General Dynamics NASSCO Starts Construction of USNS John Glenn General Dynamics NASSCO today began construction of the future USNS John Glenn, the second ship of the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program. The 765-foot long ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in the first quarte
HMAS Melbourne has intercepted a shipment of 353 kilograms of what is believed to be heroin during a boarding operation on a suspected drug smuggling dhow off the coast of Tanzania on Wednesday, 5 February 2014. The drugs are said to be worth $706 million Australian dollars, circa USD 626 million.
The South Korean Navy destroyer ROKS Choi Young has finished a joint exercise with the Ukrainian Navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachnyi in the Gulf of Aden. This was the first time in the history of the Ukrainian Navy to conduct an exercise with the South Korean Navy. The primary goal of the exercise wa
The keel for the Australian Navy’s second Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) HMAS Brisbane was laid today at Australia’s premier naval industry hub, Techport Australia. The ceremony was presided by the Australian Minister of Defence Senator the Hon David Johnston. “Thank you all for attending today. Toda
OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) and the Royal Australian Navy have signed a contract, under which OSI will provide in-service-support for its ECPINS-W Sub (Warship Submarine) software across the Navy fleet. The contract was signed for software upgrades and engineering support services over the next thr
The Royal Australian Navy’s NUSQN 725 squadron took delivery of the first MH-60R Seahawk Romeo maritime combat helicopter duo at an ‘In Service Date’ ceremony on Friday, January 24th at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. The delivery of Sea Hawk Romeo helicopters, which are replacing the Nav
The Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS TE MANA is ready to join NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield today, which will be the second time that a partner nation has contributed to NATO’s counter-piracy efforts after Ukraine. NATO welcomed the offer to contribute to the operation from the New Zealand Gov
Austal held a keel-laying ceremony for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service’s (ACBPS) fifth Cape Class Patrol Boat, the Cape Jervis, on 17 January 2014. The Cape Class Patrol Boats Contract, which includes design, construction and through-life support of eight 58- meter patrol boat
The MU90 lightweight torpedo developed by the European Economic Interest Group EUROTORP formed by DCNS, THALES and the Italian company WASS, is attracting growing interest among world navies. Two new navies have decided to follow in the footsteps of the Australian Navy and acquire the MU90 in 2013
Commander of South Korean Expeditionary Task Group, Captain Sung-Mok Choi, paid a visit to Commander of Combined Task Force 508, Rear Admiral Eugenio Diaz del Rio, aboard the Spanish Naval Vessel, ESPS Alvaro De Bazan, in the Gulf of Aden on 11 January 2014. The South Korean Navy staff arrived onb
Another busy year is ahead of the Royal Australian Navy’s replenishment oiler HMAS Sirius. Nevertheless, before she sets sail to support this year’s operations, she will have to undergo a scheduled maintenance period in order to be ready to head out to the high seas once again. In 2013, which was
A new Commanding Officer took the helm of HMAS Coonawarra during a formal handover-takeover ceremony in Darwin in December. As a former Commanding Officer of Fremantle and Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPB), Commander (CMDR) John Navin relieved CMDR Ben Favelle. CMDR Navin said that the main focus
India and Japan are planning to hold a naval exercise near Japan’s coast later this year, according to the New Indian Express. Indian Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Monday welcomed a visit from his Japanese colleague, Minister Itsunori Onodera in New Delhi. The ministers discussed defence cooperat
Austal launched the Cape Class Patrol Boat (CCBP), Cape Byron, at its facility in Henderson, Australia today (January 7th, 2014). The ship was launched 4 weeks ahead of schedule, exactly 1 year after launching of the first boat of the class, Cape St George. The ship has been lowered into the water,
