Defense Strategies
BLAS DE LEZO to Take Part in BMD Exercise with US Navy Destroyer
The Spanish AEGIS frigate BLAS DE LEZO (F-103), flag ship of COMSNMG-2 Rear Admiral Eugenio Díaz del Rio, will soon participate in an air defence and ballistic missile defence (BMD) exercise with the US Navy destroyer USS Mahan (DDG-72) in Mediterranean waters. Both ships share the AEGIS combat syst
Spanish Navy Establishes Cyber-Defense Section
The Telecommunications and Information Systems Division (DIVCIS) of the Spanish Naval Staff has given the go-ahead to the Cyber-defense Section. This department substitutes the Coordination and Security Section. It also takes on the planning, management and control of the military cyber-defense with
Finnish EU NAVFOR AVPD Keeps Skills Sharp during Deployment
The Finnish Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD), deployed with the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta since March 2013, is tasked with the protection of the World Food Programme (WFP) ship MV Caroline Scan. Embarked on the Caroline scan around the clock, the AVPD ensure
NATO Shipping Centre Records Two Incidents in HRA
During the past week the NATO Shipping Centre received reports on two incidents involving fishing vessels in the High Risk Area. The first is a report of a pirated fishing vessel, while the second incident appears to be a SOLAS related accident. The first report confirms that pirates continue to dis
HMS Montrose Sailors Earn Libya Medal
Back in 2011, a total of 16 warships, submarines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels supported humanitarian, embargo and combat operations off the coast of Libya, either under NATO’s Operation Unified Protector or the UK’s Operation Ellamy. These included elements of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Ta
SNMCMG2 Gets New German Commander
Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) has a new German Commander. Captain Marco Von Koelln (German Navy) handed over command of SNMCMG2 to Commander Mathias Seipel (German Navy) on Monday, 24 June 2013. The ceremony took place at the Hellenic Naval Base in Souda Bay, Crete, and was pr
Chinese Warship Takes Over Escort Duties of WFP Aid Ship
On Saturday afternoon (22 June), EU Naval Force Italian warship, ITS Zeffiro and Chinese Navy warship CNS Mianyang, which are both conducting counter piracy operations, met at sea in the choppy waters of the Gulf of Aden. The aim of the meeting was to enable CNS Mianyang to take over escort duties o
UK: HMS Penzance Returns to Sea
HMS Penzance is in the throes of demanding training after completing a six-month revamp in Rosyth. The Faslane-based warship is now Britain’s most up-to-date minehunter following the refit, which prepared her for impending duties with a NATO task group. After six months in refit – four of those out
NRP Alvares Cabral Welcomes Aboard Somali Delegation
On June 24, members of the Somali Federal Government flew on board the EU Naval Force Portuguese flagship, NRP Alvares Cabral, at sea off Mogadishu. They held talks with the EU Special Envoy to Somalia, the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force Atalanta, and the Head of Mission for EUCAP NESTOR,
NRP Alvares Carbal Visits Port of Pemba
Between 17- 21 of June 2013, the EU Naval Force Portuguese flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral, visited the port of Pemba in Mozambique. Given the strong relations that exist between Mozambique, the European Union and specifically, Portugal, when NRP Alvares Cabral sailed in to the port, her crew were give
Top News of The Week June 17-22, 2013
USS Enterprise to Return to Newport News Shipbuilding USS Enterprise (CVN 65) will return to Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) with shipbuilders on board on Thursday, June 20. UK: Final Section of HMS Queen Elizabeth Heads for Rosyth The final section of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of two new aircr
UK Navy to Get Its First Unmanned ‘Eye in the Sky’
The Royal Navy is to get its first unmanned ‘eye in the sky’ in a £30m deal to buy the ScanEagle reconnaissance aircraft. The pilotless plane has been used by the US Navy over the past decade and has been trialled by the Royal Navy. Whitehall is investing in the small, unarmed ScanEagle robot planes
HMS Lancaster Sailors Remember Fallen Sailors in Key West, Florida
They may be gone – but not forgotten. That was the sentiment of sailors from HMS Lancaster during a recent stopover in Key West, Florida. While on the island they visited and restored the graves of two British naval officers who were buried there in 1952. Sub Lieutenant Smith and Midshipman Dewer we
NATO Shipping Centre Weekly Piracy Update
The number of reported attacks and suspicious activity is down over the last week. This decrease in reports may be due in part, to an improved understanding of the operating environment as ship’s masters and security teams continue to transit the region. Another factor could be the recent meetings b