Mine countermeasures ships from the navies of Australia, Japan and the US completed the annual Mine Warfare Exercise 3JA 2018, off the coast of Japan on November 27. US Navy’s USS Chief and Australia’s HMAS Huon and HMAS Gascoyne were joined by a number of JMSDF ships for several days of at sea exer
BAE Systems Australia formally opened a new shipside support tower at its Henderson facility on November 30. The $5 million, multi-level support tower was opened by defense industry minister Steven Ciobo. The structure will initially support the ANZAC Mid Life Capability (AMCAP) upgrade program bein
The navies of Singapore and Malaysia concluded the week-long bilateral maritime exercise Malapura which took place in the Malacca Strait. The shore phase, which included the opening ceremony, joint planning and training, was held from 26 to 27 November 2018 at Lumut Naval Base, Malaysia. This was fo
The first Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate to undergo the Anzac Mid Life Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) upgrade was undocked at BAE Systems’ Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. HMAS Arunta entered water on November 30, after a 14-month refit period which started in December 2017
US Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) was floated out from dry dock on November 27 and moored pierside at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, where the ship is undergoing repairs after colliding with a merchant ship in August 2017. McCain’s launch is an important step in the ongoing effort
The UK Royal Navy has welcomed two major warships home from operations in Europe and Asia Pacific. On Friday, Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond returned home to Portsmouth after two months of operations in the Mediterranean while amphibious assault ship HMS Albion returned to Plymouth after a ten-month
US Navy aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) arrived in Singapore on November 24 for a scheduled port visit. The carrier is visiting Singapore in company of guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), and guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111). John C. Stennis, Mobile Bay, and S
BAE Systems Australia, the main contractor in the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigate acquisition project, announced that it has selected Lockheed Martin Australia and Saab Australia for combat system integration on the frigates. The decision further supports the development of an Australia
The Australian government has awarded Sydney-based unmanned systems developer Ocius a $1.7 million contract to explore the viability of an intelligent command and control network of persistent unmanned surface vessels. Awarded as part of the Australian Defence Innovation Hub initiative, the contract
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Everett, Wash., November 21. While on deployment Shoup supported the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) and participated in exercise Valiant Shield 2018. OMSI is a secretary of defense initiative
Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Albion has completed the final port call of a ten-month deployment to Asia-Pacific. Albion departed Gibraltar on November 20 and is expected to arrive at its Plymouth homeport on Friday. After a number of stops in the Asia-Pacific region and Middle East – Indon
The US State Department has approved a possible sale of eight Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B missiles and thirteen SM-3 Block 2A missiles to Japan for an estimated cost of $561 million. In an announcement on November 19, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the contract also included
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Stuart returned to her home port of Fleet Base West following a three-month deployment to North East Asia. While deployed, Stuart took part in a number of exercises conducted in the North East Asia region in company with HMAS Melbourne and Sirius. The commanding of
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Melbourne has wrapped up six months of operations in the Pacific and Nort East Asian regions and has returned to her homeport at Garden Island Sydney. According to the ship’s commanding officer, Commander Marcus Buttler, the deployment was a great success as the sh
