The United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) received the new Airborne Systems Training and Research Support (ASTARS) III aircraft at Naval Air Station Patuxent River on June 29. ASTARS III is the third, and newest, generation of flying classroom for the USNTPS curriculum. The aircraft is a cu
US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) met up with the Egyptian Navy frigate El Zafer (F951) for a passing exercise (PASSEX) in the US 5th Fleet area of operations. PASSEX is an exercise in which multiple ships, operating in close vicinity, practice evolutions together to improv
The German Navy has been forced to withdraw its only two tankers from NATO operations this year. As disclosed, the tanker oldies, Spessart and Rhön, will not be operational until the end of this year. Due to engine issues, both 1974-built ships will undergo repairs in the following months. The compl
More than 75 years after the Second World War, decommissioned Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) diving support vessel Manawanui will soon be fighting environmental hazards at key sites across the southern Pacific. Decommissioned from the RNZN in February 2018 after 30 years of service, former HMNZS Mana
Chilean Navy’s diesel-electric submarine CS Simpson (SS 21) arrived at Naval Base Point Loma on June 26 as part of the Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) program. Hosted by Commander, Submarine Squadron 11 (CSS-11), the submarine and its crew will spend the next three months in San Diego, c
NATO’s Standing Maritime Group changed command in a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 30. Commodore Mike Utley OBE formally handed over command of the SNMG2 to his Dutch counterpart Commodore Boudewijn G.F.M. Boots. This marked the end of a yearlong UK commitment leading SNMG2. Rear Admiral Jame
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has departed the Mediterranean Sea after three months of operations and is currently working with the French Air Force in The Atlantic Ocean. From July 2 to 6, embarked aircraft from Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) are conducting integrated flight operations
The US Navy amphibious ready group led by Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) returned to homeport on June 28, after completing the Navy’s first East Coast ARG Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise. SWATT is led by mentors and warfare tactics instructors (W
The Brazilian Navy’s second upgraded Super Lynx helicopter has performed its maiden flight from Yeovil, UK. The maiden flight started from the headquarters of Leonardo Marconi Westland (LMW) and was completed on June 21, 2018, the navy said in a statement. The N-4004 aircraft, the second of the eigh
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Bell Boeing JPO a $4,2 billion contract for V-22 tiltrotor aircraft construction. As informed, the contract provides for the manufacture and delivery of 39 CMV-22B aircraft for the US Navy, 34 MV-22B aircraft for the Marine Corps, one CV-22B for the Air F
The Polish defense ministry announced on June 29 that it has awarded PGZ a contract to complete outfitting works and all trials on the offshore patrol vessel ‘Ślązak’ and subsequently deliver it to the Polish Navy. According to the announcement, Ślązak is set to start trials in July 2018 while the d
The Brazilian Navy commissioned its new helicopter carrier Atlântico (A 140) in a ceremony at the UK naval base in Devonport on June 29. Atlântico, formerly known as HMS Ocean, was bought by Brazil after the Royal Navy decommissioned it after 20 years of service. PHM Atlântico (A 140), PHM standing
The US Navy will be looking at ways to use augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) capabilities which could support training and fleet maintenance under a contract with a AR/VR platform developer. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division is collaborating with Moback, Inc. to research and in
Shortly after the US Marine Corps ordered their first next-generation amphibious vehicles, a number of US Marines units started familiarizing themselves with the new assault amphibious vehicles during exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC). During the evolutions, the US Marines worked with Canadian an
