Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan returned to her homeport in Portsmouth after six months of operations as flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). During her time at the helm of SNMG2, Duncan led an international group of frigates, destroyers and patrol ships on operations in the
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose recently sailed to the Baltic Sea for two weeks of exercises as part of a new agreement on military cooperation between the UK and Baltic states. Earlier this month, defense ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and
Australian, Japanese and US units joined forces on July 12 to sink the decommissioned ex-USS Racine (LST-1191) during a sinking exercise (SINKEX) as part of RIMPAC 2018. Live fire from aircraft, a submarine, and land assets sank the former landing ship in waters 15,000 feet deep 55 nautical miles no
Commander Task Force (CTF) 177 kicked off the Southern California (SOCAL) portion of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) with mine warfare training operations which run from June 27 to August 2. CTF 177 is comprised of 26 units with approximately 1,100 personnel representing the United States, Australia
The Royal Australian Navy has welcomed a new Chief of Navy as Vice Admiral Tim Barrett was relieved by Vice Admiral Michael Noonan in a handover ceremony at Blamey Square in Canberra. VADM Barrett told the gathering, his time as Chief has seen significant change to the RAN, thanks to hard work and d
A P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft assigned to US 7th Fleet helped the Sri Lanka Navy locate a missing fishing vessel July 10, after joining search efforts. The P-8A Poseidon from the “Pelicans” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 flew out of Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia. The 40-foot vessel and
Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) announced it has completed its final critical design review (FCDR) for the US Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutter (OPC) program. The FCDR was accomplished on June 29, 2018, after a week of discussions, demonstrations, and design presentations by ESG’s design team to
New Zealand is buying four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the United States to replace its ageing Orions, the government announced July 9. The four aircraft will replace the six P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) that have been operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force
US Navy littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) completed the first comprehensive Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) for the MQ-8C Fire Scout on June 29. The ship’s crew worked with the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VX-1) for the IOT&E which will inform decision-makers on how be
Japan is likely to send its Izumo-class helicopter carrier to the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean this year as well. The two-month deployment of the 27,000-ton JS Kaga comes as Japan aims to boost its presence in this strategically important region, Reuters reported citing two unnamed Japanese
The Belgian Navy recently tested the maritime surveillance capabilities of Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 unmanned air system (UAS) in the naval port of Zeebrugge and in a land-based setting in Lombardsijde. The trials lasted from June 21 to July 1 and were aimed at developing a successful concept of op
The Brazilian Navy’s second upgraded Super Lynx helicopter has performed its maiden flight from Yeovil, UK. The maiden flight started from the headquarters of Leonardo Marconi Westland (LMW) and was completed on June 21, 2018, the navy said in a statement. The N-4004 aircraft, the second of the eigh
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Bell Boeing JPO a $4,2 billion contract for V-22 tiltrotor aircraft construction. As informed, the contract provides for the manufacture and delivery of 39 CMV-22B aircraft for the US Navy, 34 MV-22B aircraft for the Marine Corps, one CV-22B for the Air F
The Brazilian Navy commissioned its new helicopter carrier Atlântico (A 140) in a ceremony at the UK naval base in Devonport on June 29. Atlântico, formerly known as HMS Ocean, was bought by Brazil after the Royal Navy decommissioned it after 20 years of service. PHM Atlântico (A 140), PHM standing
