Starting autonomous flight trials of its VSR700 Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) demonstrator, Airbus Helicopters has come a step closer to the first flight of the actual VSR700 prototype in 2018. A light military rotary-wing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle, the VSR700 is being developed jointly by
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Anzac has recently completed MRH90 trials off the east coast of Australia enhancing multi-role helicopter support to the navy fleet. In a joint activity conducted during the months of May and June, HMAS Anzac embarked an MRH90 flight from 808 Squadron for a trial d
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) company UMS Skeldar has joined forces with Sentient Vision Systems to equip its SKELDAR V-200 VTOL UAV with a ViDAR (visual identification detection and ranging) system for its unmanned systems. The ViDAR payload on the SKELDAR V-200 will be deploying five to ten camera
Spanish Navy frigate Victoria departed Rota Naval Base on June 18 setting sail for Italy where she will integrate into operation Sophia to help fight human trafficking in the Mediterranean Sea. The F-80 frigate is scheduled to be part of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) from mid-June to mid
The lead ship of Russian Navy’s new Project 20385 corvettes, Gremyashchy, was rolled out of the factory hall and placed on the open slipway ahead of her launch on June 30. The Severnaya Verf shipyard rolled out the corvette on June 19 and is yet to assemble her topmast and underwater parts. Designed
The U.S. Navy has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries a $3 billion contract for the detail design and construction of the amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA 8). Ingalls was awarded the original long-lead material contract for the third ship in the America (LHA 6) class on June 30, 2016. Con
The U.S. and Philippine navies started the joint maritime training activity Sama Sama in the vicinity of Cebu, Philippines, on June 19. The week-long exercise will focus on mutual security concerns that affect the Philippines including piracy and sea smuggling, maritime domain awareness and patrol,
India is set to host maritime forces from Japan and the U.S. for this year’s annual trilateral exercise Malabar. The 2017 edition of the exercise is scheduled to take place in the Bay of Bengal in mid-Summer. Malabar 2016 was hosted by Japan with the at sea phase taking place in the Philippine Sea.
A U.S. Marines helicopter fired flares at an Iranian patrol boat in the Strait of Hormuz after it shined a laser at the helicopter. The incident, which was deemed an unsafe encounter by U.S. officials, took place on Tuesday. In addition to the Marine CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, Iran
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Arunta interdicted 260kg of heroin in the north Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa on June 8. This is the frigate’s third drug interception as part of operation Manitou. The drugs were intercepted after the ship’s embarked Seahawk helicopter detected the suspicio
After completing two-year overhaul in Portsmouth, Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster has trained with a number of Merlin Mk2 helicopters during her preparations to return to the fleet. The Type 23 frigate now has her own embarked Merlin, however, named Gatekeeper – for guardian to underworld from Gh
Pakistan’s defense ministry has signed a contract with Dutch ship designer Damen for the acquisition of a locally-built offshore patrol vessel (OPV). The contract was signed on June 12 during an event attended by navy and company representatives and Dutch ambassador to Pakistan Jeannette Seppen. Acc
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) is set to return to its homeport Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after completing a five-month deployment. While deployed to the Western Pacific under the U.S. 3rd Fleet Forward construct, Michael Murphy promoted se
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) is set to begin an independent deployment to the Western Pacific and South America, departing Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on June 13. Chafee has a crew of nearly 350 officers and enlisted sailors and is a multi-mission ship designed to oper
