Aviation
Operation Atalanta commander visits the mission’s new Spanish warship
Operation Atalanta’s force commander, Commodore Luyckx, who is currently embarked in the EU naval force flagship, HNLMS Tromp, took an opportunity to visit Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel ESPS Relampago as it was conducting her counter-piracy patrols off Somalia. After being welcomed on board
HMS Albion a step closer to joining Royal Navy next year
HMS Albion – the Royal Navy amphibious assault ship that has been mothballed in 2011, just eight years after she joined the fleet – is gradually coming to life one step at a time. In her latest milestone, the amphibious command ship been placed in long term lay-up with her own generators now powerin
UK engineers are aboard USS America for F-35B trials
The U.S. Navy recently shared news of the Marines’ F-35B stealth fighter jet conducting trials aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America. A total of seven of the STOVL (short take-off vertical landing) variants of the Lockheed Martin-built jet are embarked on USS America for both developmental
Royal Navy tanker refuels French helicopter carrier on counter piracy mission
Royal Navy tanker RFA Gold Rover recently refueled French helicopter carrier FS Dixmude and joined it for a piracy patrol off the Ivory Coast. Joined by Ivory Coast patrol boat Sekongo, the ships patrolled 200 miles of coastline and waters off shore, stretching from the Ivory Coast’s principal port
UK Royal Marines first Merlin MK4 helicopter takes flight
The UK Royal Marines first improved Merlin Mk4 performed its maiden flight earlier in the week at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton. Working under a 2014-contract worth £330 million (€400), engineers from Leonardo are converting 25 Royal Air Force AW101 Merlin Mk.3 and Mk3A helicopters to replac
Australian Navy’s new replenishment ships to feature Saab’s combat systems
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has contracted Swedish defense contractor Saab to deliver an integrated combat system for the two new Royal Australian Navy replenishment ships. According to Saab, the contract is worth SEK 226 million (approx US$25 milion). Helicopter control radar and decoy system are
Spanish frigate concludes six-month stint on counter-piracy operation Atalanta
Spanish frigate ESPS Santa Maria completed her six month deployment with operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia and handed over her duties to another Spanish warship, ESPS Relampago, on October 24. During her deployment, ESPS Santa Maria conducted patrols at sea in the Gulf of Aden and Indian O
Joint Warrior 162 concludes
Allied nations’ warships concluded their participation in the international exercise Joint Warrior 16-2, October 21. The United Kingdom-led and -hosted Joint Warrior series is run by the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS) from exercise headquarters aboard Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde i
Airbus, DCNS team up to develop the French Navy aerial drone
Airbus Helicopters and DCNS have signed an agreement to collaborate on designing the future tactical component of French Navy’s aerial drone (Système de Drones Aériens de la Marine – SDAM) programme. Under the terms of the partnership, Airbus Helicopters will be responsible for designing and develop
Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard orders Terma’s Scanter radar
Danish defense contractor Terma announced on Tuesday that the Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard Kesatuan Penjaga Laut dan Pantai (KPLP) has ordered the company’s Scanter 6000 radars for navigation, surveillance, and helicopter control. The radars are being integrated with the Northrop Grumman Sperry Ma
RFA Mounts Bay joins operation Sophia
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Mounts Bay has returned to her Mediterranean Sea duties and joined the EU mission Sophia. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary takes over from Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond, who carried out the role for two months while Mounts Bay underwent planned maintenance, as well as playing
UK’s carrier based air squadron embarks HMS Ocean ahead of carrier arrival
UK’s 820 Naval Air Squadron conducted ‘remarinisation’ training when all of the squadron’s personnel was reunited at the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose for the first time in two years. Part of the process was building on their resourcefulness and resilience by undertaking adventurous training (AT)
Rain fails to spoil first day of Unmanned Warrior
A damp day across the Western Isles greeted the dozens of range staff, RN augmentees and Joint Warrior liaison teams who turned out before first light on the first official Unmanned Warrior flying day and headed for the brightly lit Range Control Building 12 miles south of Benbecula on the island of
Albanian, UK forces conclude exercise Albanian Lion
Royal Navy and Royal Marines joined Albanian forces for an exercise which is part of the Royal Navy’s annual deployment of a crisis-focused amphibious task group, the Joint Expeditionary Force Maritime 16 (JEF(M)16). Several Royal Navy ships, including HMS Ocean and HMS Bulwark played a role in Alba