On Saturday 31 January the Chairman of the EU Military Committee, General Patrick de Rousiers, visited the Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft ‘Orion’ Detachment based in Djibouti. The General was welcomed to Djibouti by EU Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Joseph Silva and the Commanding Officer of the Or
The new F-35B Lightning II joint striker fighter destined for the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers was subjected to temperatures ranging from 120˚F to -40˚F in a climatic laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. As well as ice, the fight-generation ste
On Thursday 29 January the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, welcomed the Commander of the Korean Escort Task Group 17 and Commanding Officer of ROKS Dae Jo Yeong, Captain Sun-Woo Hwang, on board the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria. Both Forces are conducting counter-piracy ope
On Friday 30 January the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, visited the Commander of the Chinese Escort Task Group 547, Rear Admiral Jiang Gouping, on board the Chinese flagship, CNS Linyi. Rear Admiral Rando was accompanied by the Commanding Officer of the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS An
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) successfully completed flight deck certification, Jan. 29, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) (Reinforced) 262, Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 231 and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 Det. 6. The Afloat Training
Royal New Zealand Navy’s vessels departed Devonport Naval Base to take part in Waitangi Day celebrations at Waitangi. The frigate HMNZS Te Kaha left the base on February 2, and will be joined at the 175th anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti by the tanker HMNZS Endeavour, the sealift ship HMNZS C
Australian Navy’s newly commissioned Landing Helicopter Dock HMAS Canberra took centre stage in Sydney Harbour for the Australia Day celebrations. The LHD was positioned in the waters between the Opera House and bridge with little room to manoeuvre. Canberra’s Navigator, Lieutenant Commander Calvin
Placed into commission nearly 30 years ago, the guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) was decommissioned on Friday, January 30, during a Naval Station Norfolk ceremony, led by Cmdr. Brad Stallings, commanding officer. Elrod last deployed in 2014, to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to advan
The “Fighting Marlins” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 returned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington, Jan. 29, following a seven-month deployment to the Pacific in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. The “Fighting Marlins” primarily conducted operations out of Kadena Air Base in J
UK’s New RFA Tankers to Get Military Capabilities The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £15 million contract to A&P Group to install high-end military capabilities in four new tankers so that they are ready for operations by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Philippine Navy to Receive Two Vessels from A
On Monday, 26 January, the EU Naval Force Flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, and the Japanese warship JS Harusame met at sea in the Gulf of Aden. On board the Flagship, the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, hosted the Commander of Escort Division 2, Captain Masatoshi Kashihar
On a visit to the home of the Royal Navy, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, set out the government’s next steps in building the most modern navy in the world. He announced a new national shipbuilding strategy in advance of a decision later this year on orders for the brand new
US Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus completed a visit to Paraguay Jan. 29 during which he met with Republic of Paraguay President Horacio Cartes to discuss the relationship between the Department of the Navy and Paraguay’s military. Mabus also met with Paraguay’s Minister of Defense Bernadin
The Australian Government will gift two recently-decommissioned Landing Craft Heavy vessels, including a package of spare parts, to the Philippines Government, the Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews announced today. Andrews said the former Royal Australian Navy vessels HMAS Tarakan and Brunei would
