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France, US conclude Bois Belleau 100 amphibious cooperation
US sailors and marines have concluded two months of cooperation with their French counterparts aboard the French Navy amphibious assault ship BPC Tonnerre. Approximately 150 US personnel spent the last two months working together with the French task group composed of BPC Tonnerre and Horizon-class
Australian HMAS Cairns base to woo larger ships after upgrade
Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Cairns will soon be able to welcome larger naval ships, including amphibious assault ships and aircraft carriers, as it is set to benefit from a planned upgrade to the Port of Cairns. The AUD$120 million upgrade to the Port of Cairns is closer thanks to the finalisati
Australian landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra tests Nulka upgrades
Royal Australian Navy’s amphibious ship HMAS Canberra tested its anti-ship missile defense off the south coast of New South Wales as part of exercise Ocean Explorer. Upgrades to the Nulka anti-ship missile decoy system have been tested with the use of civilian aircraft including an underslung Nulka
French Navy starts annual Jeanne D’Arc mission
Two French Navy ships, joined by UK marines and sailors and their Wildcat helicopters, got underway from Toulon naval base on February 26 to start a five-month deployment to Asia-Pacific. The Jeanne D’Arc mission is an annual deployment undertaken by French Navy ships over a five-month period. Last
Multinational carrier strike group welcomes US Navy secretary for underway visit
A three-nation carrier strike group assembled around aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) welcomed the US Navy secretary for a visit during final deployment preparations. Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), Richard V. Spencer, landed aboard the USS Harry S. Truman Feb. 25, during the group’s co
Senators introduce bill to restore US Navy surface forces
Two US senators on February 26 introduced a bill aimed at helping the US Navy restore its surface force readiness. The Surface Warfare Enhancement Act of 2018, introduced by Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chairman of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, and John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Servic
French ECA Group presents mid-sized mine warfare AUV ‘A18-M’
French autonomous systems developer ECA Group recently unveiled and demonstrated its new mid-sized mine counter measure autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the A18-M. A live demonstration of the company’s new AUV family member took place off Toulon, Southern France, on February 16. According to the
US Navy to name LCS 30 after Australian WWII cruiser HMAS Canberra
The US Navy’s next littoral combat ship, the Independence-variant LCS 30, will be named USS Canberra, US president Donald Trump announced in a White House news conference with Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday, February 23. The LCS will be the only US Navy vessel named for a city
USS Virginia wraps up six-month deployment to Europe
The lead ship of the US Navy’s Virginia-class fast attack submarines returned to her New London homeport in Connecticut following a six-month deployment to Europe. USS Virginia (SSN 774) was welcomed to the base on February 22 . During the deployment, Virginia steamed approximately 27,500 nautical m
Australian Navy contracts Saab for Anzac-class frigate upkeep
The Australian defense department has awarded Saab a contract to continue sustainment works for the Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigates under the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA). WAMA is a strategic partnership which includes Saab Australia, BAE Systems Australia Defence and Naval S
NATO mine counter measure group visits Bar, Montenegro
Ships deployed to NATO’s Mine Counter Measures Group Two (SNMCMG2) arrived in Bar, Montenegro, for a port call on February 23. Led by Royal Navy Commander Justin Hains, the group arrived in Montenegro after sailing from Marmaris, Turkey last week. The task group consists of the flagship HMS Enterpri
Second Ford-class carrier hull 70 percent complete
The structures necessary to complete US Navy’s second Ford-class aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) are 70 percent complete, shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries has announced. Like its predecessor, the first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Kennedy is being built with a modular con
Royal Navy frigate stops in Adelaide on Australia tour
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland stopped in Adelaide on February 23, for a visit as part of her tour of Australia tour. Sutherland is on a seven-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific to strengthen defense ties, as well as promote stability and security through combined naval operations and
US Navy contracts Alion for media support services
The US Chief of Naval Information Command (CHINFO) has awarded Alion Science and Technology a contract potentially worth $34 million to provide worldwide communications and media support services. Through this multiple-award contract, Alion will work to support CHINFO across five major tasks: media