Aviation
US Marines start maintenance of open water safety craft
The U.S. Marine Corps is starting an overhaul of its open water safety craft (OWSC) this year under the Enterprise Life Cycle Maintenance Program. This is the first round of major maintenance for the OWSC, which has been in service since 2006, and is used as an emergency vessel during waterborne tra
Damen cuts first steel for Australian antarctic supply research vessel (ASRV)
Construction of Australia’s new antarctic supply research vessel (ASRV) started in Romania with a steel-cutting ceremony on May 31. Dutch shipbuilder Damen is in charge of constructing the vessel at its Galati, Romania, shipyard. The shipbuilder is constructing the ASRV for Serco Defence, a subsidia
US Coast Guard cutter returns from Caribbean Sea patrol
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Diligence returned from a Caribbean Sea patrol after seizing $2.2 million worth of marijuana and some 375 kilograms of suspected cocaine. USCGC Diligence returned to Wilmington on Wednesday after spending 65 days on patrol. The cutter’s crew was deployed in support of Joint I
US Navy begins dual carrier operations off Korean Peninsula
The U.S. Navy now has two aircraft carriers operating near the Korean Peninsula and they are joined by ships from the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF). Photos released by the U.S. Navy’ 7th Fleet show carrier strike groups centered around aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan and USS Carl Vin
Maritime search and rescue drill ‘Argonaut’ underway in Cyprus
The international maritime search and rescue and non-combatant evacuation exercise Argonaut is underway off Larnaca, Cyprus. The Eastern Mediterranean Sea exercise kicked off on May 27 and will conclude on June 2. Argonaut is designed to increase interoperability by developing individual and collect
US, Germany, Norway conclude anti-submarine warfare drill in Norwegian Sea
Ships and submarines from the navies of Germany, Norway and the United States completed some 20 days of anti-submarine warfare drills in the Norwegian Sea. Dubbed Eastlant 2017, the Norwegian-hosted exercise started on May 8 and concluded on May 26. Not much has been said about the exercise, and the
CARAT 2017 kicks off in Thailand
Naval forces from the U.S. and Thailand kicked off the 23rd annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in Sattahip, Thailand, on May 29. CARAT is a major naval engagement in South and Southeast Asia and provides a regional venue to address shared maritime security priorities, enhance i
Preparing for the Onslaught
Preparing for the Onslaught Are We Ready to Cooperatively Manage Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Andrew Keene In September, 1941, USS GREER (DD-145) had moved from its patrols in the Caribbean to the North Atlantic as part of the Neutrality Patrol. Headed toward Iceland she was still some 200 miles southwe
USS Ronald Reagan carrier air wing ready for operations
USS Ronald Reagan’s carrier air wing completed carrier qualifications aboard the aircraft carrier on May 22. More than 100 pilots in more than 60 aircraft from nine squadrons based out of Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Iwakuni, Japan, completed almost 700 events, including more than 200 touch and goe
BAE Systems to upgrade Australian Navy satcoms under $30M project
BAE Systems Australia announced it is teaming up with the defense department’s Capability and Sustainment Group (CASG) for the upgrade of maritime satellite communications terminals in a four year, $30 million project. The upgrade of the MASTIS – maritime element of the advanced satcom terrestrial i
Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER UAS in Norway demo
Austrian unmanned air system manufacturer showcased its CAMCOPTER UAS to Norwegian defense forces and security agencies earlier this month at the Andøya Test Center (ATC). The event, held approximately 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, was attended by the Norwegian Coastguard, Royal Norwegi
US Navy awards Sikorsky $55M for CH-53K low rate production
The U.S. Navy has awarded Sikorsky Aircraft Corp a $55 million modification for long lead items in support of low rate production of four CH-53K helicopters. The CH-53K King Stallion is considered the most powerful helicopter in the U.S. military and is being acquired to replace the CH-53E Super Sta
Irish Navy patrol vessel deploys to Mediterranean Sea
Irish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel LÉ Eithne departed the Haulbowline naval base on May 23, starting her Mediterranean Sea deployment. Commanded by Commander Brian FitzGerald, the 72 crew of LÉ Eithne will help fight smuggling and prevent loss of life at sea off the Libyan coast. The operation is d
Royal Navy Wildcat pilot students train on board RFA Argus
Future fliers and engineers of the Royal Navy’s Wildcat helicopters spent three weeks off the Portuguese coast recently, waging an all-out imaginary war. With aviation training ship RFA Argus as their home, the pilots and observers were charged with protecting the 28,000-tonne vessel from all threat