U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, July 12 after finishing its fourth forward-deployed patrol in support of ballistic missile defense of Europe. Donald Cook began its fourth patrol March 14, and participated in sev
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia signed a new contract with the Australian Capabilty and Sustainement Group (CASG) to provide platform design services for Australian Navy vessels. This contract will allow Navantia’s Australian division to provide engineering and technical assistance for the Australian a
The keel laying ceremony of the Logistic Support Ship (LSS) was held today at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Sestri Levante, Genoa). Construction works continue on the first unit of the renewal plan of the Italian Navy’s fleet, which has been commissioned to Fincantieri. The vessel will be
The Duke of Cambridge as Commodore-in-Chief Submarines presented 14 newly qualified submariners with their Dolphins during his first visit to HMS Artful. All fourteen had to meet the demanding standards of absolute professionalism to be awarded their Dolphins on-board the Royal Navy’s newest attack
The captain and first officer of an ocean going tug boat have been found guilty of drug trafficking following the biggest ever UK seizure of class A drugs. The cocaine, with an estimated potential street value of £512 million once adulterated, was found hidden on board the Tanzanian flagged MV Hamal
Lynx Defender returned home to Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton following a nine-month deployment to the Middle East. During their 263 days away from the UK, 239 Lynx Flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron home base Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, Somerset has been deployed in HMS Defe
Amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) pulled into Augusta Bay, Sicily for a scheduled port visit July 11. The stop offers Whidbey Island the opportunity to resupply, and is the first foreign port visit for the ship’s Sailors and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary
United States president Barack Obama on July 10 paid a visit to Spain and U.S. Naval Station Rota on his return home from the NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland. Obama spoke to more than 2,000 American and Spanish service members and their families during his visit. The president visited USS Ross (DDG 71
The British Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it signed a deal to purchase nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Boeing’s P-8A MPA are being purchased from the US Government via a Foreign Military Sale. According to the MoD, the cost of developing and
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Cardigan Bay has returned from her Arabian Gulf deployment which kept the ship away from home for four years and two months. The ship supported mine warfare operations in the Middle East – not just by the Royal Navy’s four minehunters in the region, but by US counterpa
Britain has announced that it would send an offshore patrol vessel to the Aegean Sea where NATO vessels are already engaged in gathering intelligence and patrol the waters between Greece and Turkey with the aim of preventing migration and smuggling. During the NATO summit in Warsaw Defence Secretary
Polish frigate ORP General Tadeusz Kosciuszko joined Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) on July 7. The former U.S. Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, one of two in the Polish Navy, will spend the next few months under NATO flag providing support to NATO maritime activities. ORP General Tade
The UK Ministry of Defence has invited potential suppliers of the Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) capability to attend the FSS industry day later this month. The 2015 UK Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) confirmed the need for MARS Fleet Solid Support
The European Parliament has backed the European Commission proposal to establish a European border and Coast Guard with the aim of protecting Europe’s external borders. “We welcome the endorsement of the proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard by the European Parliament today. If we want to m
