Aviation
Photo of the day: HMAS Anzac celebrates 20th birthday at sea
Sailors aboard the Royal Australian Navy’s frigate HMAS Anzac formed the number 20 on the flight deck to mark the ship’s 20th Birthday at sea during the South East Asia Deployment 2016. The lead ship of the Anzac class of frigates was launched on September 16, 1994 and commissioned May 18, 1996. Ten
U.S. Navy Command Ship prepares for Baltops 2016
U.S. Navy’s Blue Ridge-class command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) on May 16 departed Gaeta, Italy, to prepare for the upcoming BALTOPS 2016. BALTOPS is an annually recurring multinational exercise designed to demonstrate resolve of allied and partner forces to defend the Baltic region. Mount Whit
US Navy plans to launch drones from submarines
The U.S. Navy is looking to deploy a small, tube-launched unmanned aircraft system that deploys from under the surface of the sea, on manned submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles. The system is named Blackwing™ and is being developed by the American technology company AeroVironment. AeroVironm
Royal Australian Navy commissions Brisbane Navy base as HMAS Moreton
The Royal Australian Navy formally commissioned the Brisbane Navy Headquarters – South Queensland as HMAS Moreton during a ceremony held May 14. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, was joined by government officials to mark the significant occasion. “The Navy last commissioned an establishment
Spanish, Moroccan Navy conduct MAES-16
One Spanish and one Royal Morocco Navy frigate met in the Gulf of Cadiz to conduct the bilateral exercise MAES-16 from May 4 – 12. Spanish Santa Maria-class frigate Canarias and Moroccan Sigma-class frigate Allal Ben Abdellah carried out a series of training activities in the Gulf of Cadiz under the
ESPS Santa Maria relieves ESPS Tornado in Operation Atalanta
EU NAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta has welcomed back the Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Santa Maria. The ship was previously deployed on Op Atalanta in 2011 and will be conducting counter-piracy patrols over the coming five months. ESPS Santa Maria has an embarked Seahawk helicopter on board, allowing her to
Chinese naval jet crashes into factory building
A Chinese naval fighter jet has crashed during a night-time flying exercise in Taizhou in China’s Zhejiang Province, the Ministry of Defense reported May 12. The incident during which parts of a factory were damaged took place Wednesday, around 7:30 p.m.. The ministry further said that the pilot man
USNS Mercy prepares for lead role in Pacific Partnership 2016
Crewmembers aboard the U.S. Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) recently participated in an abandon ship drill while in its homeport at Naval Base San Diego. Mercy is preparing for Pacific Partnership 2016, the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparednes
HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën intercepts drugs in the Caribbean
Dutch Navy’s air defense and command frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802) intercepted 320 kilos of drugs in the Caribbean Sea between Venezuela and Jamaica. Four suspected drug smugglers were arrested during the operation. A Caribbean Coast Guard maritime patrol aircraft discovered a small, fast
Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier to be sold for scrap
Great Britain is looking to sell its 2014-decommissioned light aircraft carrier for scrap. The Ministry of Defence has issued a notice of the potential sale of the HMS Illustrious “for recycling only”. Illustrious was commissioned into the Royal Navy in December 1977 and has clocked in 32 years of s
GE Marine to provide gas turbines for Japanese new destroyer
GE Marine Solutions, a subsidiary of the U.S. engineering giant General Electric, announced it would provide two LM2500 aeroderivative marine gas turbines for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s (JMSDF) new 8,200-ton class Aegis destroyer. The turbines will be installed by IHI, the Tokyo-based c
EMILY, the robotic lifeguard, saves lives
Officially known as the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard, EMILY is a remote-controlled buoy recently used to rescue nearly 300 Syrian migrants from drowning off the Greek island of Lesbos, Office of Naval Research officials announced May 5. Outfitted in bright orange, red and yellow colors, e
Russia to lay down fourth Project 22160 patrol boat
Russian Gorky Zelenodolsk Shipyard will hold a laying ceremony for the Russian Navy’s fourth Project 22160 patrol boat. The ship, which will be laid down May 8, was named Sergei Kotov, honoring a Russian WWII Rear Admiral. The lead vessel of the class was laid down in February 2014. All vessels of t
Navantia will build Australian replenishment ships
Australia has contracted Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to build two replacement replenishment ships for the Royal Australian Navy. Although the ships would be built in Spain and not in Australia, what the government opposition objected to, Australian Defence minister Marise Payne said that more than