Pacific Partnership 2013 arrived at its third mission port, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, July 3. U.S., partner nation military members and non-governmental organization volunteers are scheduled to take part in a variety of projects while ashore in the Marshall Islands such as the installati
Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the first of 24 MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters has successfully completed its first test flight. The initial test flight occurred at Sikorsky’s Production Facility, Connecticut USA on 26 June 2013. It passed a range of tests includi
Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are playing a vital role as key contributors to Pacific Partnership, a United States-sponsored humanitarian and civic assistance mission to help improve the lives of people in the Pacific Region. This year, Pacific Partnership will deliver medical, dental, ve
Exercise SEA LION 13 came to a conclusion on 28 June in waters off North Queensland. SEA LION 13 provided Australian Defence Force personnel with the chance to work closely together and develop the critical skills necessary for joint amphibious operations, including Humanitarian and Disaster Relief.
Within the framework of fleet replenishment ship Cantabria’s deployment, on which the vessel embarked on June 27 after an intense program of maintenance and training at Garden Island, the ship will participate in two main activities. The first one is the collaboration with the Royal Australian Navy
Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the final keel block for the future destroyer, Hobart, has been successfully lifted into place by the AWD Alliance in Adelaide. Dr Kelly said the final keel block is the 18th of 31 blocks to be joined into what is rapidly becoming the
Nearly 100 years after France and Australia fought side by side on the Somme battlefields, HMAS Newcastle and FS Somme are united in their security efforts in the Middle East Area of Operation (MEAO). The two warships conducted coordinated maritime security operations over a five-day period in the S
Royal Navy of Oman Takes Delivery of First Khareef Class Warship The first warship built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) as part of Project Khareef for the design, build and delivery of three corvettes, has been formally handed over in a ceremony at HM Naval Base Portsmouth today. Fr
U.S. 3rd Fleet’s Expeditionary Strike Group 3 (ESG 3) and I Marine Expeditionary Force’s (IMEF) 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1st MEB) along with coalition partners from Canada, New Zealand and Japan completed the multilateral amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz (DB13), June 28. The two-week exercise
Exercise Sea Lion Block II Amphibious Training will soon come to a close, with the exercise being hailed a success and a significant stepping stone in the development of Australia’s amphibious capability. Running across various centres in Northern Queensland from 10 to 28 June, Sea Lion Block II was
Residents and users of Sydney Harbour may observe increased ship movements around Garden Island, as the Royal Australian Navy prepares for the International Fleet Review and the transition to a new Fleet of ships. Preparations include changes to mooring buoys located within Naval Waters to provide b
The Royal Australian Navy has joined forces with the United States Navy (USN) and Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) to participate in a tri-lateral exercise, Pacific bond 2013, June 22-26. Pacific Bond is a multi-national naval exercise designed to advance participating nations’ military-to-
Amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) along with embarked Pacific Partnership 2013 personnel arrived in Noumea, New Caledonia, June 25. While in port, U.S. and partner nation service members along with non-governmental organization volunteers will get a chance to experience liberty
As part of its embed with the US Navy’s 7th Fleet George Washington Carrier Strike Group, the Royal Australian guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney has exchanged officers with the American Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Preble as a means to increase understanding, and ultimately interoperability, b
