Finnish Minister of Defence, Jussi Niinistö, has authorized the nation’s Defence Forces to start the Finnish Navy project, Squadron 2020. The aim of the project is to construct four new corvette-size fighting ships for year-round operation in the special weather and ice conditions at the Baltic Sea.
The U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command on December 21 awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics two contracts worth $1.255 billion. The first is a $1,171,206,489 advance acquisition contract for the advance procurement of long lead time materials, parts, components and effort to maintain the planned pr
Australian-based shipbuilder Austal announced December 21 that its Austal USA subsidiary has been awarded a contract for $51,7 million to its 11-ship $3.5 billion Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract for the U.S. Navy. This contract modification is expected to increase to $198,385,545 over three year
The Australian Minister for Defence, Senator Marise Payne, paid a visit to Austal’s Western Australian shipyard on Wednesday, December 16. The minister toured the shipyard to take a look at the company’s naval vessel design, construction and sustainment capabilities. The Defence Minister’s delegatio
In her third drug seizure so far, HMAS Melbourne has intercepted another 216 kilograms of high-grade heroin in the Middle East worth around $64 million (USD $46.1 million). The heroin was transferred to Melbourne for further analysis. The seizure takes the Royal Australian Navy’s narcotics haul sinc
Civmec, in collaboration with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), unveiled December 14 a newly-built submarine hull section constructed by Civmec at their Henderson facility in Western Australia. This construction is a self-funded initiative, used by the companies to prove that they have the experti
The Australian-based shipbuilder, Austal Limited, announced December 13 it has entered into a shipbuilding contract with the National Australia Bank to construct two further Cape Class Patrol Boats. The contract value for the two vessels is $63 million. The company said the vessels would be delivere
The U.S. shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries announced December 4 that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $200 million, advance procurement contract from the U.S. Navy for LPD 28, the 12th amphibious transport dock of the San Antonio (LPD 17) class. The funds will be used to pur
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Victoria, integrated into the counter-piracy operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean, assisted a fishing boat off the coast of Somalia on November 29. The ship was informed that the boat was running out of fuel and water. The rough weather prevented the use of the warship’s
Dutch warship, HNLMS Groningen, completed her three-month deployment with Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia on November 27. During her deployment, HNLMS Groningen conducted counter-piracy patrols as well as joint training with Seychelles maritime forces. She also provided protection to UN
A frigate, four to six reconnaissance aircraft, and aerial replenishment of French fighter jets will be the German contribution to the French fight against ISIS. The German government appropriated these assets one day after the meeting between the French President Francois Hollande and the German Ch
The Italian light aircraft carrier ITS Garibaldi joined the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia Task Force in the Central Mediterranean taking over the role of mission flagship from ITS Cavour November 25. Having left her home base port of Taranto (Italy) last June 26, only 4 days after the mission launch
U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) changed command November 25, as Commander Matthew Boland was relieved by Commander Steven Faulk. The change of command took place during a ceremony at the historic submarine piers of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Comman
A French Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance (MPRA) aircraft, the Falcon 50, joined Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia on Wednesday, November 18, 2015. The French Air Detachment is based in Djibouti and is tasked with patrolling the coast of Somalia to provide an accurate, up to date picture
