Australian submarine and warship builder ASC has announced the launch of a digital transformation program which will help apply new technology and innovation to the state-owned shipbuilder’s defense programs. ASC expect the transformation program to have flow-on effects for Australian and overseas s
A new anti-air missile system designed to protect the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers as well as other ships in the fleet has been declared operational, the UK defense ministry has announced. Developed at a cost of about £850m (approx. US$1.1b), the Sea Ceptor is the Royal Navy’s new short-range
The UK defense ministry’s program for the development of a new class of nuclear missile submarines and Trident nuclear program renewal is facing a £2.9b “affordability gap”, a review by spending watchdog National Audit Office (NAO) has found. This is in addition to the pressure faced by the defense
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) met with Turkish Navy units in the Aegean Sea as they wrapped up 20 days of operations in the Black Sea. Led by the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, SNMG2 ships rendezvoused with Turkish fast patrol boats TCG Mızrak and TCG Volkan after
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) arrived at US Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka to join the forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) in Japan. The arrival of Milius to the 7th Fleet on Tuesday, May 22, adds another upgraded Aegis Baseline 9 destroyer to the wa
The Italian Navy’s FREMM frigate ITS Alpino (F594) has arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, for the first stop of her North American tour. The tour will help Fincantieri, and the Italian industry, showcase the FREMM frigate design Fincantieri is offering for the US Navy’s next frigate, dubbed FFG(X). Alpin
US Navy expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Millinocket (T-EPF 3) got underway from Changi Naval Base, Singapore, to start a theater security cooperation (TSC) patrol in Southeast Asia. Following flag-level staff talks between US and Republic of Singapore navies, the TSC patrol got underway on Ma
Naval personnel aboard US Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy and fast transport ship USNS Brunswick have arrived in Vietnam and Thailand for the final mission stops of this year’s edition of the international humanitarian and disaster response exercise Pacific Partnership. Engagements kicked off in Khanh
The US Marine Corps on May 16 received their first CH-53 King Stallion helicopter from Sikorsky. The aircraft is the first of an expected 200 helicopters for the Marine Corps’ fleet. The CH-53K is the new build replacement for the US Marine Corps’ aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet. The CH-53E first
Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel are preparing for their role in the wedding ceremony of HRH Prince Henry of Wales and Meghan Markle which is taking place on 19 May 2018. Royal Navy sailors from the Fleet’s Small Ships and Diving Units and 30 Commando IX Group Royal Marines from Plymouth will
The US-led humanitarian assistance and disaster relief readiness exercise Pacific Partnership 2018 arrived in Vietnam as personnel aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived in Nha Trang on May 17. This year’s Pacific Partnership mission in Nha Trang will be joined by personnel from the J
Two Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopters have returned home after two weeks of anti submarine warfare drills in the Norwegian Fjords as part of exercise Rogue Wizards 2018. The helicopters were flown by ‘Flying Sailors’ from the Merlin Training Squadron at RNAS Culdrose. 824 NAS is the unit which train
US Military Sealift Command operated ships USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) met with the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Vancouver while underway in Asia Pacific, on May 15. While it was not stated, the exercise likely took place in the South China Sea as hospital ship USNS Mercy d
Australian government’s $89 billion program to develop new ships and submarines carries a high to extreme level of risk, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) warned in its recent audit. The shipbuilding program for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) encompasses new submarines, major surface comb
