The annual disaster response preparedness exercise Pacific Partnership began March 4 as US Military Sealift Command (MSC) expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) got underway from Naval Base Guam to start the mission in Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership is the largest annual, mult
The US Navy’s carrier-based, fifth generation fighter has achieved initial operational capability, the Commander, Naval Air Forces and the US Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Aviation jointly announced. The aircraft carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35C Lightning II, met all requi
The US Navy has completed developmental testing for the AN/AQS-20C mine-hunting sonar system for littoral combat ships at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, February 26. The AQS-20C is the next generation of the AN/AQS-20 system designed to be incorporated into the LCS mine coun
Austal USA has held a metal cutting ceremony on the US Navy’s Independence-class littoral combat ship Canberra (LCS 30). Austal LCS Program Director Dave Growden had the honor of starting the router to cut the first piece of aluminium, signaling the start of construction. The LCS is a 127m frigate-s
The US Senate has approved $655 million dedicated to the design and construction of a new heavy polar security cutter in an appropriations package last week. Also included in the funding are $20 million to acquire long lead-time materials for a second polar security cutter, and $400 million for offs
US Navy fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) and Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose (F236) met up in the South China Sea on February 18 for a series of maritime security and logistics training. The drills involved Royal Marine commandos, Royal Navy sailors and Guadalupe crew members. Dur
The Canadian government is seeking information on the potential procurement of an existing light icebreaking vessel to fill interim requirements of the Canadian Coast Guard. A request for information was issued on February 18 seeking input from the marine industry regarding the procurement. The inte
The 38th iteration of multi-lateral exercise Cobra Gold kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Akathotsarot Camp, Phitsanulok Province, on February 12. Representatives of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and US Indo-Pacific Command were joined by the ambassadors of Japan and the Republic of Korea and
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a scheduled training and maintenance availability (TRAV) on February 13. The maintenance is being conducted after the ship completed a patrol in the US 6th Fleet Area of Operations.
A former US Navy director of public affairs for the US Pacific Fleet was sentenced to six months for helping foreign defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis embezzle the US Navy out of millions of dollars. Captain Jeffrey Breslau was sentenced for secretly moonlighting as a paid public relations co
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Regina on Wednesday departed the Esquimalt naval base in company of support ship M/V Asterix, starting a deployment which will see the duo operate in the Pacific Ocean, Asia, Middle East and East Africa. Asterix returned to sea after completing a five-month Asia-Paci
Canadian shipbuilder Seaspan Shipyards has awarded Lockheed Martin Canada a CAD118 million contract to provide the Command Management System for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Joint Support Ships. Seaspan says this is the largest contract package the company will award for work on the JSS. Lockheed Marti
The US Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Billings (LCS 15) during a ceremony at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM), shipyard, Marinette, Wisconsin, February 1. The future USS Billings is the 17th littoral combat ship (LCS) to be delivered to the Navy and the eighth of the Freedom variant
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems says it has received a contract from Advanced Technology International (ATI) to develop and demonstrate a prototype Lithium-ion Fault Tolerant (LiFT) battery system for the US Navy’s prototype “Snakehead” Large-Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV). T
