Aviation
Watch as Australia’s second air warfare destroyer is built from scratch to launch
ASC, the Australian shipbuilder in charge of constructing the Australian Navy Hobart-class air warfare destroyers, recently shared a timelapse video of the second ship in the class, NUSHIP Brisbane, being built at Techport Australia, in Adelaide. The four-minute video shows the entire process of ass
UK Maritime Forces commander highlights Royal Navy operations of 2016
Refuting negative press reports, UK’s Maritime Forces commander Rear Admiral Alex Burton pointed to the Royal Navy’s numerous operations in 2016 during a speech he delivered to the All Parties Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Armed Forces at the Palace of Westminster on January 16 Below is a trans
Spanish frigate joins operation Sophia
Spanish Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigate ESPS Canarias (F-86) left her homeport in Rota, Spain to join the EU mission of saving migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. Coordinated by the EU Naval Forces, operation Sophia aims to stop human trafficking in the central Mediterranean Sea. The multinational m
Australian Navy’s aviation unit braces for busy 2017
2017 will be a busy year for the Royal Australian Navy’s aircraft maintenance and flight trials unit which has seven first of class flight trials scheduled before September. The unit, along with Royal Australian Air Force’s aircraft research and development unit, and Army aviation test and evaluatio
UK awards Lockheed Martin £269M for Crowsnest airborne surveillance systems
The UK defence ministry has awarded Lockheed Martin a £269 million contract to deliver the Royal Navy’s new airborne surveillance and control system that will protect the nation’s future Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. Named Crowsnest, the new system will see the Royal Navy’s Merlin MK2 hel
US Coast Cutter returns home after seizing 3 tons of cocaine
The crew of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Tahoma returned to homeport on January 13 with over three tons of cocaine seized during a 49-day patrol. Homeported in Kittery, Maine, Tahoma’s crew conducted drug interdiction efforts, strategically intercepting and boarding suspected smuggling vessels in the Eas
U.S. Navy’s airborne laser mine detection system achieves initial operational capability
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
US Navy MH-60 helicopters to get upgraded anti-ship missile defense systems
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
USS Michael Murphy joins Carl Vinson CSG for Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment
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
Artisan 3D radar completes three years of sea-based trials
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
HMSC St. John’s becomes part of SNMG2
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
US Navy orders more multi-spectral targeting systems
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
US Navy orders more UAS from Insitu
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
On this day: Aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush launched in Virginia
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