The U.S. Navy’s AN/AES-1 airborne laser mine detection system has achieved initial operational capability, Northrop Grumman announced January 12. Designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation, ALMDS provides rapid wide-area reconnaissance and assessment of mine threats in sea lanes, litt
A new U.S. Navy development contract will see Lockheed Martin upgrade the navy MH-60 helicopters with enhanced electronic warfare surveillance and countermeasure capabilities against anti-ship missile (ASM) threats. Lockheed Martin’s advanced off-board electronic warfare (AOEW) active mission payloa
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) is departing Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on January 13 for a regularly-scheduled deployment with the Carl Vinson carrier strike group to the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region. Michael Murphy will deploy with a crew of approximately 320 sailors a
The BAE Systems-developed Artisan 3D radar system has passed its acceptance trials after three years of integration on the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates. Artisan 3D has also been fitted on the new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth which is due into Portsmouth later this year. According to BAE Sy
Royal Canadian Navy’s frigate HMCS St. John’s officially became part of NATO’s standing maritime group two on January 11. The frigate is on her way to the Mediterranean Sea where she will represent Canada’s support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. HMCS St. Joh
The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon a $19.2 million contract modification for the delivery of another seven configuration D multi-spectral targeting systems (MTS). The MTS is an airborne, electro-optic, forward-looking infra-red, turreted sensor package that provides long-range surveillance, high alt
The U.S. Navy has awarded Insitu a $70.8 million contract modification under which it is procuring six Blackjack unmanned aircraft systems. Three of the full rate production Lot I RQ-21A UAS will go to the navy and the other three to the marines. The UAS consists of air vehicles, ground control stat
U.S. Navy’s final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush was launched on this day, January 10, at the Newport News shipyard, Virginia. The 332-meter-long, nuclear-powered ship was laid down on May 19, 2003 and launched on October 9, 2006 with Dorothy W.B. Koch, daughter of President Bush
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Mahan fired three warning shots at Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels after they came within 800 meters of the ship on January 8. The incident took place in the Strait of Hormuz and involved the U.S. Navy destroyer and four Iranian vessels,
The UK Ministry of Defense has signed a five-year deal worth £271 million with Leonardo Helicopters to continue support work on the Wildcat helicopters. The MOD hailed the deal as one that would sustain approximately 500 jobs, primarily at Leonardo’s facilities in Yeovil and Royal Naval Air Station
Royal Navy’s Sea King Mk7 airborne surveillance and control helicopters have joined HMS Ocean in the Gulf to practise in preparation for Merlin helicopters that will succeed the Sea Kings as the carrier’s ‘flying eyes’. After years over the sands of Afghanistan – where their radars proved vital in t
The U.S. Navy accepted its 50th P-8A Poseidon (P-8A) maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida on January 5. The Navy’s Poseidon is replacing the legacy P-3 Orion and will improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warf
The Russian Ministry of Defense has recently shared a new video of the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia’s lone aircraft carrier, operating in the Mediterranean Sea. The video, shared on YouTube, has no description but it is evident that it reflects on the carrier’s air wing operations off the coast of Syri
The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command has awarded Boston Ship Repair a $17.2 million contract for a 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry docking of USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). Work on the Military Sealift Command-operated hospital ship will include servicing of gener
