Contracts
ITS Carabiniere starts ‘Italian industry showcase’ deployment
The Italian Navy’s Bergamini-class frigate ITS Carabiniere left the Italian port of La Spezia for an ‘Italian industry showcase’ deployment to Australia and Southeast Asia. ITS Carabiniere is a FREMM frigate built for the Italian Navy by Fincantieri within the framework of an Italo-French cooperatio
Russian ‘spy-submarine’ Podmoskovye back in service after 18-year refit
The Russian Navy has received a new Delta IV ballistic missile submarine ‘Podmoskovye’ after the boat spent 18 years undergoing refit and modernization at the Zvezdochka shipyard. The Project 667BDRM Delfin-class (NATO classification: Delta IV) submarine had its missile compartment removed and is no
Lockheed to upgrade target sight systems on Cobra helicopters
The U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center has awarded Lockheed Martin a $150.9 million contract for the Target Sight System (TSS) on the AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. The TSS is a large-aperture midwave forward-looking infrared sensor with a laser designator/rangefinder turret. The system provides the
Boeing gets $207M for Harpoon missile production
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Boeing a $207.5 million contract to produce 51 Harpoon weapon systems components, and spares for the governments of Egypt, Korea and Brazil. Egypt is getting 20 of the anti-ship missile systems, South Korea 19 and Brazil 12. The countries are acquiring
US Navy restores rating titles after waves of criticism
The U.S. Navy officially announced December 21 that its sailors may, once again, be addressed by their rating titles that were previously scrapped. By doing so, the navy reversed its controversial decision from September which said that sailors would no longer be addressed by their rating but by gen
Germany upgrades its air defense frigates with longer range radars
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
USS Mount Whitney enters drydock in Croatia
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
Fincantieri establishes Australian subsidiary
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
HMCS St. John’s picked as next Canadian ship to deploy to NATO’s SNMG2
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
UK formally names fourth nuclear submarine Audacious
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
US Navy awards HII $50M for LPD-class support services
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
Australian Navy launches second Hobart class destroyer
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),
Two more Royal Navy minehunters begin refit
Two more Hunt-class minesweepers of the Royal Navy have started their mid-life refit in the Portsmouth ship hall. The two 196ft vessels entered the shed just days after refurbished HMS Brocklesby, another minesweeper, completed the overhaul. The shed was built to construct giant sections first of Ty
Work starts on ‘super-quiet’ gearboxes for UK’s Type 26 frigate
David Brown Santasalo, a 150 years old gearbox manufacturer, has started work on gearboxes for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates at its newly opened facility in Huddersfield. UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon attended the opening ceremony of the facility on December 9. The establishment of the com