French shipbuilder Naval Group has delivered the fifth FREMM multi-mission frigate, FS Bretagne, to the French Navy. Bretagne was handed over to the French Government Defense procurement and technology agency (DGA) on July 18, nine months after it concluded its first trials. The anti-submarine warfa
The UK’s short take off vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B jets have started training on the first of three vertical landing pads at RAF Marham. The VLPs are built for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation by a joint venture between Galliford Try and Lagan Construction. The Norfolk site is the main op
The US Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAVCAD) has awarded Insitu Inc. a $10.8 million contract to deliver an additional 27 ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems to Afghanistan. In addition to the systems, the contract includes 37 payloads and spares in support of the government of the Isl
Belgian Navy command and support ship BNS Godetia assumed the role of NATO Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) flagship on July 22, taking over from Dutch submarine support ship HNLMS Mercuur (A900). Despite having 780,000 nautical miles on the clock, Godetia brings a wealth of capabilit
Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude and La Fayette-class frigate FS Surcouf wrapped up the French Navy’s annual Jeanne D’Arc mission returning to naval base Toulon on July 19. The two ships got underway in late February and sailed a total of 26,500 nautical miles over a period of 145 days.
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS St. John’s returned to her homeport in Halifax on July 23 after spending six months deployed to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). Joining SNMG1 on January 18, 2018, the frigate contributed to NATO operations as part of the Canadian operation Reassurance. Duri
The Australian P-8A Poseidon aircraft has achieved another milestone successfully firing its first Harpoon anti-ship missile during exercise RIMPAC 18 off Hawaii. The ATM-84J Harpoon missile was launched from the aircraft to sink its target, decommissioned US Navy ship USS Racine. Australian defense
The Portuguese Navy’s newest Viana do Castelo-class offshore patrol vessel – the NRP Sines – was commissioned in a ceremony at the West Sea Shipyards on July 20. NRP Sines enters service after being launched in May 2017 and completing sea trials a year later, in late May 2018. Portuguese prime minis
Repairs and maintenance will allow the ship to continue to be fully mission capable for the rest of its deployment
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer UMS SKELDAR has unveiled an improved unmanned helicopter at the Farnborough Airshow. With a focus on maritime and naval applications, the new SKELDAR V-200B is a modification of the company’s mid-sized heavy fuel engine VTOL. The SKELDAR V-200B completed it
US Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) mine countermeasure (MCM) units were joined by their Indian Navy counterparts for the start of the 2JA mine countermeasure exercise 2018 near Ominato, Japan, on July 18. 2JA is an annual exercise that, in addition to the US Navy and JMSDF, this y
Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ville de Québec will become the first Royal Canadian Navy ship to deploy with the new CH-148 Cyclone when she gets underway from the Halifax navy base on July 18. The frigate’s departure will also mark the first time the ship is deploying as part of operation Reassurance.
The NH90 Sea Lion helicopters Airbus is constructing for the German Navy entered the qualification phase as the second prototype helicopter performed its first flight in serial configuration on July 10. The event marked the beginning of the helicopter’s qualification phase which will be undertaken t
The US Navy’s most expensive ship ever, aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), arrived at Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, July 14 to begin its post-shakedown availability (PSA) period. The PSA will be a yearlong maintenance and upgrade peri
