Defense Strategies
Belgian minehunter joins Baltic Fortress drill off Estonia
Navy ships from BALTRON states – Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia – kicked off the international maritime exercise Baltic Fortress 17 on May 19 in Estonian territorial waters. Joining the Baltic nations navies were sailors from the Belgian Navy’s minehunter BNS Primula who arrived to Estonia last week.
SNMG1 ships visit Sweden for drills with navy, air force
Ships from NATO’s standing maritime group one (SNMG1), arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 19 for a scheduled port visit as part of the group’s deployment to the Baltic Sea. This week, SNMG1 will exercise and conduct maritime maneuvers in the Baltic Sea together with elements from the Swedish Air F
German cartel office halts quick purchase of corvettes
The German defense ministry’s plan for a quick acquisition of additional five K130 corvettes has been brought to a halt following a ruling by the German cartel office on May 18. The defense ministry wanted to avoid an open procedure by buying the five corvettes from the Lürssen- Thyssen Krupp Marine
Video: Two Russian Su-24s buzz Dutch frigate in Baltic Sea
Two Russian Su-24 fighter aircraft buzzed the Royal Netherlands Navy’s De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate HNLMS Evertsen in the Baltic Sea. The frigate is currently part of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 and has been operating in the Baltic Sea since joining the group last week. According to Dutch
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Grimsby starts refit
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Grimsby arrived in Rosyth Royal dockyard, berthing for a refit following six months of operations. In Rosyth, Grismby will receive a full refit that will encompass deep level maintenance, fit of new equipment upgrades (a new sonar fit that will make Grimsby the most advance
Singapore Navy orders two more Type 218SG submarines
Singapore’s ministry of defense announced the signing of a contract with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for the acquisition of additional two Type 218SG submarines. The ministry said the contract includes a logistics package and a crew training arrangement in Germany. This contract brings the number of
Italian Navy frigate trains with Djiboutian Navy
Sailors from the Italian Navy’s Maestrale-class frigate ITS Espero carried out maritime training with a team from the Djiboutian Navy during their recent port visit in Djibouti. Currently part of the EUNAVFOR’s counter-piracy operation Atalanta, ITS Espero worked with EUCAP Somalia staff during the
Two NATO groups arrive in Estonia for visit, ordnance disposal operations
A total of six ships from two NATO groups arrived to Tallinn, Estonia, on Friday, for a port visit and subsequent historic ordnance disposal operations. Prior to entering port, Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) and Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) took part in a maneuve
NATO search and rescue drill Dynamic Mercy concludes in Baltic
NATO’s Baltic Sea search and rescue drill Dynamic Mercy concluded on Wednesday, May 10. The two-week exercise was divided into six challenging aeronautical and maritime training scenarios. In total, nine Rescue Coordination Centres (RCC’s) comprising of joint, maritime and air centres from eight NAT
Keel laid for first Italian Navy Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri laid the keel for the Italian Navy’s first Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship (PPA) on May 9. The ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia. According to Fincantieri, the first of seven offshore patrol ships will be delivered in 2021. The PPA
Russian submarine escorted through North Sea
NATO warships escorted a Russian Navy submarine through the North Sea and the English Channel as it transited in the direction of its Novorossiysk base in the Black Sea. The Royal Navy sent its Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset to shadow the Russian Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar as it passed through the
European navies gather in Italy for exercise Mare Aperto 17
Some 40 vessels from 7 countries gathered in the port of Cagliari to take part in the annual, Italian-hosted exercise Mare Aperto 2017. Starting Monday, May 8, navy ships from France, Spain, Canada, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and Italy will spend two weeks honing their skills in mine countermeasures a
NATO minehunters arrive in Latvia for ordnance disposal ops
Ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) arrived in Liepāja, Latvia, on May 3. Led by Commander Johan-Elias Seljamaa from the Estonian Navy, the group will conduct a port visit and continue with historical ordnance disposal operation (HODOPS) in Latvian waters until May 1
Italian frigate pulls into Dammam, Saudi Arabia
The Italian Navy’s FREMM frigate ITS Carabiniere pulled into Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on May 5, on the return leg of her Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment. Carabiniere is set to depart Dammam on May 6, after hosting a press conference on its deck and engaging with local officials. The ship’s crew previously