The Swedish Armed Forces on Monday kicked off Aurora 17, an international exercise dubbed as Sweden’s “biggest drill in decades”. While Sweden itself is not a member of NATO, over 20,000 troops from the country and other NATO members, including the US, are set to participate in the three-week exerci
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond stepped in for helicopter carrier HMS Ocean as NATO flagship to allow the Royal Navy fleet flagship to bring vital supplies to Caribbean areas affected by Hurricane Irma The fleet flagship HMS Ocean was originally planned to lead NATO’s Standing Maritime Gr
Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin on September 7th launched plans for the procurement of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31e frigates – a day after the announcement of a new National Shipbuilding Strategy. The competition, unveiled by senior leaders from the Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy and Defence Equ
Royal Navy fleet flagship HMS Ocean has been diverted from a planned task to provide vital humanitarian aid to Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma and in the path of Hurricane José. The helicopter carrier and amphibious assault ship will join Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay, providing lo
On 28th August, Italian warship, ITS Virginio Fasan, welcomed representatives of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) during a port visit to Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. Senior Officers from the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) were received on board by Captain Michel Orini, Commanding Officer, of EU NAVFOR fla
German Navy frigate FGS Brandenburg is on her way home after spending six months as the lead ship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 in the Aegean Sea. Brandenburg is set to return to her homeport in Wilhelmshaven on September 8 after an eventful deployment. The frigate’s mission was to lead a NATO
Cathelco has signed a contract to supply equipment for the first three vessels in a new generation of warships which will have a major role across the full spectrum of the Royal Navy’s operations. The Type 26 Frigates will be installed with two types of Cathelco systems, one protecting the underwate
BMT has launched VENARI®-85, a new mine countermeasure (MCM) concept design capable of clearing mines faster over a greater area and with less risk to the crew, whilst simultaneously providing broader utility to navies around the world. VENARI®-85 offers a flexible platform that is capable of a spec
Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond has sailed from Portsmouth Naval Base for a nine-month operational deployment. She will be taking over the Navy’s long-standing commitment to the region from HMS Monmouth, a Type 23 frigate based in Plymouth. She is the second Type 45 destroyer to sail on operational d
On Wednesday 30th August, during her port visit to Djibouti, EU Naval Force warship ESPS Rayo conducted Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) training in support of the Djiboutian Coast Guard. The training began with a briefing on board ESPS Rayo for the Djiboutian Coast Guard personnel. This was
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) departed the Black Sea, Sept. 1, after conducting maritime security operations and theater security engagements with allies and partners. “Our time in the Black Sea provided the opportunity to continue working closely with NATO all
The first Royal Navy Type 23 frigate to be upgraded with a Sea Ceptor missile system has carried out the first successful firings of the new missile system, the Royal Navy announced. The Sea Ceptor system, which utilises MBDA’s next-generation Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM), is being fitted
Families and friends of sailors who have been on operations in the Gulf for eight months welcomed back their loved ones as they returned to Portsmouth Naval Base. Royal Navy minehunter HMS Chiddingfold returned to her home port on September 1st, following three years in the Gulf. Her 47-strong ship’
The third of four Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tide-class tankers has been named in a ceremony at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering shipyard in South Korea. RFA Tidesurge was named in a ceremony on August 29, attended by Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock, British ambass
