Amphibious & Support Ships
Italy decommissions additional two ships as part of downsizing plan
The Italian Navy has hosted another dual-ship decommissioning ceremony as it proceeds with its plans for the downsizing and modernization of an ageing fleet. Maestrale-class frigate ITS Euro and the patrol ship ITS Aviere, which was initially destined for Iraq, bowed out of service in a ceremony at
Navantia lays keel for first Saudi Navy Avante corvette
A keel-laying ceremony held in Cadiz, Spain, has marked the start of assembly works on the Royal Saudi Navy’s first Avante 2200 corvette. The ships are built by SAMI Navantia Naval Industries (SAMINavantia), a joint venture between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Navantia S.A. The keel-
Royal Navy destroyer home after Strait of Hormuz patrols
The Type 45 destroyer performed a multitude of missions in the last seven months.
German combat support ship getting integrated hospital
FGS Frankfurt am Main, one of two German Navy combat support ships, is set to become the service’s first ship to receive an integrated hospital on its deck. The ship is being upgraded at German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK) where it will be fitted with the integrated Naval Rescue Center (iMERZ). The rescu
Italian Navy decommissions its final two Minerva-class corvettes
The Italian Navy retired the last of its Minerva-class corvettes in a sunset ceremony at the Augusta naval base on September 25. With the decommissioning of ITS Driade and ITS Minerva after their 30-year service, the navy is advancing its plan of downsizing an ageing fleet. Driade and Minerva were t
Eisenhower carrier strike group completes SWATT with Dutch frigate
US Navy ships from the carrier strike group assembled around aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) have welcomed a Dutch frigate into their formation as they completed a major pre-deployment exercise. De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate HNLMS De Ruyter (FFG-804) worked with Carrier Strike
Norwegian Armed Forces award framework contract for naval base Haakonsvern
The Norwegian Armed Forces Logistics Organization (FLO) has awarded a framework contract to Endúr Maritime for supplementary maintenance assignments at the naval base Haakonsvern in Bergen. Specifically, the contract comprises maintenance services and alteration work for all vessel classes the navy
A helicopter carrier for the German Navy?
The German Navy should acquire a helicopter carrier, a high-ranking German politician said as he stressed the need for the country to invest more in its defense. Speaking to German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Bavaria minister president Markus Söder said that the country should work harder toward the
HMS Queen Elizabeth visits Canada on deployment’s first port call
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on September 12 for the ship’s first port call to the city. The 65,000-ton warship, the biggest ever built for the Royal Navy, will be joined in harbor by other ships from the UK carrier strike group who are on a de
Babcock announced as Royal Navy Type 31 frigate competition winner
The Royal Navy has picked Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 proposal as the preferred design for its Type 31 frigates. As confirmed by Babcock, the fleet of five ships will be built at an average production cost of £250 million per ship. The announcement of the preferred design also means that the Royal Navy’
Dutch, Portuguese frigates getting Thales’ radar electronic support measures
Royal Netherlands Navy and Portuguese Navy Karel Doorman-class frigates are getting Thales-developed Vigile D radar electronic support measures as part of their planned upgrades. The solution will be fitted on three Dutch Navy vessels, and two Portuguese Navy frigates. As explained by Thales, Vigile
UK signs maintenance deal for 2,200 military boats
The UK defense ministry has authorized a new £177 million (approx. $218.4m) deal for the maintenance of some 2,200 boats used across the British military. The Boats In-Service Support (BISS) agreement, negotiated by Defence Equipment and Support, the procurement arm of the MOD, enables spares, repai
NATO ships visit New York ahead of ASW drill off Canada
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group One (SNMG1) wrapped up a four-day visit to New York on September 3 after previously completing their first series of training events since arriving in the US. The ships are now headed for Halifax, Canada, where they will be part of a 22-ship strong anti-subm
RFA Mounts Bay delivers first aid to Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay distributed relief items, including vital shelter kits to The Bahamas which was hit by the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian. A rigid-hulled inflatable boat was deployed from RFA Mounts Bay on September 4 with a dedicated humanitarian and disaster relief team to join