Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, and Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, today released the report of Phase 1 of the Review of the Sustainment of Australia’s Collins Class submarines, the Coles Review. The review is being led by Mr John Coles, an independent expert from BMT Defence Servi
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) returned to Sasebo, Japan Dec. 8 after completing a two-and-a-half month patrol of the Western Pacific. Throughout the patrol, Essex Sailors along with the embarked Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in two
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government has approved the upgrade of all eight of the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigates with an advanced Anti-Ship Missile Defence system. The total project cost is in excess of $65
Three Royal Australian Navy Frigates have departed Sydney Harbour bound for the coast off Newcastle to continue a series of intensive air and sea exercises over the next fortnight. Triton Warrior 11 is the third in a series of co-ordinated naval exercises conducted this year in the Eastern Australia
Melbourne based BMT Design & Technology, a subsidiary of the BMT Group, the international maritime design, engineering and risk management consultancy, has announced that it has been awarded a contract that will help preserve the historic warship HMVS Cerberus. BMT Design & Technology is investigati
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith today announced that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has commenced Exercise COOPERATION SPIRIT 2011 with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Sichuan Province, China. The exercise began on 27 November and will continue until 1 December. “Exercise COOPERATION SP
On the 19 November the Minister for Defence Stephen Smith attended a memorial service in Geraldton, Western Australia to honour the 645 sailors and airmen who perished when HMAS Sydney (II) was lost at sea 70 years ago. Minister Smith laid a wreath at the Sydney (II) Memorial Dome of Souls and paid
KBR announced it has been contracted by BAE Systems to develop and deliver a virtual training program to train crew for the Royal Australian Navy’s Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship, which is under construction. The real-time, 3-D virtual training courseware will enable Royal Australian Navy person
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to her forward operating port of Yokosuka, Japan Nov. 22 wrapping up the ship’s 2011 patrol. The patrol consisted of four port visits and two major exercises while cruising more than 50,000 nautical miles across the western Pacific Ocean.
Global marine safety equipment provider, Mobilarm Limited announced today that it has secured its first production order for 90 Crewsafe V200 Maritime Survivor Locating Devices (MSLD) from the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) for use in submarine escape and rescue. The order forms part of a RNN upgrade
Hawaii-based Destroyer Squadron 31 completed a week of dynamic training as ships returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Nov. 17-18, from the latest Koa Kai exercise in Hawaiian waters. It was the first time U.S. Navy ships were joined by a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) surface ship f
U.S. 7th Fleet Command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) completed a two-day Light Off Assessment (LOA) Nov. 9-10 in Yokosuka, Japan. The evolution, assessed by Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 with the assistance of Afloat Training Group Western Pacific (ATGWP), checked the ship’s ability to safely op
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) helicopter destroyer JS Kurama (DDH 144) will join U.S. Navy ships in exercise Koa Kai 12-1 beginning Nov. 10, marking the first time a JMSDF surface ship will participate in the semi-annual exercise in and around Hawaiian waters. Koa Kai 12-1 is an inte
Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Nov. 9 for a visit as part of its continued operations in the Western Pacific. With a crew of approximately 140, Oklahoma City will conduct a multitude of missions and showcase the latest capabil
