The U.S. Navy’s future DDG 51 destroyer, USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) started its Aegis Combat System testing at the Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard, December 17. The Aegis system light off marks the beginning of combat system testing for the ship. These tests will ensure all combat system equipment
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training has been awarded a $72.4 million contract to provide U.S. and United Kingdom Trident II (D5) navigation subsystem engineering support services. The contract will see Lockheed Martin provide U.S. and U.K. fleet support and U.S. and U.K. trainer systems sup
BAE Systems, the UK-based shipbuilder, was awarded a £13.5m ($20.4m) contract for 60 new Pacific 24 Rigid Inflatable Boats. The announcement was made by the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Fallon during his visit to Portsmouth Naval Base on December 14. This Pacific 24 Mark-4
HMS Artful, the third of overall seven submarines the United Kingdom is building, has joined the Royal Navy fleet. Until now the submarine was owned by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the MOD’s body responsible for procuring and supporting equipment for the armed forces. Defence Minister Phili
Columbian president Juan Manuel Santos Calderón christened two former German navy Type 206 A submarines in Cartagena, Colombia. The submarines have been acquired under the Colombian Navy’s modernization plan. The Type 206 A submarines were upgraded by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and will replace two
Defence and security company Saab has redelivered one of the Swedish Navy’s Gotland-class submarines to the Swedish defence forces after general overhaul and upgrades. In September 2014, Saab was contracted to perform overhaul and upgrade work on the Swedish Gotland-class submarine, HMS Gotland. The
The aft island, the final section of the UK’s second aircraft carrier took to the sea yesterday, December 10. The control tower of the ship is being transferred to Babcock’s dockyard in Rosyth, Scotland. The 750-tonne section, which will control aircraft operations on HMS Prince of Wales, left BAE S
The Royal Netherlands Navy launched the first modified Walrus class submarine, the Zr. Ms. Zeeleeuw, on December 3. The launch marks a milestone in the Life Extension Program (LEP) of the Walrus class submarines with the first one now ready to be commissioned. Zr.Ms. Zeeleeuw has undergone modificat
The U.S. Navy shared a video of the future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) underway for the first time conducting the first set of at-sea tests and trials in the Atlantic Ocean, December 7. DDG 1000 is the first of a new class of warships in the US Navy. The ship is designed as a multi-mission […]
UK’s Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited defence companies in Scotland December 7 to highlight the impact last month’s Strategic Defence and Security Review will have on the economy. Over the next decade, the MOD plans to spend around £8 billion on conventional warships for the Royal Navy, all
The U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command awarded a total of $225.3M for the development and production of a new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). SAIC, the American-based government contractor, received a $121.5M contract and BAE Systems recieved $103.7M for the build of initial 13 prototypes. The two c
UK’s new defence plan envisions the commissioning of new Type 26 Global Combat Ships from the mid-2020s, upgraded maritime helicopters and the new aircraft carrier in operating capability by 2020. This plan is backed with a £178 B budget which represents a £12 B increase on previous plans. The Natio
The U.S. Navy’s future USS Omaha (LCS 12) and fourth Austal-built littoral combat ship was launched in Mobile, Alabama on November 20. Omaha was rolled out of her assembly bay at the Austal USA Shipyard onto a barge for transfer down the Mobile River to a floating drydock at BAE Shipyard on November
The U.S. Navy has announced that commissioning of its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), would take place on Saturday, Nov. 21 during a ceremony on Milwaukee’s waterfront. Milwaukee, designated LCS 5, honors the city of Milwaukee and is the fifth U.S. ship in the nat
