On Thursday 20 October, the second of four Holland Class Oceangoing Patrol Vessels, “Zeeland” built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for the Royal Netherlands Navy, was transferred to the Defence Materiel Organization of the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands. Immediately after delivery, the
Pilots of Baltic Fleet (BF) ASW Helicopter Squadron conducted flight drills. The plan included practice of takeoff and landing techniques at Donskoye military airfield, flights to assigned sea zone for air reconnaissance, and search of “enemy” submarines in day and night time. Night flights take spe
The flight deck of Britain’s aircraft carrier hums and throbs again as two months of rigorous training begin for HMS Illustrious off the South Coast. Lynx helicopters from 702 Naval Air Squadron in Yeovilton and Merlins of 820 Naval Air Squadron in Culdrose have joined Lusty in the Channel ahead of
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Largs Bay, now ADF Ship Choules, had been formally handed to the Australian Defence Force at Falmouth Dockyard in the United Kingdom. ADF Ship Choules will set sail for Australia next month, arr
A Royal Marines Commando guards suspected pirates off the Somali coast after the Royal Navy liberated its second hijacked vessel in a week. It’s thought they were using the fishing boat Hibid Fidi as a ‘mother ship’ – until HMS Somerset pounced, boarded the dhow, freed its Pakistani crew and detaine
Pilot Lt Ralphie Lorenz safely guides his Lynx helicopter back to ‘mother’ as HMS Argyll conducts an intensive training package in the Mediterranean on her way to the Gulf. In the coming weeks, the Devonport-based frigate will take over from HMS St Albans on the key maritime security mission in the
Contract for building of third and fourth Mistral-class landing ships will be signed in 2012, said Roman Trotsenko, the president of United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC). “The arms procurement order includes construction of third and fourth Mistral-class assault landing ships for Russian defense mi
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal arrived by helicopter on the new Type 45 destroyer off Plymouth to witness the ship’s preparations for an arduous training package known as BOST – Basic Operational Sea Training. HRH enjoyed a tour of the ship and saw the 190 sailors on board conducting their da
DCNS has signed a contract with the Japanese shipbuilder IHI-MU to supply a helicopter handling system for the Japan Coast Guard’s future Shikishima class patrol vessel. System which allows the handling of one or two helicopters on a ship in safety even in rough sea. SAMAHE ensures secured transfers
Multipurpose landing ship L-61 Juan Carlos I will be commissioned into Spanish Navy in Dec 2011, said the ship’s commanding officer Cristobal Gonzalez-Aller Lacalle. Two days the ship was opened for public; military and civilian visitors had a chance to see the ship from inside. Her length is 231 me
The 829 Naval Air Squadron Merlin from frigate HMS St Albans enjoyed a somewhat spacious change of scene when it arrived on the sprawling flight deck of the USS George H W Bush – the newest supercarrier in the US Navy’s arsenal. The Merlin dropped in on the Bush, which is on her maiden deployment, [
The Bulgarian Navy has formally received the first out of a total of three Panther helicopters in a highly troubled supply deal that Bulgarian Defense Ministry made with Eurocopter. The first “Panther” was welcomed at a ceremony at the naval helicopter base “Chayka” near the Black Sea city of Varna
JSC Severnaya Verf shipyard will deliver corvette Soobrazitelny to Russian Defense Ministry on Oct 14, reported the shipyard’s press service. Being the first serial ship of Project 20380, corvette Soobrazitelny has vital differences from the lead ship, corvette Stereguschiy commissioned in 2007. Ove
Navantia, the Spanish shipbuilder undertaking the construction of Australia’s new Air-Warfare Destroyers (AWD) and two amphibious ships (LHD), will now build 12 new landing craft to compliment the new Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious ships, following a decision by the Federal