For the first time, France, Poland and the United States have taken part in the General Officers Steering Committee (GOSC) of the Extended Air Defence Task Force (EADTF) between 13 and 17 February 2012. These countries wish to eventually become full members of this German-Dutch organisation, which o
Following his posting as Commander of the UK Counter-Piracy Task Group, Captain Gerry Northwood, Royal Navy, has written in The Times newspaper about how concerted efforts are helping reduce attacks on merchant vessels. Captain Northwood writes: “Eleven pirates on board with automatic weapons and ro
12 countries, including the Royal Netherlands Navy as a representative of the Netherlands, are currently combating drugs smuggling in a large area of the Caribbean extending to the Pacific Ocean in Operation Martillo. The emphasis is on South and Central American coastal waters. This operation will
Bluefin Robotics, a subsidiary of Battelle, is joining with The Columbia Group to invest in the next generation large submersible vehicle. Bluefin is a leader in design and manufacture of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and related technology. Battelle has a long history of meeting the technolog
Two Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) engineers returned from deployment on two different large-deck surface platforms in support of the U.S. Navy’s at sea, live and synthetic exercise Bold Alligator 2012 that ended Feb. 12. Luis Ramirez-Lugo embarked USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday commissioned four new vessels for the Ghana Navy, the first in 32 years, and underscored the need for the country to secure its maritime domain for its future socio-economic development. He said the nation’s maritime environment abounded in diverse resources
Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief ADM Vladimir Vysotsky took part in the session of defense ministry’s press club. Meeting with the press, he discussed current condition of Russian Navy and its development prospects till and after 2020. Speaking of implementation of the shipbuilding program, Vysotsky
The commanding officer of Pre-Commissioning Unit Mississippi (SSN 782) is visiting the submarine’s namesake state Feb. 19-21 in preparation for the upcoming commissioning this summer. “It’s great to have another opportunity to visit the state of Mississippi and the Ole Miss NROTC unit. We continue t
The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) concluded a three-day engagement visit to Canberra and Darwin, Australia, Feb. 21. Adm. Mark Ferguson met with Chief of the Australian Navy Vice Adm. Ray Griggs and U.S. Ambassador Hon. Jeffrey L. Bleich, toured naval facilities, and delivered remarks to stu
Unsuccessful test launches of Bulava ballistic missile are associated with human factor, said Chief of Russian General Staff Gen. Nikolai Makarov on Feb 18. “You must be aware of a number of Bulava’s faulty test launches. We stopped test program trying to puzzle out the problem. Generally, the reaso
The Los Angeles fast-attack submarine USS Montpelier (SSN 765) returned to Naval Station Norfolk from a regularly scheduled deployment Feb. 17. Under the command of Cmdr. Thomas A. Winter, Montpelier is returning from the European Command area of responsibility where it executed the nation’s maritim
South Korean Military will establish a new submarine command within the navy by 2015, reports the Korea Herald. According to the reports, the military has allocated $ 565,000 of its 2012 budget for the plans to establish a submarine command. The Korean Ministry of National Defense had not highlighte
Navy’s contract for job search and assistance to help Sailors separating by the Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) is well underway, an official said Feb. 17. “Navy has contracted Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc. (CGC), an outplacement service company, to personally coach and assist ERB separating S
From its port in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and travelling through the Red Sea into the area of operation off the Coast of Somalia, the FGS BERLIN joins the multi-national EU NAVFOR off the Horn of Africa , 17 February 2012. The FGS BERLIN is a class 702 combat supply ship, capable of refuelling and re
