Mine countermeasures ships from the navies of Australia, Japan and the US completed the annual Mine Warfare Exercise 3JA 2018, off the coast of Japan on November 27. US Navy’s USS Chief and Australia’s HMAS Huon and HMAS Gascoyne were joined by a number of JMSDF ships for several days of at sea exer
Littoral combat ship USS Detroit (LCS 7) began initial operational test and evaluation of the surface-to-surface missile module (SSMM) on November 17, the US Navy has announced. According to the navy, the initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) started two months ahead of schedule. The SSMM
After over fifty years of service, Canadian CH-124 Sea King maritime helicopters performed their final flight in a parade in Victoria, B.C., on December 1. The Sea King will officially retire from service by December 31, 2018 as the RCAF completes its transition to the new CH-148 Cyclone maritime he
BAE Systems Australia formally opened a new shipside support tower at its Henderson facility on November 30. The $5 million, multi-level support tower was opened by defense industry minister Steven Ciobo. The structure will initially support the ANZAC Mid Life Capability (AMCAP) upgrade program bein
The navies of Singapore and Malaysia concluded the week-long bilateral maritime exercise Malapura which took place in the Malacca Strait. The shore phase, which included the opening ceremony, joint planning and training, was held from 26 to 27 November 2018 at Lumut Naval Base, Malaysia. This was fo
The first Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate to undergo the Anzac Mid Life Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) upgrade was undocked at BAE Systems’ Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. HMAS Arunta entered water on November 30, after a 14-month refit period which started in December 2017
Australian shipbuilder Austal has delivered the first Guardian-class patrol boat to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. The boat will be commissioned HMPNGS Ted Diro on return to PNG and is named after the first Commander of the PNG Defence Force post-independence. It is the first of four boats sche
Australia will deploy a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Japan next week to conduct maritime surveillance in support of North Korea sanctions, the Australian defense minister has announced. The MPA will support the international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions
After concluding a visit to the Algerian port of Algiers last week, NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) arrived in Marmaris, Turkey, for a port call on November 27. The group is conducting the visits after resuming regular Mediterranean Sea patrols following their participation in NATO’s major
Japan is considering turning one of its helicopter destroyers into a “multi-purpose aircraft carrier” as part of a review of the country’s National Defense Program Guidelines, Japan’s defense minister Takeshi Iwaya has confirmed. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the defense minister said the countr
German Navy combat support ship EGV Bonn is getting underway from her Wilhelmshaven homeport on November 30 to join NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Aegean Sea. The 173-meter-long Berlin-class replenishment ship is joining SNMG2 after completing an overhaul which started in August 20
US Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) was floated out from dry dock on November 27 and moored pierside at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, where the ship is undergoing repairs after colliding with a merchant ship in August 2017. McCain’s launch is an important step in the ongoing effort
Navy ships deployed to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group One (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) stopped in Karlskrona, Sweden, for a port visit from November 23 to 25. The port visit included visits to local military and civilian officials as well as tours of the ships f
The second of the Royal Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers has fired up her engines for the first time. Engineers aboard HMS Prince of Wales turned on the diesel generators in a milestone on the road to sending the 65,000-ton warship to sea in the second half of next year. In the bo
