Aviation
French Navy’s fourth FREMM frigate starts sea trials
French shipbuilder DCNS has informed that the fourth French Navy FREMM frigate, FS Auvergne, started sea trials on September 26. Auvergne left the shipyard just days after DCNS launched the fifth of overall eight frigates the French Navy is to acquire. In its first out at sea, the new frigate will s
US Navy awards first production contracts for MQ-4C Triton
Several days after the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was cleared for low-rate initial production, the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command awarded Northrop Grumman two contracts to produce the aircraft. The first contract, valued at $255.5 million, will see Northrop Grumman manufacture three
US Navy drone helicopter helps designate target for Hellfire missile shot
A U.S. Navy helicopter squadron made history earlier in September when the MQ-8B unmanned helicopter they operated successfully tracked a target and served as a laser designator for an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter to fire an AGM-114N Hellfire missile The Northrup Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout detected targe
US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton UAS cleared for low-rate production
U.S. Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was authorized for low-rate initial production approval following a successful Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) led review. This decision marks the beginning of the production and deployment phase of the U.S Department of Defense acquisition
Schiebel, Diehl team up for German Navy unmanned helicopter bid
Austrian unmanned air system manufacturer Schiebel and German defense contractor Diehl Defence have renewed a teaming agreement which would allow Schiebel’s defense products to enter the German market. One particular goal of the collaboration is to market Schiebel’s vertical take-off and landing UAS
Boeing, Lockheed Martin to advance US Navy’s MQ-25 UAV program
The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing and Lockheed Martin $43 million contracts for further work on the Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray unmanned carrier aviation air system. Under the latest contract, the companies asked to refine concepts and develop the trade space for requirements generation before the project
Royal Navy destroyer hosts Operation Sophia force commander
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond that recently joined Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean, hosted the Commander of the EU Taskforce carrying out the mission. The destroyer sailed from Portsmouth in August to support the operation to counter illegal arms trafficking in order to promote a
Video: Australia’s first AWD destroyer completes builder’s trials
HMAS Hobart, the first of three Royal Australian Navy Aegis destroyers has successfully completed sea trials off the coast of South Australia. The builder’s sea trials, completed on the weekend, included testing the ship’s hull, propulsion and navigation systems. HMAS Hobart was built at Techport, b
US Navy orders additional two CH-53K test helicopters from Sikorsky
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Sikorsky Aircraft a $232 million contract for the procurement of another two CH-53K system demonstration helicopters. The service initially ordered four aircraft from the company in 2013 in order to carry out operational evaluation of the new helicopter
US Navy destroyers test drone-fighting capabilities off Florida
Sailors aboard U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and USS Lassen (DDG 82) tested their skills in fighting against drones during exercise Black Dart off the coast of Destin, Florida. During the exercise which took place September 20, both Jason Dunham
Spanish frigate sets out to become NATO maritime group flagship
Spanish Navy F-100 frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón left her homeport to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG-1) and serve as the group’s flagship until the end of December. Almirante Juan de Borbón (F-102) will relieve sister ship Méndez Núñez which is currently part of the group. This i
Spanish Navy carries out MAR-41 fleet readiness drill
The Spanish Navy’s has recently conducted MAR-41, a fleet readiness exercise which took place in the Gulf of Cadiz and the Strait of Gibraltar. Participating units included F-80 frigates Victoria, Numancia and Canarias together with the landing helicopter dock (LHD) Juan Carlos I and the auxiliary s
KAKADU participants engage in final battle
Just three days into the sea phase of Exercise KAKADU, a task group of six international warships has been locked in a steady battle of anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. The ‘Red Force’ task group is made up of a Japanese destroyer, an American destroyer, an Indonesian corvette and
Royal Navy ships respond to mayday call off Isle of Man
A Royal Navy frigate and an offshore patrol vessel responded to a mayday call issued in the morning hours of September 21 from a sinking small boat off the Isle of Man. HMS Somerset scrambled her helicopter while HMS Severn rushed to the scene as it was just 20 miles away when it received the call.