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USS Kentucky starts first deterrent mission since 2011
U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) departed Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor March 13, for its first strategic deterrent mission since 2011. Kentucky recently completed a 40-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO) to extend the life of the submarine for another 20 y
Canada allocates $65.4M for OOSV and joint support ships
Canadian Minister of Public Services and Procurement announced the signing of two contracts with Seaspan worth $65.4 M under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) for Vancouver Shipyards Co. The two new contracts will allow Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards Co. to initiate early discussions with pote
FGS Erfurt welcomes Op Atalanta force commander
FGS Erfurt has welcomed Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri, who is preparing to hand over his command of the Atalanta Force HQ to Rear Admiral Kaack from the German Navy on March 23. Rear Admiral Kaack will command the EU Naval Force off the coast of Somalia from Ger
Royal Navy to take charge of Combined Task Force 150
Royal Navy personnel from HMS Excellent, a shore establishment of the Navy, will head to the Arabian Gulf where they will assume command of the Combined Task Force 150 next month. Part of Combined Maritime Forces, Combined Task Force 150 is policing more than two million square miles of sea on the l
NATO submarine exercise Dynamic Manta concludes
Ships and submarines participating in the NATO Submarine Command-led exercise Dynamic Manta have their drills on March 4. Spanish F-80 frigate Santa María arrived at her homeport in Rota Naval Base on March 10 after participating in the multinational exercise along with the French replenishment ship
HMS Iron Duke stops in Oslo after exercise Cold Response
On its way back from the Norwegian-hosted exercise Cold Response, Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke visited Oslo, Norway. The Portsmouth-based ship hosted the British ambassador and was welcoming the public on board during the weekend. HMS Iron Duke was berthed outboard of ESPS Cantabria fo
MARCOM holds tactical level mine countermeasure exercise
NATO’s Maritime Command gathered 160 participants from 19 countries, including Partnership for Peace (PFP) countries Finland and Sweden, for the annual two-week long Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) tactical-level Mine Counter Measure (MCM) Command Post Exercise (CPX) which started March 7. The exer
CACI wins $809m IT contract with US Navy
Information solutions company CACI International announced March 10 that it has been awarded a contract to support the U.S. Navy’s Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center (NAVSUP BSC). The five-year contract which, if all options are exercised, could amount to $809 million, represents n
Gallery: French frigate Primauguet docks in Zeebrugge, Belgium
Images: Belgian Navy French Navy frigate Primauguet (D 644) docked in Zeebrugge, Belgium for a routine port visit on March 10 and is set to stay until March 13. The frigate was on its way back from the international exercise Cold Response 2016, which took place in Norwegian waters and hosted 20 wars
French Navy, Cyprus conduct joint SAR exercise
French Navy frigate FS Aconit (F713) has sailed to the Republic of Cyprus for a joint exercise that is taking place March 11 off the coast of Cyprus. The search and rescue (SAR) Exercise, titled CYPFRA-01/16, will involve search and rescue (SAR) units and personnel from the Republic of Cyprus and Fr
HMAS Parramatta to complete anti-ship missile defence upgrade by April
Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Parramatta, the sixth ship to enter the Anti-Ship Missile Defence Upgrade programme, is preparing to undock in mid April. The ship has been undergoing a range of modifications at the BAE Systems shipyard in Henderson, Australia over the past 12 months
BAE Systems bags US Navy communications and electronics contract
U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) has awarded BAE Systems a two-year contract to support its Special Communications Mission Solutions Division with a range of technical services. Under the contract, valued at $34 million, BAE Systems will support and maintain the life c
Australia awards replenishment ships contract to Spanish Navantia
Although an official announcement has still not been made, Spanish newspapers reported that the Australian Department of Defence has chosen Spanish shipbuilder Navantia as the “preferred bidder” for the construction of two replenishment ships. This news sparked some outrage in Australia as the gover
HNLMS Van Amstel joins NATO in the Aegean Sea
The Royal Netherlands Navy’s Karel Doorman-class frigate HNLMS Van Amstel is joining NATO’s fight against people-smugglers in the Aegean Sea. The De Schelde Group-built frigate will integrate into NATO’s Standing Nato Mine Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2). The ship was already at sea and is now sailing tow