Amphibious & Support Ships
MBDA signs €1B missile deal with Qatar Emiri Naval Forces
Italian missile manufacturer MBDA signed a 1 billion euro contract on June 29 to supply the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) with missiles for their new naval vessels to be procured from Fincantieri. Qatar is to acquire a total of seven surface vessels under the 3.9 billion euro contract which follow
MARSUR, Europe’s maritime security project
Military and civilian situational awareness practitioners have met in Hamburg, Germany to learn and share experiences with the aim of enhancing security at sea within the European MARSUR project. The Maritime Surveillance project (MARSUR) was launched in September 2006 by the European Defence Agency
USS Carter Hall stops in Bergen after Baltops 2016
U.S. Navy’s amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) arrived in Bergen, Norway for a scheduled port visit, June 26 after having participated in the NATO-led exercise Baltops. BALTOPS is an annually recurring multinational exercise designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, as
EGV Bonn returns home from NATO’s Aegean Sea mission
German Navy’s combat support ship EGV Bonn, flagship of NATO’s Standing Marititme Group 2, returned to her homeport in Wilhelmshaven, Germany after spending six months underway. During this time, the ship sailed a total of 26.000 nautical miles. First commanded by Flottillenadmiral (Rear Admiral) Jö
Migrant crisis: Combat support ship embarks 1286 rescued migrants
After a non-governmental organization ship reported spotting around 500 people in a wooden barge, 84 kilometers north-west of Tripoli, Libya, on June 24, German Navy combat support ship Frankfurt am Main was sent to the location to assist the rescue efforts. After arriving at the destination, the Ge
Lockheed Martin lands $357M international Aegis upkeep contract
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors has been awarded a $357 million contract for in-service work on the Advanced Electronic Guidance and Instrumentation System (AEGIS) for Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force and the Norwegian Navy. Under the U.S. Navy-awarded contract, Lockheed will carry out
Three Indian Navy ships arrive in Vladivostok, Russia
Three Indian Navy ships arrived in Vladivostok, Russia on a four day visit which started June 27, as part of the Eastern Fleet’s deployment to the South China Sea. Shivalik-class frigate Sahyadri, fleet tanker Shakti and Kora-class corvette Kirch reached Russia under the Command of the Flag Officer
British senior officer visits Combined Maritime Forces headquarters
The most senior British military officer visited Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain this month. The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Sir Nicholas Houghton GCB CB, accompanied by the Defence Senior Advisor for the Middle East (DSAME), Lieutenant-General Thomas Beckett CBE
Brazil drops out of RIMPAC 2016
The record number of countries to participate in the world’s largest naval exercise has been pushed down from 27 to 26 as it became known that Brazil would not take part in the drills in the Pacific. “Unfortunately, due to unforeseen scheduling commitments, Brazil is unable to participate in RIMPAC
USS San Jacinto dock in Naples, Italy
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) paid a four day visit to Naples, Italy and returned to regular tasks June 21. San Jacinto arrived in Naples following several days of at-sea operations with Italian naval vessels during a combined Flotta Verde/Great Green Fleet passing exerc
New flagship for NATO’s Aegean Sea mission
German Navy’s combat support ship EGV Bonn, flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2, was relieved of her duties by another German ship, frigate Karlsruhe, during a ceremony in Souda Bay, Crete. EGV Bonn sailed 20.000 nautical miles during the four months she served as flagship of NATO’s mission
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer shines in ‘Thursday War’
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond is fit for deployment again after completing six weeks of operational sea training off Plymouth. The Portsmouth-based warship tested both personnel and equipment to make sure everything is ready for front-line duties. It brings to an end eight months of tri
Erdogan: Turkey will produce own aircraft carrier soon
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Saturday that Turkey would produce its own aircraft carrier “soon”. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, Erdogan commented that Turkey would face no obstacles in constructing an aircraft carrier domestically as the nation’s
HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën concludes Caribbean deployment
The Royal Netherlands Navy frigate De Zeven Provinciën returned to her home port of Den Helder today following a five-month deployment to the Caribbean Sea. The lead ship of the De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates intercepted a total of four ships and about 1570 kilos of drugs. Three interceptions re