Aviation
Spanish Navy receives fourth upgraded Agusta Bell 212
The Spanish defense ministry has received the fourth upgraded Agusta Bell 212 (AB212) helicopter delivered by the joint venture made up of SENER and Babcock. The aircraft is the fourth of overall seven helicopters that are to be upgraded under a project that will extend their lifespan by another 15
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter uncovers drug plantations on Montserrat
A reconnaissance mission flown by a Royal Navy Wildcat over the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat has uncovered nine illegal drug plantations in the island’s forbidden zone. Naval aviators revisited the town of Plymouth on the island, 20 years after it was destroyed by a volcano eruption. Half the
HMCS Charlottetown sets sail for Europe and NATO SNMG1 integration
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown left her homeport in Halifax and headed for Europe where she will join navy ships from several countries for a six-month deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1. On her second deployment under the Canadian Navy’s operation Reassurance, HMCS Charl
Australian Navy ship locates crashed US Marine Osprey
A Royal Australian Navy vessel has located the MV-22 Osprey aircraft which crashed in Shoalwater Bay on Saturday leaving three marines missing and presumed dead. The Australian defense ministry on Monday announced that survey ship HMAS Melville located the aircraft. Preparations are now underway for
Portuguese Navy frigate joining NATO’s SNMG1
Portuguese Navy frigate NRP Francisco de Almeida (F334) departed its homeport of Lisbon Naval Base on August 6 to join NATO’s standing maritime group 1 (SNMG1). The former Karel Doorman-class frigate will join units from Canada, Netherlands, Denmark, Spain and Norway for operations in the North and
US Navy, Marine Corps suspend search for missing marines off Australia
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps suspended search and rescue efforts for three marines involved in an MV-22 Osprey mishap off the coast of Australia on August 5. Twenty-three of 26 personnel aboard were rescued while the next-of-kin for the three missing marines have been notified. Operations have now shi
US Coast Guard names first offshore patrol cutters
The U.S. Coast Guard on August 4 announced the names of the first 11 offshore patrol cutters that are set to start deliveries in fiscal year 2021. Built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, the cutters will be named Argus, Chase, Ingham, Pickering, Rush, Icarus, Active, Diligence, Alert, Vigilant and Reli
USS America visits Singapore during 7th Fleet operations
The U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), currently operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations on its maiden deployment, pulled into Singapore for a visit on August 6. Sailors and marines aboard America have been conducting unit-level training in a number of warfare areas
Royal Navy Merlins complete five-month stint aboard FS Mistral
A group of Royal Navy sailors and marines together with two Royal Navy Merlin Mk3 helicopters spent the past five months deployed aboard the French helicopter carrier FS Mistral during its Jeanne D’Arc mission. FS Mistral, together with frigate FS Courbet, embarked Royal Navy personnel in March for
USS Carl Vinson starts carrier qualifications
The U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) got underway from her homeport of Naval Air Station North Island on July 31 to complete fleet replacement squadron (FRS) carrier qualifications (CQ). During the underway period, Carl Vinson will team up with the Strike Fighter Sq
Royal Navy celebrates 100 years of carrier aviation
The Royal Navy marked hundred years of aircraft carrier operations with a Merlin Mk2 helicopter landing and taking off from the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth on August 2. On a clear but windy day at Scapa Flow, pilots Lieutenant Greg Weal and Lieutenant Nick Allen flew their 14-tonne helicopter
Watch the Brazilian Navy sink a former Royal Navy frigate during missile exercises
The Brazilian Navy recently concluded a missile exercise in waters off Rio de Janeiro during which ships and aircraft of the navy sank the decommissioned frigate Bosísio. Navy units took turns firing their armaments at the former Royal Navy Type 22 frigate until it sank. A Brazilian Navy S-70B Seaha
Egyptian, Hellenic Navy in aeronautical drills in the Med
Ships, submarines and aircraft from the navies of Greece and Egypt started training activities as part of the bilateral exercise Medusa 1/2017. The aero-nautical exercise runs from July 30 to August 3 and is being held in the Mediterranean Sea in waters north of Cairo, as well as in Alexandria Naval
Royal Navy auxiliary ship returns home after two years of operations
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Fort Victoria is back home after over two years of operations. Fort Victoria arrived in Crombie, Fife, after concluding a 26-month deployment. During her 26-month deployment, Fort Victoria carried out a total of 150 underway replenishment operations, issuing 58,634