Defense Strategies
Cammell Laird, BAE Systems focusing on exports for Type 31e frigate
UK shipbuilder Cammell Laird is working hard to secure the bid to build a new class of Royal Navy frigates, the Type 31e. The company is teamed with BAE Systems on the project and is already working to establish a supplier base for the construction. During a “supplier conference”, organized together
German minehunter FGS Bad Bevensen joining SNMCMG1
German Navy’s Frankenthal-class mine hunter FGS Bad Bevensen is scheduled to depart its Kiel homeport on February 25 to join the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SNMCMG1). The minehunter will spend the next five months operating in the North and Baltic Seas. FGS Bad Bevensen will be unde
Electrical issues force German tanker to withdraw from Norwegian drill
German Navy’s 40-year-old tanker FGS Spessart was forced to abort its participation in a Norwegian-hosted exercise in the North Sea after experiencing electrical issues. Spessart was part of a multi-ship group maneuvering off Bergen, Norway, during two linked exercises – the Norwegian fleet exercise
Airbus sets up maritime surveillance unit
European aeronautical major Airbus has re-organized its subsidiary SIGNALIS into the Maritime Surveillance Centre of Competences within the Airbus Defence and Space division. SIGNALIS was previously integrated into the Airbus CIS (Communications, Intelligence and Security) business and has been part
US Navy sends two destroyers to the Black Sea
The US Navy now has two guided-missile destroyers in the Black Sea after USS Carney transited the Bosphorus on February 18. Carney is joining sister ship USS Ross which entered the Black Sea on February 17. Recognizing the fact that having two destroyers in the Black Sea is not something the navy do
Spanish minehunter ESPS Segura joins NATO SNMCMG2 in the Med
The lead ship of the Spanish Navy’s Segura-class minehunters got underway from her Cartagena homeport on February 15 to join NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2). Segura is scheduled to spend the next three months deployed to the group as it did during a similar deployment last yea
Poland, Canada join NATO in potential maritime reconnaissance aircraft acquisition
Canada and Poland joined a number of their NATO counterparts on a program which could result in a joint acquisition of new maritime anti-submarine and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. At a signing ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels on February 15, defense ministers from
Four-nation drill Khunjar Haad concludes in Gulf of Oman
Ships and personnel from the navies of Oman, UK, France and US concluded the international exercise Khunjar Haad in the Gulf of Oman on February 8. Overall 11 vessels, including US Coast Guard ships, took part in the exercise. Khunjar Haad featured a variety of evolutions consisting of air-defense,
NATO SNMG1 ships join Norway’s TG 18-1 exercise
The Royal Norwegian Navy has hosted over ten NATO and ally vessels in Bergen this weekend ahead of the start of two important international exercises. Ships from Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, Canada, and Spain will spend the next two weeks off the Norwegian coast conducting mane
Swedish Navy orders Multi Tactical Data Links from Saab
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV, has awarded Saab a SEK 148 million (approx. 18.3M) contract to provide Multi Tactical Data Links to the Swedish Navy. The Navy platforms will be upgraded with data links such as L16 and L22. This enables closer co-operation and communication with oth
HMS Ocean returns to Plymouth with 203-meter decommissioning pennant
Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Ocean on Friday returned to Devonport Naval Base for the final time as a commissioned Royal Navy ship. The flagship entered Plymouth welcomed by well-wishers and flanked by landing craft and tugs firing water hoses high into the air. The amphibious helicopter and co
NATO groups in Black Sea make port calls in Bulgaria
NATO ships from two maritime groups currently operating in the Black Sea entered two Bulgarian port cities for weekend port calls. On February 10, three warships from Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, as part of their routine Black Sea patrol. Led by Royal Navy Com
Spanish frigate to lead Mediterranean operation Sea Guardian
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Navarra will be leading a three-ship NATO group during the Mediterranean Sea operation Sea Guardian, the Spanish defense ministry announced. In addition to the Spanish Santa Maria-class frigate, the group will include Belgian frigate BNS Louise Marie and an Italian Navy shi
Turkish minehunter finds historic mine in Black Sea
A Turkish Navy minehunter deployed to NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) discovered a historic mine during routine training in the Black Sea on February 7. According to NATO Maritime Command, minehunter TCG Akcay discovered the mine using her mine hunting sonar to scan the sea