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Spanish auxiliary ship ESPS Cantabria joining EU migrant mission in the Med
The Spanish navy’s auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship ESPS Cantabria (A-15), got underway from Ferrol, Spain, to join operation Sophia – European Union’s migrant mission in the Mediterranean Sea. Operation Sophia started on June 22, 2015 to provide a response to the migratory crisis in the centr
Australian frigate returns from three-month deployment to South East Asia
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat has returned to her home port of Fleet Base West in Rockingham, Western Australia, after completing a three month deployment to South East Asia which included participation in exercise Talisman Saber off the Australian coast. The deployment, which began in
Latvia hosting annual international ordnance disposal drill Open Spirit
The Latvian Navy is hosting this year’s edition of the international annual mine clearance and ordnance disposal drill Open Spirit which is taking place between August 18 and 31. The exercise aims to reduce the threat of unexploded ordnance throughout the Baltic Sea region, including seabed communic
Spanish OPV Infanta Cristina deploys to West Africa
Spanish Navy offshore patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Infanta Cristina’ got underway from Cartagena, Spain, on Wednesday to start a four-month deployment to Western Africa. Infanta Cristina will spend the next four months in and around the Gulf of Guinea working with regional countries as part of the Spanish D
NATO ships search for mines in Estonian waters
Ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) completed four days of historical ordnance disposal (HOD) operations along with Estonian minehunter ENS Admiral Cowan in Estonian territorial waters on August 17. The ships searched Estonian coastal areas that had not been previousl
Finland to host NATO Maritime Command head, SNMG1
The Finnish Navy chief will be hosting the commander of Allied Maritime Command and ships from NATO Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) in Helsinki next week. On August 24, Finnish Navy Vice Admiral Veijo Taipalus will welcome MARCOM commander Vice Admiral Clive Johnstone for an official visit to Finl
Canada privatizes maintenance of new navy ships
The Canadian government on Thursday awarded a CAD$5.2 billion deal for the maintenance of two new ship classes over the next eight years to the Canadian subsidiary of French defense contractor Thales. The joint venture of Thales Canada and Thales Australia will be providing in‑service support, inclu
US Navy commissioning redesignated USS Lewis B. Puller in Bahrain
The US Navy is set to commission the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) in a ceremony on Thursday at Khalifa bin Salman Port in Al Hidd, Bahrain. The ship still bears the designation of a Military Sealift Command ship but will become a full blown warship after it is commissioned at a
Australia’s DST, Sonartech Atlas to work on developing naval capabilities
Australia’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group and Sonartech Atlas signed a three-year agreement on August 17 for research and development in naval capabilities for Australian ships and submarines. The research will focus on short time signal analysis, on-board signature management systems a
German F122 frigate ‘Lübeck’ joining NATO’s SNMG2
The German Navy’s F122, Bremen-class frigate FGS ‘Lübeck’ is joining NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 in the Aegean Sea. Setting sail on August 21, Lübeck will be replacing another German ship, F123 frigate FGS Brandenburg, which spent six months as the flagship of the international task group. Comm
US Navy finds new use for abandoned AUV
Researchers from the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have found a new use for a 90’s-designed autonomous underwater vehicle called Autonomous Mobile Periscope System (AMPS). When it came time to evaluate the Periscope Detection and Discrimination (PDD) capability, a radar interface that detects t
US amphibious landing ship USS Rushmore starts Oceania mission
The US Navy’s Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) got underway from San Diego on August 14 to contribute to the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI). OMSI is a US secretary of defense program aimed to diminish transnational illegal activity on the high seas
UK F-35B makes first “ski jump” loaded with Paveway IV and ASRAAM missiles
A short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B Lightning II aircraft took off from the ski jump loaded with Paveway IV and ASRAAM missiles for the first time, BAE Systems announced. Installed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the ski jump is similar to that which will be used on the Royal Navy’s
Spanish Aegis frigate returns from three-month Australia stint
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Cristóbal Colón (F-105) returned home to Naval Base Ferrol, Spain, on August 10 after spending three month in Australia where the ship’s crew helped prepare Australian sailors to operate the Aegis combat system. Just the like the future HMAS Hobart, the first of three new a