Qatari Emiri Naval Forces recently completed Eastern Sailor 19, an exercise conducted annually with the US Navy and US Coast Guard. Eastern Sailor 19 is an annual, bilateral surface exercise between the US Navy and the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces serving to expand levels of cooperation between the two
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) met up with Egyptian Navy’s Descubierta-class corvette ENS El Suez (F-946) for a passing exercise (PASSEX) on October 21. Cmdr. Ian Scaliatine, commanding officer of Mitscher, welcomed El Suez’s leadership aboard Mitscher f
Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Albion has arrived in Oman ahead of the start of an exercise that will see the involvement of over 4,000 British personnel. Exercise Saif Sareea (Swift Sword) is the largest combined military exercise for UK forces since 2002 and HMS Albion will be in charge of
The Royal Saudi Navy (RSN) has handed over command of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Force 152 (CTF152) to the Kuwait Coast Guard (KCG). The change of command ceremony took place at the CMF Headquarters in Bahrain on September 12. As explained, this is the first time a CTF is under the
In an effort to ensure maritime security in the Gulf of Aden, the Singapore-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 conducted focused operation on behalf of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The operation, Vigilant Lion, which ran from August 31 to September 8, involved adjacent forces in CMF, the Europ
Russia has reportedly amassed a large task group in Syrian waters as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad mulls an assault on rebel positions in the northern Idlib province. With over ten warships deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, this is Russia’s largest naval buildup since the country stated supporti
Italian defense and aerospace contractor Leonardo announced that its $3.7 billion contract to deliver 28 NH90 medium twin-engine multirole military helicopters to Qatar has been finalized. While initially signed on March 14, 2018, the contract for 16 NH90s in tactical transport (TTH) configuration a
Spanish helicopter carrier ESPS Juan Carlos I and frigate ESPS Blaz de Lezo met up with EUNAVFOR units in the Red Sea recently as they transit towards the Persian Gulf. The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship and F-100 class air defense frigate are deployed as part of a Spanish Navy operation call
German Navy corvette FGS Magdeburg and minehunter FGS Bad Bevensen will be returning to their respective homeports on Friday, after completing separate international deployments. Corvette Magdeburg is returning to her homeport in Warnemünde after 13 months of operations as part of the Maritime Task
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Victoria pulled into the Haifa port on May 25 for her first ever visit to Israel. The 31-year-old Santa Maria-class frigate arrived in Haifa together with Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan for a weekend port call. The two ships are currently deployed to NATO’s Standin
Spain and Saudi Arabia have finalized a framework agreement which will see Spanish shipbuilder Navantia deliver five Avante 2200 corvettes for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). The deal, signed during Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s official visit to Spain, is worth around €2 bil
UK-based engineering consultancy BMT and Turkey’s ARES Shipyard have received a new order from the Qatari Coast Guard which includes an additional nine vessels. The order was officially signed during Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) last week. The new order cove
Qatar’s defense ministry has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the purchase of 28 NH90 military helicopters during the DIMDEX exhibition which is hosted by Qatar every two years. The agreement, which includes 16 NH90s in tactical transport (TTH) configuration and 12 NH90s in naval (NFH)
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and Barzan Holdings, a company wholly owned by the Qatari Ministry of Defense, could possibly cooperate in the coastal defence surveilllance sector in the future. Fincantieri and Barzan Holdings, responsible for empowering the military capabilities of the national arm
