UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced greater collaboration with NATO on its military training exercises to tackle new threats faced by the Alliance. The agreement comes as the Prime Minister met with the new NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, at Downing Street ahead of the Afghanista
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus announced that the future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer (DDG 119) will be named USS Delbert D. Black after the first master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON) at a ship naming ceremony held at the Navy Memorial in Washington March 13. The
Swedish Navy’s Minesweeper Experiences Weapon Malfunctions Swedish Navy’s minesweeper HMS Ulvön (M77) experienced malfunctions during weapon fire tests yesterday south of Ronneby, Sweden. UK Invests More in Submarine Successor Programme The UK’s submarine industry will benefit from £285 million of i
US Navy’s USS Germantown (LSD 42) was recently awarded the 2014 Unit Tactics award in recognition of outstanding tactical proficiency throughout 2014. The ship’s crew completed numerous qualification events, participated in multi-national exercises, and executed rigorous material readiness inspectio
The UK Ministry of Defence has delivered some of the most technologically advanced and well supported helicopter fleets in the world over the last year. In the last 12 months, the Merlin Mk2, Puma Mk2, Chinook Mk6 and both the Royal Navy and British Army Wildcats have all been declared ready for ope
Royal Navy’s Sandown-class minehunter HMS Pembroke located nine WW2 bombs and mines in the murky waters off Kiel, Germany. The Faslane-based ship joined four other NATO vessels hunting for historic ordnance on the latest stage of her deployment with the international force. Wars past continue to occ
The Government of Canada has awarded a $13.6 million contract to Chantier Davie Canada Inc. for Vessel Life Extension and refit work for the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Earl Grey. The CCGS Earl Grey celebrated its 30th year of service earlier this year, on February 8. Renewing the Canadian Coas
Raytheon has begun enhancing Standard Missile-3 Block IBs with ‘threat upgrade’ software, giving the weapon’s kill vehicle the ability to hunt down more complicated, more lethal targets. Though exact details are classified, the ability to make improvements through software upgrades means combatant c
The Sailors and Marines of Commander, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3 and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU) returned to San Diego March 10, following a twelve day at-sea PHIBRON-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) off the coast of Southern California. During the nearly two-week underway peri
The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) fired a RIM-7 NATO Sea Sparrow Missile (NSSM). The operation was conducted in the Pacific Ocean, on March 9, during a live-fire exercise from the forward launcher aboard the vessel. Essex is underway conducting an amphibious squadron and Marin
The US Navy’s two new Zumwalt-class destroyers will arrive to the fleet a year later due to complications with new technology. Reuters writes that the issues arose because of the challenges with the integration, installation and testing of unique high-tech components on the new class of warships. US
Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups ONE and TWO (SNMCMG1 and SNMCMG2) arrived in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Friday, March 6, in advance of historic ordnance disposal (HOD) operation BENEFICIAL COOPERATION. Simultaneous participation by both Groups in HOD operations represents a great oppor
NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) recently completed exercises in the Black Sea with ships from the Turkish Navy. SNMG2 is in the Black Sea to assure allies in the region of the Alliance’s commitment to collective defence and to enhance NATO’s maritime force interoperab
Ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) arrived in Varna, Bulgaria on Saturday, March 7, for a scheduled port visit during the Group’s deployment to the Black Sea. Led by Rear Admiral Brad Williamson (USA N), SNMG2 is currently comprised of the flagship USS Vicksburg (CG 69), HMCS