Defense Strategies
Saab bags Swedish Navy submarine support contract
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has contracted Saab for maintenance and support of submarines and submarine rescue systems. According to Saab, the framework agreement covers the time span 2017-2019 and the initial order value amounts to SEK 69 million (approx. US$7.9M). The framewo
German K130 corvette FGS Braunschweig returns from 13-month UNIFIL deployment
German Navy’s K130 corvette FGS Braunschweig is returning from a 13-month deployment to UNIFIL and is expected to enter her Warnemünde navy base on June 14. During her deployment, the corvette changed crews two times and sailed a total of 41,600 nautical miles. FGS Braunschweig was replaced by siste
NATO’s Sea Guardian operation underway in Western Mediterranean
Two frigates and a patrol vessel are conducting a maritime security operation in the Western Mediterranean as part of NATO’s operation Sea Guardian. Led by a French Navy Captain onboard French frigate FS Guepratte, along with Italian frigate Scirocco and Spanish Offshore Patrol Vessel ESPS Serviola
Another tanker attacked by pirates in Arabian Sea
In the second attack on commercial vessels in just two days, pirates attempted to hijack oil tanker MT NAVIG8 Providence in the Arabian Sea on June 1. The incident, confirmed by EU NAVFOR, took place in the Gulf of Oman as the MT NAVIG8 Providence was sailing 100 nautical miles east of Muscat. Accor
NATO ships patrol western Mediterranean under operation Sea Guardian
French Navy frigate FS Guepratte, Italian frigate ITS Scirocco and Spanish offshore patrol vessel ESPS Serviola came together on June 1 to perform patrol duties in western Mediterranean waters. The ships will be working under NATO’s maritime security operation Sea Guardian. The group was briefed by
NATO ships train with Royal Moroccan Navy
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) joined Royal Moroccan Navy ships for a series of exercises off the coast of Casablanca, Morocco on Tuesday. SNMG2, consisting of flagship Spanish frigate ESPS Blas de Lezo and Turkish frigate TCG Gokceada joined Royal Moroccan Navy ships Mohammed V
Albanian Navy orders Nexter turrets for patrol boats
The Albanian Navy has contracted Nexter for the delivery of remotely operated 20mm Narwhal naval turrets. The NATO country will use the turrets to upgrade its Stan 4207 patrol vessels which have been in service with the Albanian Navy since 2008. Under the contract, Nexter will provide four of the sy
US, Germany, Norway conclude anti-submarine warfare drill in Norwegian Sea
Ships and submarines from the navies of Germany, Norway and the United States completed some 20 days of anti-submarine warfare drills in the Norwegian Sea. Dubbed Eastlant 2017, the Norwegian-hosted exercise started on May 8 and concluded on May 26. Not much has been said about the exercise, and the
Poland-hosted Baltic Sea drill BALTOPS 17 ready for take off
Poland is hosting 40 ships from 14 nations for this year’s edition of the international Baltic Sea exercise BALTOPS 17. Starting June 1, the drill will be the 45th iteration of the annual maritime exercise. Air, maritime, and ground assets from several NATO allies and partner Nations will be involve
SNMG1 ships call on Klaipeda, Lithuania
Ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) arrived in Klaipeda, Lithuania on Friday for a scheduled port visit as part of the group’s deployment to the Baltic Sea. These past weeks, SNMG1 has trained together with the Estonian Navy, the Latvian Navy, and the Swedish Navy and Air Force. On W
Saber Strike 17 kicks off in Latvia
The annual combined-joint exercise Saber Strike 17 kicked off with troops and vehicles coming ashore with tactical landing crafts from maritime prepositioning ships in the Baltic Sea to Ventspils, Latvia, May 23-24, 2017. The exercise is held at various locations throughout the Baltic region and Pol
NATO ships escort UK MoD leased ship carrying Norwegian weapons to Lithuania
In a true display of multinational military cooperation, ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 escorted a Ro-Ro sealift ship sailing for the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary carrying Norwegian military equipment to Lithuania. The operation, which took place from May 23 to 24, is part of NATO’s enhan
German frigate returns to sea after repairs in Greece
German Navy frigate FGS Brandenburg has completed repairs and returned to sea following a grounding incident in Greece, in April this year. The frigate ran aground on the morning of April 17 while departing the port of Piraeus, Greece. FGS Brandenburg collided with a jetty and damaged her rudder and
2G Robotics gets Norwegian Navy AUV equipment contract
Canadian company 2G Robotics announced it has been selected to supply AUV-based laser scanning, stills imaging, and illumination solutions for the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Hugin AUVs. 2G Robotics will work on the latest contract that will see Kongsberg Maritime deliver four AUVs to the Norwegian Defen