Defense Strategies
US Navy chief visits Norwegian, UK counterparts
The US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson has visited Norway and the UK to strengthen maritime partnerships and international relationships. While in Norway from June. 24 to 26, Richardson was hosted by his counterpart, Chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy Rear Adm. Nils Andreas Stens
Spain cleared to buy Aegis systems for new F-110 frigates
The US State Department has approved a potential sale of five Aegis shipsets for the Spanish Navy’s new F-110 frigates. A contract for the construction of five frigates is expected to be awarded this year and Navantia is already working on some elements of the ships’ systems and design. The potentia
Three Italian warships start swan song deployment
Three Italian Navy warships, with 85 years of service between them, embarked on their final “deployment” before they bow out of active navy service in a ceremony scheduled for July 16. Aside from the task of training navy cadets, the deployment will be more of a tour of Tyrrhenian Sea port cities, a
NATO ASW drill Dynamic Mongoose gets underway off Norway
NATO’s second annual anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose kicked off on Monday off the coast of Norway. The Norway-hosted Norwegian Sea exercise follows its Mediterranean counterpart – Dynamic Manta – which took place off Italy in March. Dynamic Mongoose will be taking place from June 25
Royal Navy frigate escorts Russian corvettes through the Channel
Royal Navy’s Type 23 HMS Montrose escorted two Russian warships through the English Channel as they transited towards the Mediterranean Sea. The Plymouth-based frigate sailed up the Channel to meet with corvettes RFS Boikiy and Stoikiy as the Russian vessels sortied from their base in the Baltic and
Fincantieri launches Italian Navy logistic support ship ‘Vulcano’
The Italian Navy’s LSS logistic support ship Vulcano was launched in a June 22 ceremony at Fincantieri’s Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard. The ceremony was attended by Italian Minister of Defence, Elisabetta Trenta, the Chief of Defense, General Claudio Graziano, and the Chief of the Navy, Admiral Valt
European Maritime Force shapes up for Portuguese drill Swordfish 2018
Warships from Italy, France, Portugal, Spain and Great Britain gathered in the Portuguese port of Lisbon on June 18 for the activation of the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR). The non-standing force was activated after a meeting of the political-military working group of EUROMARFOR concluded in
USS Farragut forced into maintenance in Norway
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class USS Farragut (DDG 99) was underway as part of the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group when a cooling fan failure forced the US Navy to carry out underway repairs on the destroyer in Norway. USS Farragut was scheduled to take part in an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exer
Bulgarian Navy stages large scale drill in preparation for Sea Breeze 2018
The Bulgarian Navy is staging a fleet wide drill with the aim of preparing units for the international Black Sea exercise Sea Breeze. Dubbed Black Sea – 2018, the local exercise is taking place from June 18 to 22 and will see the participation of 25 Bulgarian naval and auxiliary ships. The exercise
German tender ‘Rhein’ to become NATO SNMCMG2 flagship
German Navy tender FGS Rhein is departing its Kiel homeport on June 20 to head for the Mediterranean Sea where it will join NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2). During its time in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, the 100-meter long Elbe-class replenishment ship will serve as flags
Lithuanian-hosted exercise BALTOPS 2018 concludes
The US Navy-led and Lithuanian-hosted international exercise BALTOPS 2018 concluded on June 15 as participating ships arrived in Kiel, Germany. During the two-week BALTOPS exercise, over 100 drills in surface, subsurface, air defense, mine counter measures, maritime interdictions, and joint personne
Sweden lays keel for new signals intelligence ship
Swedish shipbuilder Saab held a keel laying ceremony for the Swedish Navy’s new signals intelligence (SIGINT) ship. The ceremony took place Friday at the Naval Shipyard, in Gdynia, Poland, and was attended by representatives from Saab, the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and invited guests. Saab was aw
Spanish LHD, frigate meet EUNAVFOR units en route to Persian Gulf
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 corvette, minehunter wrap up UNIFIL, NATO deployments
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