Defense Strategies
Russia lays down first two Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class submarines
Russian shipbuilder Admiralty Shipyards has laid the keel for the first two of an additional six Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines (NATO reporting name: improved Kilo-class). The ceremony took place on Friday, July 28, in St. Petersburg. The two submarines will be named Pet
Italy takes over command of counter-piracy mission Atalanta
Italian Navy Rear Admiral Fabio Gregori took over command of the EU counter-piracy operation Atalanta from Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado during a ceremony in Djibouti on July 27. EU NAVFOR’s deputy operation commander, Rear-Admiral Alfonso Pérez de Nanclares (Spanish Navy), also
Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute wraps up maintenance
Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine HMS Astute has returned to the fleet after completing a major capability upgrade and a sea training period. HMS Astute’s sea training process tested all aspects of the equipment and crew, ensuring that she is ready to respond to emergency situatio
Destroyer HMS Duncan first Royal Navy ship to visit Ukraine in eight years
A visit by Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan to the Ukrainian port of Odessa on July 24 marked the first UK warship visit to Ukraine in eight years. The Portsmouth-based destroyer led a NATO task group into the Ukrainian port at the start of a three-day visit ahead of exercises with the host nation’s
USS Ross completes four-month forward-deployed patrol
U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, after completing a four month patrol that began April 3, 2017. At the beginning of the ship’s fifth forward-deployed patrol, Ross and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-miss
Chinese task group bound for Finland after Baltic Sea drills with Russia
After concluding their drills with the Russian Navy in the Baltic Sea, ships from the Chinese Navy’s task group are scheduled to visit Finland for a regularly scheduled port call. Three Chinese warships, Type 052D destroyer Hefei (DDG-174), Type 054A frigate Yuncheng (571) and Type 903 replenishment
EU extends Mediterranean migrant mission to 2018
The European Union migrant-rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea has been extended and will now run until December 31, 2018. EU leaders reached the agreement on July 25 after Italy curbed its protest against how the migrant crisis was being handled by other member states. The extension was expecte
German minehunter Sulzbach-Rosenberg joining NATO mine countermeasures group
German Navy’s Frankenthal-class minehunter FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg will be joining NATO’ Standing Mine Counter Measure Group 1 (SNMCMG1) operating in the Baltic and North Seas, the German Navy has announced. The minehunter is set to depart its home port of Kiel, Germany, on July 28 to spend the follo
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter concludes German frigate integration
A Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter has wrapped up its integration aboard a German Navy frigate during her pre-deployment training which started in April this year. The Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton-based helicopter spent seven weeks aboard the Bremen-class frigate FGS Lübeck. This was also t
Piriou overhauls Royal Moroccan Navy patrol vessel Rais Bargach
French Piriou Naval Services announced it has just completed an extensive refit of the Royal Moroccan Navy patrol vessel Rais Bargach. Rais Bargach is a 65m ocean-going patrol vessel built in 1995 by STX France. It is one of five vessels in the class. Piriou Naval Services, a repair and services bra
Canadian frigate HMCS St. John’s concludes six-month deployment to Europe
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS St. John’s concluded her six-month deployment to operation Reassurance supporting NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. While deployed, HMCS St. John’s conducted operations and took part in multi-national exercises with NATO Allies and
NATO’s SNMG1 gets new flagship, commander
Two Norwegian Navy Commodores traded places at the helm of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) during a change of command ceremony at the Norwegian Naval Base, Haakonsvern, on Friday. Commodore Ole Morten Sandquis was relieved as Commander of SNMG1, by fellow countryman, Commodore Petter Kammer
UK Chamber of Shipping calls for more warships for fleet protection
The UK should no longer delay ordering new naval vessels if it wants to be able to protect the world’s merchant fleet, Guy Platten, CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping, writes. Platten argues that the security of the UK and its trading economy depend on the Royal Navy’s ability to protect the global m
Royal Navy minehunter Shoreham returns from NATO deployment
Royal Navy’s Sandown-class minehunter HMS Shoreham returned home after being deployed for three months to Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group One, operating mostly in the Baltic. For the first time, families and friends joined their loved ones on board the Royal Navy mine hunter, HMS Shoreham,