The Chinese Navy will take part in the U.S.-hosted multinational maritime exercise RIMPAC 2016, despite mounting tensions between the two countries amid the South China Sea dispute. One missile destroyer, a missile frigate, a supply ship, a hospital ship and a submarine rescue vessel augmented by tw
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) completed the multinational search and rescue exercise Argonaut on May 31. Stout worked in conjunction with naval forces from host nation the Republic of Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the State of Israel and the Un
The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics NASSCO, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, a $106 million contract to procure long lead time material and engineering support for the fifth Expeditionary Mobile Base ship (ESB-5). Formerly known as the Mobile Landing Platform Afloat Forward Staging Base prog
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Momsen (DDG 92) arrived in Sasebo, Japan for a regularly scheduled port visit, June 2-4. The two ships recently concluded a series of evolutions with the Republic of Korea Navy in the waters around the Korean Peninsula, in late May.
The U.S. Navy has awarded Insitu Inc., a Washington-based UAV manufacturer, a contract to produce initial six RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aircraft systems. Under the $71.55 million contract, Insitu, a Boeing company, will deliver the air vehicles, ground control stations, launch and recovery equipment
Two U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyers, USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Momsen (DDG 92) conducted bilateral exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy in the waters around the Korean Peninsula, May 20-22 and 25. Over the course of several days, the two countries performed various evolutions, such as
U.S. Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy performed a medical evacuation to help a ROK Navy sailor in need of medical attention. The U.S. Navy ship on May 26 received orders from Commander Task Force (CTF) 73 to render medical assistance to a Republic of Korea Navy (ROK-N) submarine in the mid-pacific. M
U.S. Navy’s amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Lisbon, Portugal May 24. The ship is in port to embark Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) staff members and to refuel before heading to the Baltic Sea to participate in BALTOPS 2016. Mount Whitney is designe
Australia’s first P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft recently completed its maiden flight. The aircraft flew a short distance from Renton Airfield to Boeing Field in Washington State USA, to where the P-8A’s mission systems will be installed as part of project AIR 7000. The $5.4 billion P-8A pro
U.S. Navy’s amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) made history May 23 as she became the first ship of her kind to have an MV-22B Osprey land on her flight deck. The MV-22B and crew are part of “The Thunder Chickens” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263), based out of Marine
U.S. Navy’s Marine-aviation optimized amphibious assault ship USS America departed its homeport of San Diego for flight deck recertifications on May 16. This was done to prepare the ship for its future role as part of Amphibious Squadron 3 and Expeditionary Strike Group 3. Just short of 36 hours aft
Ships from the U.S. and the Royal Thai Navy kicked off the Exercise Guardian Sea in the Andaman Sea on May 23. The bilateral naval training in which the two navies will hone skills in anti-submarine warfare and maritime domain awareness is set to last until May 27. This year’s Guardian Sea exercise
The U.S. Navy christened the amphibious transport dock Portland (LPD 27) on May 20 in front of approximately 1,000 guests. Ship’s sponsor, Bonnie Amos, smashed a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow of the ship, officially christening Portland. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Christopher Owens, direc
A U.S. Navy Commander responsible for the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 attached to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis recently completed completed his 1,000th career carrier-arrested landing, or trap, aboard the carrier. Capt. Rich “Snap” Brophy flew a F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to
