Defense Strategies
Top News of the Week of Sep 15 – 21, 2014
VIDEO: US Navy Hires Kongsberg for NSM Testing Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG) is contracted by the US Navy to test fire KONGSBERG’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) under the Foreign Comparative Testing program. SINKEX Units Sink Former USS Fresno Ships
MARCOM Commander Visits Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
The Commander of NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), Vice Admiral Peter Hudson CBE, paid official visits to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania last week as part of ongoing NATO efforts to assure Allies on the eastern borders of the Alliance of NATO’s solidarity and commitment to collective defence.
Second Italian Naval Group Engages in Spanish Minex 2014
On September 11, the Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) continued sailing the Mediterranean after a short port visit in Casablanca. SNMCMG2 is currently composed of the flagship Italian frigate ITS Aviere, command and logistical support ship Godetia (Belgium), minehunters Evropi
FGS Berlin, ITS Andrea Doria Conduct RAS
On Saturday 13 September 2014 FGS Berlin conducted a RAS with Italian Navy destroyer, ITS Andrea Doria, the current flagship of the EU’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta. Before the RAS commenced, all the sailors involved were fully briefed on their duties and then ITS Andrea Doria made
SNMG2 TU02 Pays Visit to Constanta, Romania
Last weekend under the banner of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) Task Unit 02 (TU02), HMCS Toronto, ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbon and ROS Regele Ferdinand have completed their 4 days visit to Constanta, Romania. The port visit served to reaffirm the Alliance’s commitment to maritime defen
Professionals Discuss Maritime Security in Africa
Maritime professionals from Africa, Europe, and the U.S. began a 3-day conference aimed to enhance collaborative efforts to achieve maritime security in Africa, Sept. 15. The Africa Partnership Station (APS) Annual Planning Conference aims to align individual African nation maritime security goals
BNS Leopold I Carries Out Friendly Approaches
Whilst conducting EU counter-piracy patrols in the Horn of Africa, the Belgian EU Naval Force frigate, BNS Leopold I, has conducted friendly approaches on a dhow and several skiffs near the Somali coast. The dhow was initially sighted by BNS Leopold I’s Alouette III helicopter during a reconnaissa
BNS Leopold I, FGS Berlin Replenish at Sea
On Monday, 8 September, EU Naval Force Belgian frigate, BNS Leopold I, conducted a replenishment at sea with the German support ship FGS Berlin in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). As the ships sailed close to each other, maintenance equipment was transferred from FGS Berlin
UK Navy Board Embarks Two Patrol Boats
The entire UK Navy Board – the body responsible for running the Royal UK Navy – squeezed into two of the Navy’s smallest vessels for a rare day together at sea. Eight Admirals – including First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas – a Royal Marine Major General, two Commodores and several support
USS Ross Departs the Black Sea
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) transited the Bosphorus Strait departing the Black Sea, Sept. 12, after conducting a series of engagements designed to promote peace and stability in the region. Ross’ presence in the Black Sea served to demonstrate the United Stat
Image of the Day: Sea Breeze 2014 Formation
Ships from various countries are underway in formation during Sea Breeze 2014. Sea Breeze is a multinational maritime exercise with naval forces participants from Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, Turkey, Latvia, and the U.S., as well as ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group Two, Task Unit 02, conducti
HMS Prince of Wales Assembly Begins
Construction of HMS Prince of Wales, the second of two new aircraft carriers for the UK Royal Navy, has moved forward with the docking of two of the ship’s largest hull sections – Lower Block 02 and Lower Block 03. The movement of the blocks into the dock at Rosyth marks the beginning of […
Danish Defence Select Committee Visits NATO MARCOM
The Danish Defence Select Committee visited NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) yesterday as part of a broader program of visits to UK-based commands. Discussions at MARCOM focused on maritime operations, including NATO counter-terrorism Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR in the Mediterranean and counte
Italian Predator Completes First Tasking with EU NAVFOR
On Tuesday 4 September the 32nd wing of the Italian Air Force, which operates the remote controlled aircraft known as Predator, completed their first tasking with the EU Naval Force. The Italian Predator team, which is based in Djibouti, carried out a successful 11 hour check test flight and was a