With four new participants, the number of countries taking part in RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, rose to 27. 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise scheduled June 30 t
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have kicked off the Malaysia phase of the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series between the U.S. and the armed forces of nine ASEAN member-countries. CARAT is a series of bilateral naval exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Co
The United States Committee on Appropriations has approved the FY2017 Defense Appropriations Bill which includes $1.0 billion in Navy shipbuilding funds to build the first USCG-operated icebreaker since FY1990. The United States currently relies on just one heavy vessel and one medium vessel, one of
French-based defense contractor Thales signed a CAD$35 million, (approx. US$26,8) contract with Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards (VSY), to deliver electronic systems for the construction of the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSV) under the National Shipbuilding
U.S. Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy performed a medical evacuation to help a ROK Navy sailor in need of medical attention. The U.S. Navy ship on May 26 received orders from Commander Task Force (CTF) 73 to render medical assistance to a Republic of Korea Navy (ROK-N) submarine in the mid-pacific. M
U.S. Navy’s amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Lisbon, Portugal May 24. The ship is in port to embark Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) staff members and to refuel before heading to the Baltic Sea to participate in BALTOPS 2016. Mount Whitney is designe
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin Sippican a $72,8 million contract for the procurement of MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo guidance and control sections. Under the contract, Lockheed will also provide MK 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System upgrade kits, test
Australia’s first P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft recently completed its maiden flight. The aircraft flew a short distance from Renton Airfield to Boeing Field in Washington State USA, to where the P-8A’s mission systems will be installed as part of project AIR 7000. The $5.4 billion P-8A pro
Canadian shipyard Davie Shipbuilding cut first steel for the Royal Canadian Navy Resolve-class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel during a ceremony held in Lévis, Québec, May 24. Project Resolve, as the undertaking was dubbed, consists of converting a containership, former MV Asterix which arrived
The U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command awarded Science Applications International Corp. a contract to provide re-engineering, development, and personal computer simulation services in support of the command’s Naval Training Products and Services program. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity c
American shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries was awarded a $152 million contract on May 23 for advance planning for the construction of the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80). The third aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford class was named in honor of the Navy’s first nuclear-po
U.S. Navy’s Marine-aviation optimized amphibious assault ship USS America departed its homeport of San Diego for flight deck recertifications on May 16. This was done to prepare the ship for its future role as part of Amphibious Squadron 3 and Expeditionary Strike Group 3. Just short of 36 hours aft
Explosives Ordnance Disposal personnel from Australia, US, Singapore and New Zealand have completed training at Guam Naval Base during Exercise Tricrab 2016. Hosted by US Navy Explosives Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Five, the technicians developed their explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) skills whil
The U.S. Navy christened the amphibious transport dock Portland (LPD 27) on May 20 in front of approximately 1,000 guests. Ship’s sponsor, Bonnie Amos, smashed a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow of the ship, officially christening Portland. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Christopher Owens, direc
