French state-owned shipbuilder DCNS announced on Wednesday it was changing its name to Naval Group, for better “exposure and credibility in international markets”. “The creation of a strong, unifying brand, that embodies both our heritage and our expertise will enable us to meet two major objectives
Dynamic Mongoose 2017, a NATO-led submarine surveillance exercise, began on Tuesday off the coast of Iceland. Ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from 10 allied nations gathered in the North Atlantic Ocean for anti-submarine and anti-surface training. Submarines from France, Germany, the Nethe
FGS Rottweil, German Navy’s former Frankenthal-class minehunter which now serves as a diver support vessel, wrapped up her deployment to NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG 2) and is on her way home. Rottweil is expected to enter her homeport at navy base Kiel on June 30 after five
The Italian Navy hosted its Algerian counterpart in the Italian port of Augusta for the bilateral exercise Medex-17. Medex consisted of a harbor and an at sea phase, taking place between June 12 and 16. Now in its ninth edition, the exercise is part of the 5 + 5 defense initiative aimed at enhancing
Spanish Navy’s F-105 frigate ESPS Cristóbal Colón is on her way home after she spent the last four months stationed in Australia helping Royal Australian Navy sailors get acquainted with the Aegis combat system. During her time embedded with the Royal Australian Navy fleet she welcomed more than 200
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
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
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
Some 50 ships from 14 nations concluded this year’s edition of BALTOPS 2017, the largest NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea, entering Kiel, Germany on Friday. The U.S.-led drill saw participants hone their skills in air, surface, sub-surface, mine warfare and amphibious operations in the Baltic Sea. “E
German Navy’s combat support ship EGV Frankfurt am Main on Wednesday arrived in Kiel where it will be repaired by German Navy Yards. The shipbuilder will be working on damages Frankfurt am Main sustained entering the Wilhelmshaven navy base late in the evening on March 16. The combat support ship wa
SD Tempest, a tug operated by Serco, will become the “official tug” of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth once she arrives at Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Portsmouth this year. SD Tempest, named in late May, has been specifically procured to support the arrival of HMS Queen
Royal Navy amphibious transport dock HMS Albion is scheduled to sail from Devonport Naval Base at the end of the week after spending almost six years tied to port in “extended readiness”. In late 2011 the ship was placed at extended readiness, following the decision by the UK Government in the Strat
German soldiers and personnel assigned to the P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) detachment are concluding a three-month deployment to the EUNAVFOR’s operation Atalanta this week. Before the 85 personnel depart their current base in Djibouti to fly home to Germany, Atalanta Fo
Italian shipbuilder and defense contractor Fincantieri announced it acquired Isselnord to boost its naval services business. The agreement for the initial acquisition of of a majority stake in the company was signed through Fincantieri’s subsidiary company Delfi with full takeover to be completed wi