Ships and personnel from the US, Spain, Germany and France concluded the four-day Smart Defense Exercise (SMARTEX) on September 28. SMARTEX is a NATO initiative designed to enhance interoperability and training between participating countries. During the exercise, Spanish sailors embarked aboard the
The Ukranian Navy has shared video footage of a Russian Su-27 fighter aircraft buzzing Ukrainian Gurza-M artillery boats during recent exercises. Apart from sharing the video on social media, the Ukrainian Navy did not provide specific info on when or where exactly the flyover took place. The navy o
The navies of Finland and Estonia have started the joint Baltic Shield 2018 exercise in the Archipelago Sea and Gulf of Finland. The exercise got underway on October 1 and is scheduled to conclude October 11. Baltic Shield 2018 is a mine counter-measures and firing exercise for vessel units of the F
In an effort to fine-tune the 3-D printing process, the US Office of Naval Research and Lockheed Martin have teamed up to explore how to apply artificial intelligence to train robots to independently oversee—and optimize—3-D printing of complex parts. As explained by Lockheed, high-value and intrica
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat has returned to port with a rescued solo round-the-world yachtsman. Ballarat’s MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopter recovered Irish national, Gregor McGuckin, from a French scientific research station on Amsterdam Island after he was transported there by Fren
UK defense secretary Gavin Williamson on September 30 announced the name of another Type 26 frigate and revealed that the Royal Navy assault ships HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion would not be scrapped. Speaking in Birmingham, Williamson said that the fourth of the UK’s eventual eight Type 26 frigates wil
The biennial Five Power Defence Arrangements exercise Bersama Lima is starting in the South Cina Sea on Tuesday. Involving ships, aircraft and personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK, the exercise will include live fire and command post exercises over a two-week period.
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond got underway from Portsmouth on September 29 for maritime security operations in the Mediterranean Sea. The Type 45 destroyer will provide reassurance to allies in the region throughout the autumn. The deployment follows a busy few months for HMS Diamond and her crew
The new flagship of US 7th Fleet’s amphibious forces carried out a live-fire exercise in the South China Sea on September 27. Joined by the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the USS Wasp amphibious ready group (ARG) conducted an integrated Defense of the Amphibious Task Force (DATF) dri
The US Navy has awarded two contracts totaling over $9 billion for the construction of Flight III configuration Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. Awarded on September 27, the fiscal years (FY) 2018 – 2022 multiyear procurement (MYP) contracts will see General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (G
The US Coast Guard transferred two of its decommissioned Island-class cutters to Ukraine in a ceremony at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, on September 27. The ceremony was attended by US Coast Guard Vice Adm. Michael McAllister, Ukrainian Navy chief Vice Adm. Ihor Voronchenko, and Ukraine’s presi
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll on Wednesday joined a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force task group led by helicopter carrier JS Kaga for maneuvers in the Indian Ocean. Prior to drills with the Royal Navy, JS Kaga’s group was part of the first known Japanese anti-submarine warfare drill in the
The Republic of Singapore Navy commissioned two littoral mission vessels (LMV) and inaugurated a new simulation center in a ceremony at Tuas Naval Base on September 26. The two LMVs, RSS Justice and RSS Indomitable, are the fourth and fifth of overall eight vessels in their class. Shipbuilder ST Eng
Indian shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) has contracted German submarine specialist thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for work on the overhaul of the Indian Navy’s Type 209 submarine INS Shishumar. The exact value of the contract was not revealed and TKMS only said it received a “high two
