Germany has decided to upgrade its Sachsen-class air defense frigates with the aim of improving their contribution to NATO’s missile defense system. The ships’ long range radars are being replaced with new ones that will have a significantly broadened scope of engagement. Apart from defending agains
The U.S. Navy’s 6th fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) entered drydock in Croatia on December 19, for its 2017 shipyard period. During this time, vital systems and a hospitality upgrade will be installed during the six month shipyard period. Mount Whitney will return to servic
The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has contracted the maritime services company Ardent for emergency towage off the north and north-western coasts of Scotland. The new ship to be used – the Ievoli Black – is a 70 metre towing vessel of some 2283 gross tonnes and a bollard pull of 139 tonnes
Dutch system integrator Alewijnse Marine said it has opened a new service and maintenance facility in the port of Den Helder to support its activities at the Dutch Royal Naval dockyard and Damen Shipyards Den Helder. The company said this new facility will allow it to deliver its expertise in all ty
U.S. Navy shipbuilding projects have become a target of an oversight report released by U.S. Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Part of an ongoing series of reports dubbed America’s Most Wasted: Indefensible, the report identified $13 billion in wasteful spending a
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri said it has established an Australian subsidiary and announced the opening of a new Australian headquarters in Canberra soon. Fincantieri was short-listed by the Australian government to bid to design and build nine, new frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). D
U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is preparing to take an extended 40-plus-month break for its Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) maintenance period after nearly 25 years of service. Throughout the first 25 years of an aircraft carrier’s life, it goes through
The Royal Canadian Navy has selected Halifax-class frigate HMCS St. John’s as the next RCN ship to deploy on NATO’s operation Reassurance in early 2017. The frigate will support the standing NATO maritime group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Mediterranean Sea contributing to regional security and stability. HMCS
The United Kingdom has formally named the Royal Navy’s fourth Astute-class submarine during a ceremony at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. The nuclear submarine was named Audacious. Marking a milestone in the vessel’s journey towards joining the Royal Navy’s fleet, Lady Elizabeth Jones
The U.S. Navy has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries a $51 million contract modification for the first year of life-cycle engineering and support services on the U.S. Navy’s San Antonio (LPD 17) class of amphibious transport docks. Services provided in the contract include post-delivery planning
The U.S. Office of Naval Research has recently tested autonomous unmanned swarming boats during a demonstration in the lower Chesapeake Bay. According to the service, the results have revealed ‘dramatic new possibilities’ for autonomy in future naval missions. Using a combination of software, radar
U.S. Navy’s Bataan amphibious readiness group (ARG) completed its ARG/marine expeditionary unit exercise (ARG/MEUEX) on December 19. During exercises like these, ship crews and defense forces personnel get the opportunity to improve cohesiveness and strategies developed during previous underway peri
Home with just seven days to spare before Christmas Day are the sailors and Royal Marines on RFA Mounts Bay which has completed a marathon deployment in the Mediterranean. The amphibious support ship has been away from home for 349 days as one of the first vessels to deploy in 2016… and last to retu
The second Hobart class destroyer marked a major milestone in its construction when she was officially named Brisbane and launched in Adelaide on 15th of December. Mrs Robyn Shackleton, wife of former Chief of Navy and Commanding Officer of HMAS Brisbane II, Vice Admiral David Shackleton (retired),
