The operating area for NATO’s counter-terrorism task group, Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2), covers 2.5 million square kilometres of vast open space from Gibraltar to the Suez Canal, from the shores of Tripoli to the Turkish beaches. A NATO maritime force tasked with covering so much water
Continuing his goal to keep Florida the most military-friendly state in the nation, Governor Rick Scott today announced that the National Center for Simulation, located at Naval Support Activity Orlando, has been awarded a $350,000 grant from the Florida Defense Support Task Force. The funding will
Maritime forces from the United States, 10 East African and two European nations, along with several international organizations, commenced the multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express 2013, Nov. 11. Exercise Cutlass Express 2013, held in several operational areas in waters off East Africa, i
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 8, after completing a nine-month deployment. The ship departed for the U.S. 6th Fleet (C6F) area of responsibility Feb. 7, where she supported the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) mission and ma
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group reentered the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) after transiting the Suez Canal, Nov. 8. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), along with embarked Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11, Carrier Air Wing 11, and Destroyer Squadron 23, spent nearly three weeks in
Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), Nov. 2 completing a 11-month Major Maintenance Period (MMP). Michigan, homeported out of Naval Base Kitsap,Bangor, entered Bremerton in December 2012 fo
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has formally established a Regional Maintenance Center detachment in Rota, Spain, to support the destroyers scheduled to be homeported in the area, the command announced Nov. 7. The detachment will provide management, industrial, engineering, technical and contract
In an effort to stem work-related injuries and speed the assembly of munitions aboard aircraft carriers, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) spearheaded the development of a more efficient and ergonomic way to build bombs at sea, officials announced Nov. 6. The ONR-sponsored improvements will allow S
U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) showcased the new flame-resistant variant (FRV) coveralls to senior enlisted leadership onboard Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, Nov. 1. The FRVs are said to be a critical first step in improving the level of protection from flame and flash fire hazards associated wit
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected AeroVironment, Inc. to provide its expertise in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) toward the development of a new category of this technology. AeroVironment will work as the prime contractor with DARPA on the Tactically Exploited
Dogu Akdeniz, an annual Turkish-led naval training exercise, began Nov. 4. USS Stout (DDG 55) was invited to participate in this year’s exercise, hosted by Commander, Turkish Fleet, with forces from the Turkish coast guard, Turkish air force and ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). Led
Naval forces from India and the United States will participate in exercise Malabar 2013, Nov. 5 – 11. Malabar is a regularly scheduled bilateral naval field training exercise and has grown in scope and complexity over the years. Malabar 2013 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises conducte
The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat an $18.2 million contract modification to perform reactor-plant planning yard services for nuclear submarines and supportyard services for moored training ships. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Initially awarded
U.S. force rotations in the Asia-Pacific region are bolstering key relationships there as they extend the U.S. presence to reflect today’s security environment, the U.S. Pacific Command chief told American Forces Press Service. US Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III called the rotations — currently in
