Defense Strategies
UK Navy’s ScanEagle Takes Flight from HMS Somerset
Just 7 months after the UK Ministry of Defence ordered the system from Boeing Defence UK, footage released yesterday, 22 June, shows ScanEagle taking flight from HMS Somerset in the Gulf. The system, which can be launched by a pneumatic catapult from Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, i
Minex Concludes Its Biggest Project with VARD Group
Minex, a Romanian company which specializes in providing integrated solutions for surface treatment, plate and profiles processing, and for related areas, recently completed its biggest ever project in cooperation with VARD Group. The company started collaboration with VARD Group 15 years ago when
BALTOPS 2014 Concludes in Germany
Forces participating in Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2014, including the U.S. 6th Fleet command and control ship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC20), arrived in Kiel, Germany, June 20 after the successful completion of BALTOPS 2014. “Coming together for BALTOPS was like climbing a mountain, we have come to
Montenegro Continues Support to EU Naval Force HQ
Lieutenant Commander Zeljko Pekovic has become the second naval officer from Montenegro to serve at the EU Naval Force Operational Headquarters in Northwood, UK. Lieutenant Commander Pekovic will be stationed in the Headquarters until June 2015. Montenegro started providing a military officer to t
FS Floréal Wraps Up Another Counter-Piracy Operation
After two months of contributing to the European Union’s fight against Somali piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, French warship FS Floréal is sailing towards her home port on La Réunion, which is a French territory in the Indian Ocean. This is the fifth time that FS Floréal has participa
Chinese Military Delegation Visits EU Naval Force Operational HQ
Earlier today the Operational Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, welcomed the Defence Advisor to the People’s Republic of China Delegation to the European Union, Major General Luo Wei and his Deputy, Senior Colonel Qiu Yi, to the Operational Headquarters in Northwood. Durin
HMS Montrose in Baltops 2014
Fourteen countries, 30 ships, 52 aircraft and a massive expanse of water for one of the largest naval exercises of the year – Baltops 2014 is now underway. It started late last week in Karlskrona, Sweden, and by the time Baltops (Baltic Operations 2014) finishes on 20 June more than 100 serials wi
Commandant General Royal Marines Handover Ceremony
Friday 13th June saw the hand over of the Commandant General Royal Marines from Major General Ed Davis, CBE to Major General Martin Smith, MBE. The handover ceremony took place in the Commandant Generals Courtyard at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines and was witnessed by Commanding Officers a
Exercise Deep Blue
After a ten day work-up on-board HMS Illustrious around the Cornish coast, the Merlin Carrier Air Group (MCAG) prepare to “Go Deep” as they sail westwards out into the Atlantic in pursuit of Submarines. Exercise Deep Blue has so far seen the Merlin Mk 2s from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose put t
USS Ross Arrives at Naval Station Rota, Spain
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain to begin her forward deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, June 16. Ross, departed Norfolk, Va., June 3, and is the second of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to
Irish President Tours Juan Sebastián de Elcano Training Ship
The president of the Republic of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, visited the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ on June 9th during the scheduled port of call of the training ship in Ireland. The ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ had arrived on Saturday 7th from New York and berthed at Sir John Rogersons’ Quay in th
NATO’s Counter-Piracy Operation Changes Command
Rear-Admiral (ESP N) Eugenio Diaz Del Rio, Commander Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2), handed over command of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD task force (TF 508) to Commodore (Royal Danish Navy) Aage Buur Jensen, Commander SNMG1 during an operational handover in Souda Bay on Sat
NATO Ships Dock in Valletta, Malta
Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) arrived in Valletta on Thursday, 12 June 2014, for a scheduled port visit during the Group’s deployment to the Mediterranean to enhance maritime security in the region and strengthen relations between NATO and Malta. During this port visit, t
USS Vella Gulf Leaves Black Sea
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) departed the Black Sea after a series of engagements promoting peace and stability in the region, June 12. Vella Gulf’s mission, while in the Black Sea, was to work with NATO allies and European partners, demonstrating the United