The British Navy has begun training the first aircrew to fly its next-generation helicopter, the Wildcat. Five Fleet Air Arm pilots and observers are undergoing conversion training at the new Wildcat Training Centre in RNAS Yeovilton right now with the helicopter, successor to the fabled Lynx, just
Amphibious support ship RFA Mounts Bay became one of the busiest airfields in the UK as she conducted flying training with four squadrons and four different types of helicopters. Her flight deck witnessed more than 350 deck landings – including 100 by the new Wildcat – during three weeks of intensiv
Work will begin on the UK Navy’s next-generation tankers in a year’s time after design teams in the UK completed their plans for the four vessels. RFA Tidespring, Tiderace, Tidesurge and Tideforce will provide the Fleet – including the giant future carriers – with fuel, water, spare parts and other
HMAS Newcastle has combined with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) warship Mianyang to search for survivors of a damaged fishing trawler in Middle Eastern waters. Newcastle and Mianyang worked together to conduct a search and rescue operation in the Indian Ocean, 350 nautical miles
The Royal Australian Navy is leading the world in bringing the new MRH90 ‘Taipan’ Multi-Role Helicopter into service at sea. The Navy’s soon-to-be-commissioned 808 Squadron has been conducting trials, testing, evaluation and training on the MRH90 Taipan helicopter since 2010. When 808 Squadron’s com
During a recent demonstration at NAVAIR, Lockheed Martin monitored and controlled multiple types of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) from one integrated command and control (C2) system. Controlling both the unmanned air vehicles and their on-board mission system sensors, Lockheed Martin’s system fully
USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), returned to its homport in Gaeta, Italy, July 3, following a two-month deployment to participate in community relations events, military exercises and scheduled port visits. During the deployment, Mount Whitney made port visits to Lisbon, Portugal; Ventspils, Latvia; and
More than 5,000 Sailors serving as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) returned to their homeports in Norfolk, Va. and Mayport, Fla. July 3, following five months of operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and embarked squa
A Royal Navy warship has returned from an annual multi-national exercise off the coast of Brest where she was joined by ships from France, Russia and the US. HMS Sutherland, a Plymouth-based Type 23 frigate, took part in gunnery drills, fought off multiple simulated attacks and practised evacuating
Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the first of 24 MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters has successfully completed its first test flight. The initial test flight occurred at Sikorsky’s Production Facility, Connecticut USA on 26 June 2013. It passed a range of tests includi
Sailors from HMS Ramsey visited their American minehunting counterparts to see how they do their business ahead of a US-UK-French exercise in the Gulf. The Brits joined Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 – known as the Blackhawks – in Bahrain to see their giant Sea Dragon helicopters find a
The nation’s “911” air wing completed carrier qualifications aboard the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), June 30. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 pilots must conduct and pass two to four successful day and night touch-and go and arrested gear landings aboard Geo
Exercise SEA LION 13 came to a conclusion on 28 June in waters off North Queensland. SEA LION 13 provided Australian Defence Force personnel with the chance to work closely together and develop the critical skills necessary for joint amphibious operations, including Humanitarian and Disaster Relief.
Ten top officials from businesses and organisations in Portsmouth visited the city’s naval base to see how it is preparing for the arrival of the Navy’s huge aircraft carriers. They were told about how the base is shaping up to accommodate the two new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers – at 65,000 tonne
