Defense Strategies
ORP Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki becomes flagship of NATO’s SNMCMG2
A Polish commander is now at the helm of NATO’s standing mine counter measures group two (SNMCMG2) following a change of command ceremony in Polish Naval Base Swinoujscie. Commander Aleksander Urbanowicz took over from his Greek counterpart, Captain Panagiotis Papageorgiou, who led the group aboard
Standing NATO Maritime Group One changes command in Spain
Norwegian Navy frigate HNOMS Roald Amundsen became flagship of NATO’s standing maritime group one which held a change of command ceremony in La Coruña, Spain, on January 14. Norwegian Navy Commodore Ole Morten Sandquist took command of SNMG1 from Spanish Navy Rear Admiral José Enrique Delgado Roig.
UK MOD contracts Amec Foster Wheeler for Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme work
The UK Ministry of Defence has contracted Amec Foster Wheeler to support its Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme (NNPP) with research and technology (R&T) services. The work is worth approximately £35m over five years and will sustain about 70 jobs at Amec Foster Wheeler’s offices and laboratories in
HMCS Charlottetown returns from six-month NATO mission
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown returned to her home port of Halifax on January 13, concluding a six-month deployment to Eastern and Central Europe. The frigate deployed within operation Reassurance which is Canada’s contribution to NATO efforts in the region. HMCS Charlottetown acted
Polish Navy’s ‘Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki’ docks in Portsmouth
Polish navy’s newest warship, the multitask logistical support ship ORP Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki, docked in Portsmouth recently on a scheduled port visit. According to the Royal Navy, this is the first time a Polish naval ship has stopped at a British port in more than three years. The Czernick
SNMCMG1 ships make a port call in Germany
Two ships deployed to NATO standing mine counter measure group one (SNMCMG1) docked at the German naval base Warnemünde on January 11. Royal Navy’s Sandown-class minehunter HMS Ramsey and Estonian ENS Admiral Cowan will spend 7 days at the port and sail out into the Baltic Sea on January 18 They wil
HMSC St. John’s becomes part of SNMG2
Royal Canadian Navy’s frigate HMCS St. John’s officially became part of NATO’s standing maritime group two on January 11. The frigate is on her way to the Mediterranean Sea where she will represent Canada’s support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. HMCS St. Joh
UK signs £271M deal for Wildcat helicopter support
The UK Ministry of Defense has signed a five-year deal worth £271 million with Leonardo Helicopters to continue support work on the Wildcat helicopters. The MOD hailed the deal as one that would sustain approximately 500 jobs, primarily at Leonardo’s facilities in Yeovil and Royal Naval Air Station
Royal Navy patrol vessel set to return from ‘huge’ deployment
Royal Navy’s River-class patrol vessel HMS Mersey is preparing to return to the UK from what will be a lengthy 13-month deployment. A remarkable achievement considering the fact that the ship has a company of just 52. The patrol vessel left Portsmouth in January 2016, heading for the Caribbean befor
Former Royal Navy minehunter joins NATO’s group under Estonian flag
A former lead ship in a class of Royal Navy’s mine hunting vessels has joined NATO’s standing mine countermeasures group as an Estonian Navy vessel. Estonian minehunter EML Admiral Cowan (M313) was formerly known as HMS Sandown and served the Royal Navy from 1989 to 2005. Sandown and two more vessel
German tanker Spessart joins NATO’s SNMG1
German Navy’s Rhön-class tanker FGS Spessart will join NATO’s standing maritime group 1 (SNMG1) this month. The 130-meter ship is scheduled to depart its homeport in the naval base Kiel on January 11. The ship is expected to join other SNMG1 units on January 13 in Oslo, Norway. A change of flagship
New Russian Navy video reflects on carrier’s Mediterranean ‘adventure’
The Russian Ministry of Defense has recently shared a new video of the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia’s lone aircraft carrier, operating in the Mediterranean Sea. The video, shared on YouTube, has no description but it is evident that it reflects on the carrier’s air wing operations off the coast of Syri
Spanish frigate deploys to Australia for AWD support
Spanish Navy’s Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Cristóbal Colón is scheduled to embark on a long-term deployment to Australia on January 9. Under an agreement between the two navies, the Aegis-equipped frigate will spend 120 days in Australia where it will help train future Australian Hobart-class dest
Canadian Navy frigate sets sail for NATO’s operation Reassurance
Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS St. John’s left her homeport on Wednesday and headed for the Mediterranean Sea where it will join NATO’s standing maritime group 2. Departing from the naval base in Halifax, St. John’s set sail for the operation Reassurance to replace sister ship HMCS