Aviation
Sikorsky gets contract to build six presidential helicopters
Sikorsky has received a a $542 million contract to build six VH-92A helicopter for the presidential lift mission. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, was awarded the $542 million contract by the navy’s presidential helicopter program. “The team has efficiently leveraged a proven platform with cutti
Video: Russian destroyer comes within 15 meters of US Navy cruiser in Philippine Sea
Russian Udaloy-class destroyer Admiral Vinogradov came within 15 meters (50 feet) of US Navy cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) in a close encounter in the Philippine Sea on June 7. The US Navy has released video footage of the incident, which it labeled as an unsafe action that put the safety of
Russian SU-35 makes “unsafe intercept” of US Navy Poseidon over the Mediterranean
A Russian SU-35 fighter jet intercepted a US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea on June 4. While the first and third interaction were deemed safe, the US Navy said the second interaction was determined to be unsafe due to the SU-35 conducting a high spee
US Navy replacing Spain-based destroyers with newer ones, adding helicopter squadron
The US Navy intends to start replacing its four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, with newer platforms in 2020, the US 6th Fleet has announced. The navy did not disclose which ships would be stationed in Spain to replace USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Ross (DDG
First phase of Baltic Protector wraps up in Denmark
Marines from a number of European countries raided the coast of Denmark for the conclusion of first stage of the two-month Baltic Sea maneuver Baltic Protector. British Royal Marines and their Dutch counterparts waged a battle around the towns of Esbjerg and Varde in western Denmark, taking on Danis
HMS Queen Elizabeth set for Washington visit during final round of F-35B trials
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is deploying to the US east coast this summer where it will carry out the final round of flight trials with F-35 fighter jets. The carrier’s final spell of preparations ahead of the declaration of initial operational capability in 2020 will include a p
USS Abraham Lincoln, B-52 bomber in joint ops in Arabian Sea
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and the US Air Force’s B-52H Stratofortress met up in the Arabian Sea for joint operations on June 1. During the exercises, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, attached to the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG), and the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron,
Indian Navy welcomes new Chief of the Naval Staff
On May 31, 2019, Admiral Karambir Singh assumed command of the Indian Navy as the 24th Chief of the Naval Staff. Prior to taking over the helm as the Chief of the Naval Staff, he was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam. Commissioned into the Indian Navy in Ju
USS Chung-Hoon returns to Pearl Harbor
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) including a detachment from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 “Easyriders”, returned to their homeport of Pearl Harbor on May 31. The return follows a deployment to the U.S. 7th, 6th and 5th Fleet areas of operations
Royal Navy-led task group assembles in the Baltic
A nine-ship task group has gathered off the Danish coast to start operations as part of a UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force. The group will work together in the first act of the two-month-long Operation Baltic Protector, designed to demonstrate the resolve of the UK, its allies and nations in the reg
France accelerates joint light helicopter program
France is speeding up its helicopter program that will see one platform replace five legacy helicopters across the three branches of the country’s armed forces. In an announcement on May 27, French defense minister Florence Parly announced that the launch of the Joint Light Helicopter (Hélicoptère I
Australian Navy task group returns from three-month South East Asia tour
Ships from the Royal Australian Navy’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) joint task force have returned to Australia following a three-month deployment to South and South East Asia. The flagship HMAS Canberra anchored off Darwin, having visited seven nations since March 2019 during the third IPE
New Italian aircraft carrier launched 15 months after construction start
The Italian Navy’s new landing helicopter dock (LHD) Trieste was launched in a ceremony at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia shipyard on May 25. The multirole and multipurpose amphibious vessel was launched in the presence of Italian president Sergio Mattarella and the Italian Navy chief Adm. Va
Baglietto to build combat boats for Italian Navy LHD Trieste
The landing helicopter dock is scheduled to be launched this month.