Aviation
US 7th Fleet strengthens ties with Indian Navy
US 7th Fleet and Indian Navy officials convened the 21st Executive Steering Group on bilateral naval cooperation in New Delhi, India, on December 12. During the two-day conference, Commander, US 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer and Indian Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. G. Ashok Kumar reviewe
Stennis CSG and Essex ARG conduct integrated ops in Arabian Sea
The US Navy’s John C. Stennis carrier strike group (CSG) and the Essex amphibious ready group (ARG) commenced integrated operations in the Arabian Sea on December 12. While steaming, USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Essex (LHD 2) are supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, providing armed suppo
Fairbanks Morse to power US Coast Guard’s new cutter
Fairbanks Morse has been awarded a contract to build and deliver the main propulsion diesel engines (MPDE) for the US Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutter (OPC) #2. The USCGC Chase (WMSM-916) will be constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Florida, and the MPDE will be built by Fai
Royal Navy’s HMS Dragon seizes $2M worth of narcotics
Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon has seized £1.6m of narcotics on the infamous ‘smack track’ – the heroin smuggling route between the Makran Coast of Iran and Pakistan and East Africa. Less than two weeks after seizing three tons of cannabis on the so-called ‘hash highway’, the Portsmouth-bas
SNMG2 ships train with Egyptian Navy
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) trained with Egyptian Navy vessels after concluding a visit to the Egyptian Navy base in Alexandria on December 4. Although hampered by the weather conditions, the passing exercise consisted of a tactical maneuvering exercise, helicopter operatio
US Navy receives final component of LCS ASW mission package
The US Navy took delivery of the final component of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Mission Package on November 30, the US Naval Sea Systems Command has announced. The Raytheon-developed Dual-mode Array Transmitter (DART) Mission System and ASW Mission Package was accepte
USS Ronald Reagan on joint Philippine Sea deployment with JMSDF helicopter carrier
Ships from the US Navy’s Japan-based carrier strike group centered around aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan teamed up with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181) for joint operations in the Philippine Sea. The cooperative deployment started November 28 and con
French shipbuilder launches Egyptian subsidiary Alexandria Naval
French shipbuilder Naval Group officially opened Alexandria Naval for Maintenance and Industry, its Egyptian subsidiary which will be responsible for the maintenance of Egyptian Navy vessels built and delivered by Naval Group. “The strategic alliance between Naval Group and Egypt contributes activel
Royal Navy frigate meets Chilean sister ship in South America
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose met her former sister ship as she sailed to South America to mark the 200th anniversary of the Chilean Navy. The former sister ship is ex-HMS Marlborough, which now flies the Chilean flag as CNS Almirante Condell. A second Gulf War veteran, Marlborough was s
Egypt signs vessel sustainment agreement with France’s Naval group
The Egyptian Navy has signed an in-service support agreement with Naval Group for the upkeep of Egyptian Navy vessels delivered by the French shipbuilder. The agreement was announced on December 3 at the Egypt Defense and Security Exhibition (EDEX) and lays ground to the contract framing the mainten
USS Detroit starts Surface-to-Surface Missile Module testing
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
Canadian Sea Kings bow out of service in flypast ceremony
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
Naval Ship Management awarded AU$1.5b Australian LHD maintenance deal
The Australian government has awarded Naval Ship Management (NSM), a 50/50 joint venture between Babcock and UGL, a contract for the maintenance of the Royal Australian Navy’s two Canberra-class landing helicopter docks. The contract is worth around AU$1.5 billion, according to Babcock, and has an i
Singapore, Malaysia conclude exercise Malapura in Malacca Strait
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