Contracts
UK, Norway reinforce commitment to work together in North Atlantic
The UK and Norway have reinforced their commitment to joint anti-submarine operations in the North Atlantic. On August 15, 2019, Defence Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan hosted at RAF Lossiemouth Norwegian State Secretary Tone Skogen to discuss NATO and the UK’s role in the North Atlantic. The UK is in
Birdon Group gets $191m for US Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat fleet refit
Asutralia-headquartered Birdon Group has received a contract worth up to US$ 191 million to carry out an upgrade of the US Coast Guard (USCG) fleet of 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB) vessels. The work will be carried out by the company’s US subsidiary Birdon America. A total of 107 MLBs reaching the en
BAE Systems cuts steel for second Royal Navy Type 26 frigate Cardiff
Construction of the second of eight Royal Navy Type 26 frigates has gotten underway with a ceremony on the river Clyde. The first steel for future HMS Cardiff was cut at prime contractor BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard where the company has already assembled first blocks of the lead City-class frigate H
New Zealand seeking P-8A Poseidon base builders ahead of first aircraft arrival in 2023
The New Zealand government has opened tenders for the construction of a new home for the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. The government expects that the new facility for the P-8A fleet at RNZAF Base Ohakea would be completed in three years. “The government’s investment in
Turkey’s Preveze submarines getting SERO 400 periscopes
The submarines are currently undergoing a mid-life overhaul.
Royal Thai Navy launches second Krabi-class OPV
Thailand’s Bangkok Dock has launched the Royal Thai Navy’s second Krabi-class offshore patrol vessel, the future HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan (552). The ship, which was built under a licensing agreement with UK’s BAE Systems, was launched on August 2. It is based on the River-class OPVs currently being
US Coast Guard receives 35th fast response cutter
Bollinger Shipyards delivered the 35th fast response cutter (FRC), Angela McShan, to the US Coast Guard in Key West, Florida, on August 1. The cutter will be the third of three FRCs stationed in Cape May, New Jersey. Angela McShan, the cutter’s namesake, was the first African-American woman to be pr
BAE Systems completes P950 autonomous RIB trials
UK defense technology company BAE Systems has completed “one-of-a-kind” trials of the autonomous Pacific 950 rigid inflatable boat (RIB) demonstrator. The company now says that the autonomous technology will allow navies to go beyond the limits of human endurance with unmanned vessels that can trave
US Navy selects Lockheed Martin as FFG(X) frigate combat system supplier
The US Navy has confirmed the choice of Lockheed Martin as the combat system ship integration & test agent for its future guided missile frigate (FFG(X)) ship program. In May this year, Lockheed decided to withdraw from the race for the construction of future frigates, adding that it would provide c
Destroyer USS Stethem returns from 14-year deployment
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) has returned to the US after spending 14 years forward-deployed to Japan as part of the US 7th Fleet. The destroyer arrived at its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego on July 18. Stethem traded Fleet Activities Yokosuka with San Diego as its n
Post-repair tests reveal new issues on USS John S. McCain
The latest round of tests carried out on US Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain after it was repaired following a deadly 2017 collision have revealed further issues postponing the ship’s return to the fleet. The Japan-based ship was expected to complete all repairs from the collision with a merchant v
First UK P-8A Poseidon starts test flights
The UK’s first Poseidon MRA Mk1 (P-8A) maritime patrol aircraft has completed its first flight, marking another milestone ahead of delivery in early 2020. Following this first test flight, the aircraft will transfer from Boeing Commercial Airplanes to Boeing Defense, Space and Security to be fitted
France’s ECA Group contracted for Chilean submarine systems upgrades
The Chilean Navy has awarded French defense contractor ECA Group a contract to upgrade the steering consoles of Scorpène-class submarines. The contract is part of the country’s wider submarines modernization program which will also see two Type-209 boats receive some features of the Scorpene-class s
Another Australian company brought in as Type 26 frigate supplier
An Adelaide-based composite materials developer has become the latest Type 26 global combat ship supplier, the Australian defense minister announced during a visit to BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Scotland. Linda Reynolds, the Australian defense minister visited Govan to witness the build progress