US Coast Guard’s program to equip its National Security Cutters (NSC) with small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) has received approval to start acquisition and initial operational testing on board an NSC. The service’s approval allows the program to proceed with its planned release of a request for
While bringing soldiers and marines from Australia and Tonga to New Zealand for exercise Southern Katipo 2017, Royal Australian Navy landing ship HMAS Choules became part of the exercise scenario at Picton Harbor. Choules demonstrated her versatility when she arrived alongside at Picton in New Zeala
The second in a batch of five new Batch 2 River-class patrol vessels has been named in a ceremony in Scotland. Future HMS Medway was named on Friday by Wendy Fallon, wife of UK defense secretary Michael Fallon. The Royal Navy has previously named the first and third ship in the class. While being th
US Marines and amphibious forces were joined by armed forces of the United Arab Emirates on October 15 to start a two-week amphibious exercise called Iron Magic. Iron Magic enables regional partners to coordinate amphibious landing, infantry training, military operations in urban terrain (MOUT), mec
The lead ship of the new Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers has completed her air sea acceptance trials (ASCT) with a Merlin Mk2 helicopter from QinetiQ at Boscombe Down. Completing the ASCT is a major milestone before the RFA Tidespring enters naval service. “Successful completion of these trials will c
RFA Tidespring, the first of four new tankers in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s fleet, paid her first visit to Gibraltar on October 17. Sailing with an embarked Merlin helicopter during pre-commissioning workups, the tanker called in on the Rock for routine logistics support. She is the first of a flee
Royal Australian Navy sailors aboard the minehunter HMAS Huon honed their deep-diving skills during a recent visit to Lord Howe Island, in the Tasman Sea. Huon’s commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Jason Mullen said the 10-day deployment had been an invaluable training opportunity for the crew.
US Navy transport dock USS San Diego (LPD 22) pulled into Souda Bay, Greece, on October 15, for a scheduled port visit and a mid-deployment voyage repair maintenance stop. The San Antonio-class ship USS San Diego arrived in Greece together with embarked Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Uni
The US Navy and Coast Guard have sent aircraft and vessel crews in response to reports of a crashed helicopter of the coast of Molokai, Hawaii, October 16. According to the coast guard, the downed helicopter is a privately owned Robinson R44 helicopter with two people aboard. Watchstanders at the Co
Canadian shipbuilder Davie Shipbuilding launched the Royal Canadian Navy’s Project Resolve auxiliary oiler replenishment ship ‘Asterix’ this weekend at its shipyard in Quebec. The naval support ship started life as containership MV Asterix and was converted into the naval support ship after arriving
Two US Navy guided-missile destroyers are getting underway from their homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on October 16. USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Preble (DDG 88) will be joining the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its carrier strike group on a deployment in the 7th and 5th flee
US Navy’s future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) officially started construction in a keel authentication ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), on Oct. 13. Keel laying is the traditional start of ship construction. In the age of wooden ships, ‘keel laying’ referred to the laying down of the
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Chafee has become the latest US warship to carry out a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea. US defense officials said that the destroyer operated near the Paracel Islands on Tuesday. Known as Xisha in Chinese, the group of islands is als
Royal Australian Navy ships Adelaide and Darwin have welcomed senior Philippine government and military officials during their visit to the country as part of their Indo-Pacific deployment. On October 11, landing helicopter dock HMAS Adelaide welcomed aboard a delegation led by Philippines president
