U.S. and UK defense representatives signed an agreement on closer P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft cooperation on January 25. The declaration, signed between UK’s Minister for Defense Procurement Harriett Baldwin and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work, will see the two countries sharing logistic
Spanish Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigate ESPS Canarias (F-86) left her homeport in Rota, Spain to join the EU mission of saving migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. Coordinated by the EU Naval Forces, operation Sophia aims to stop human trafficking in the central Mediterranean Sea. The multinational m
The crew of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Tahoma returned to homeport on January 13 with over three tons of cocaine seized during a 49-day patrol. Homeported in Kittery, Maine, Tahoma’s crew conducted drug interdiction efforts, strategically intercepting and boarding suspected smuggling vessels in the Eas
The U.S. Navy’s AN/AES-1 airborne laser mine detection system has achieved initial operational capability, Northrop Grumman announced January 12. Designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation, ALMDS provides rapid wide-area reconnaissance and assessment of mine threats in sea lanes, litt
A new U.S. Navy development contract will see Lockheed Martin upgrade the navy MH-60 helicopters with enhanced electronic warfare surveillance and countermeasure capabilities against anti-ship missile (ASM) threats. Lockheed Martin’s advanced off-board electronic warfare (AOEW) active mission payloa
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) is departing Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on January 13 for a regularly-scheduled deployment with the Carl Vinson carrier strike group to the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region. Michael Murphy will deploy with a crew of approximately 320 sailors a
Royal Canadian Navy’s frigate HMCS St. John’s officially became part of NATO’s standing maritime group two on January 11. The frigate is on her way to the Mediterranean Sea where she will represent Canada’s support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. HMCS St. Joh
The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon a $19.2 million contract modification for the delivery of another seven configuration D multi-spectral targeting systems (MTS). The MTS is an airborne, electro-optic, forward-looking infra-red, turreted sensor package that provides long-range surveillance, high alt
The U.S. Navy has awarded Insitu a $70.8 million contract modification under which it is procuring six Blackjack unmanned aircraft systems. Three of the full rate production Lot I RQ-21A UAS will go to the navy and the other three to the marines. The UAS consists of air vehicles, ground control stat
U.S. Navy’s final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush was launched on this day, January 10, at the Newport News shipyard, Virginia. The 332-meter-long, nuclear-powered ship was laid down on May 19, 2003 and launched on October 9, 2006 with Dorothy W.B. Koch, daughter of President Bush
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Mahan fired three warning shots at Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels after they came within 800 meters of the ship on January 8. The incident took place in the Strait of Hormuz and involved the U.S. Navy destroyer and four Iranian vessels,
The U.S. Navy accepted its 50th P-8A Poseidon (P-8A) maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida on January 5. The Navy’s Poseidon is replacing the legacy P-3 Orion and will improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warf
The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command has awarded Boston Ship Repair a $17.2 million contract for a 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry docking of USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). Work on the Military Sealift Command-operated hospital ship will include servicing of gener
Sailors from Japanese destroyer JS Yuugiri (DD 153) and U.S. Navy’s USS Shiloh (CG 67) met at sea to exchange holiday gifts on December 28. A week before, sailors from Japanese helicopter carrier JS Izumo visited U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for a gift exchange and ship tour. During the m
