En route to the Middle East and operation Manitou, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Newcastle made a port visit to Cochin, India, building on relationships recently made on exercises in Australian waters. As a continuation of exercise Ausindex, the visit allowed for the strengthening of internatio
Australian shipbuilder Austal and German designer Fassmer hosted over 120 Victorian defence and manufacturing companies for an industry engagement forum in Melbourne. The forum was held to allow the companies to learn about the Austal Fassmer joint venture bid for Australia’s $3 billion Offshore Pat
Italian Navy frigate ITS Espero is en route to her homeport after over two months of counter-piracy patrols off the Horn of Africa as part of the EUNAVFOR operation Atalanta. During her 108-day deployment ITS Espero’s ship’s company helped deter and suppress pirate attacks which started again in 201
Australia’s Future Submarine project officially opened an office in Cherbourg, France in a July 9 ceremony attended by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The office is a tripartite secure facility which will house submarine designers, naval architects and engineers who will work alongside e
Australian shipbuilder Austal has officially opened a new vessel sustainment office in Cairns to support the Cape-class fleet and the future Pacific Patrol Boats (PPB) that Austal is currently building. Following the opening ceremony on June 10, the sustainment facilities will employ nearly 30 peopl
Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Arunta is on her way home after completing the longest Middle Eastern deployment by an Australian Navy vessel since 1990. Arunta concluded her assignment to Joint Task Force 633 as part of operation Manitou and handed over responsibility to HMAS Newca
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), joined other participants of exercise Talisman Sabre 2017 on July 8 ahead of the start of major at-sea portions of the drill. TS 17 is a joint exercise between the U.S. and Australia being held biennially off the coast of
The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet command is prolonging the deployment of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) after her sister ship USS Fitzgerald was damaged in a collision in June this year. USS Sterett is staying in the Western-Pacific until the end of August to provide
As part of an agreement between the European Union and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Damen Shipyards Group has delivered two SAR 1906 vessels to the Turkish Coast Guard. The two vessels – the first to be delivered in what is a six-vessel contract – will be mobilised in refugee
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) participated with four Royal Australian Navy ships, the Royal Australian Air Force, and United States Marine Corps during Field Training Exercise North (FTX-N). FTX-N is a precursor to Talisman Saber 17 (TS 17) while on pat
As part of her counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, EU NAVFOR’s Italian warship, ITS Espero, has an Agusta-Bell AB 212 helicopter embarked. This highly capable helicopter provides the commanding officer with much-needed versatility, speed and range, as well as an intelligence-gathering c
One of EU NAVFOR’s key missions is to protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels as they transit along the coastline of Somalia. It is essential that much-needed food and other humanitarian aid get safely delivered to the Somali people without any delay. EU NAVFOR has been protecting WFP vessels sin
Spreading out the Talisman Sabre 2017 ceremonial flag aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) off the coast of Sydney Australia on June 29 senior leaders of the United States and Australia kicked off Australia’s largest military exercise. In its 7th iteration, Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise t
The Australian government is changing its tendering process in an effort to increase the involvement of Australian companies in defense projects. “We are changing the process companies undergo when responding to tenders for defence equipment,” Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne said anno