Aviation
HMS Ocean Returns to Plymouth, UK
After seven months away from home, 1,000 loved ones finally got to see them in the flesh as Britain’s biggest warship, HMS Ocean, returned to Plymouth. The ship – which has hit the news around the world this week thanks to a spoof Mariah Carey video (endorsed by the diva herself) – arrived back unde
USA: Bell Helicopter Textron Receives Software Upgrades Contract
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded an $85,201,239 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the software upgrades in support of the H-1 Upgrade Program. This contract includes design, development, studies, and implementatio
French Shipbuilding Corporation DCNS Conditions Mistrals for Russia
French shipbuilding corporation DCNS has started development of technical documentation to adapt Mistral-class assault landing ships for Russian conditions, reported the shipyard’s press service on Dec 7. “We’re working on conditioning of the ship’s deck for Russia’s specifications. In particular, t
Russia: BF Warships Head for Deployment
Baltic Fleet (BF) frigate Yaroslav Mudry and replenishment tanker Lena on Dec 7 left BF main naval base Baltiysk heading for the North Sea. The long-range cruise of BF task unit under command of Capt 1 rank Alexander Ivanovsky will be held in accordance with the Russian Navy Combat Training Plan. Th
USS Abraham Lincoln CSG Deploys
Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, embarked on its flagship USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), along with Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9 and USS Momsen (DDG 92), got underway Dec. 7 from Naval Station Everett for the last time for a scheduled routine deployment. The deployment will be to the western Pacific Co
Sweden: Saab Technicians Train to Support Sweden’s Black Hawks HKP16
Saab technicians are today commencing their training in the Swedish Armed Forces’ new helicopter system, the HKP16 Black Hawk. The training begins with a week-long introductory course and is followed by a complete course regarding the UH-60M Black Hawk. Sweden, via the Defence Materiel Administratio
USA: Lockheed Martin Secures Two Contracts for Target Sight System, Fire Control System
Lockheed Martin received two contracts totaling $30.6 million from the Naval Surface Warfare Center for the Target Sight System (TSS), the fire control system for the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. These contracts will provide spare units and parts as well as program support for t
Royal Thai Navy Holds Launching Ceremony for OPV
A new Offshore Patrol Vessel, designed by BAE Systems, being built by the Royal Thai Navy has been launched at a ceremony at the Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn launched HTMS Krabi on Friday. The launching comes just 15 months after the vessel’s keel laying cere
Russia: Crews of BF Ships Complete Preparation for Long-Range Cruise
Crews of the Baltic Fleet (BF) frigate Yaroslav Mudry and replenishment tanker Lena have completed preparations for a long-range cruise. They have performed a number of qualification drills in the Baltic Sea, practiced joint maneuvering and underway astern refueling. Frigate Yaroslav Mudry has carri
UK: HMS St Albans, HMS Edinburgh Return Home for Christmas
Families and friends of sailors serving on board HMS St Albans and HMS Edinburgh gathered at Portsmouth Naval Base on Friday, 2 December, to greet their loved ones returning from overseas deployments. HMS St Albans, a Type 23 frigate, returned from a six-month deployment to the Middle East where she
Russia: Baltiysky Zavod Shipyard to Participate in Construction of Hulls for Two Mistrals
JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) and Baltiysky Zavod shipyard on Dec 2 signed a RUR 2.5-bln agreement providing that the yard’s productive capacities would participate in construction of hulls of two Mistral-class assault landing ships, reports RIA Novosti. The document was endorsed by pres
RAN Ships Participate in Exercise New Horizon 11
From the 21th to 26th of November HMA Ships Warramunga (Commander Michael Turner) and Sirius (Commander David McDonald) participated in Exercise New Horizon 11 with Indonesian warships KRI Frans Kaisiepo and KRI Halim Perdanakususma. The exercise consisted of a Harbour Phase and a Sea Phase, conduct
France Starts Construction of First Mistral-Class Assault Landing Ship for Russian Navy
France begins construction of the first Mistral-class assault landing ship for Russian Navy, advance has been obtained, reported RIA Novosti referring to a spokesman for the French state-led defense company DCNS. The EUR 1.2-bln contract for construction of two French Mistral-class helicopter carrie
UK: Royal Navy Apprehends 7 Suspected Pirates in Indian Ocean
The Royal Navy has once again struck a blow to Somali piracy operating in the Indian Ocean. On 28 November, RFA Fort Victoria was patrolling in an area approximately 420 nautical miles from the Seychelles and 350 nautical miles from the Somali coast as part of NATO’s Combined Task Force 508. Early t