’s Naval subsystems ahead of its addition to the USNTPS’ class 155 syllabus which bega
US Navy’s forward-deployed destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) exited the Black Sea, August 27, after 15 days of maritime security operations and theater security engagements. USS Carney was in the Black Sea at the same time as USNS Carson City (T-EPF 7), which became the first Spearhead-class expeditiona
Chilean state-owned shipbuilder ASMAR has officially started construction on the new Antarctic icebreaking vessel for the Chilean Navy. The steel-cutting ceremony took place on August 16 and was attended by shipyard and navy officials. Dubbed Project “Antarctica I”, the new Polar-class vessel will r
Ships from the US Navy’s Wasp amphibious ready group (ARG) met up with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) amphibious transport dock ship JS Osumi (LST 4001) in the Philippine Sea for maneuvers on August 26. During a passing exercise, multiple ships sail in formation to practice communications
Highest ranking US Navy officials released statements Aug. 25 on the death of Senator and Navy veteran John S. McCain III who died from brain cancer Aug. 25 at age 81. Richard V. Spencer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and the commanding officer of USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), Cmdr.
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon a $60 million contract modification for work on the delivery of torpedoes and related support services for the navies of the US and Taiwan. Half of the purchases under the contract are reserved for Taiwan, while 47 percent is for the US Navy with