Defense Strategies
2017 is the year of the navy, British MoD says
The British Ministry of Defence said that 2017 is set to be the year of the Royal Navy as it prepares to welcome new ships to the fleet. “We are investing billions in growing the Royal Navy for the first time in a generation with new aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, patrol vessels and aircra
Russian ‘spy-submarine’ Podmoskovye back in service after 18-year refit
The Russian Navy has received a new Delta IV ballistic missile submarine ‘Podmoskovye’ after the boat spent 18 years undergoing refit and modernization at the Zvezdochka shipyard. The Project 667BDRM Delfin-class (NATO classification: Delta IV) submarine had its missile compartment removed and is no
South African, UK navies to commemorate 100th anniversary of SS Mendi sinking
The Royal and South African Navies will gather in February next year to commemorate the sinking of South African troopship SS Mendi. After it was rammed in fog off the Isle of Wight on February 21 1917, SS Mendi took 616 South Africans down with her. To mark the 100th anniversary of the tragedy, the
Germany upgrades its air defense frigates with longer range radars
Germany has decided to upgrade its Sachsen-class air defense frigates with the aim of improving their contribution to NATO’s missile defense system. The ships’ long range radars are being replaced with new ones that will have a significantly broadened scope of engagement. Apart from defending agains
Finland issues battle systems tender for Squadron 2020 vessels
The Finnish Defence Forces announced it is issuing a tender for a battle system that is to be supplied for its new Squadron 2020 ice-going offshore patrol vessels. The department’s logistics command will send requests to 12 domestic and foreign companies to participate in the tendering. After the Fe
HMCS St. John’s picked as next Canadian ship to deploy to NATO’s SNMG2
The Royal Canadian Navy has selected Halifax-class frigate HMCS St. John’s as the next RCN ship to deploy on NATO’s operation Reassurance in early 2017. The frigate will support the standing NATO maritime group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Mediterranean Sea contributing to regional security and stability. HMCS
Spanish OPV returns from West African deployment
Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel ESPS Serviola returned to her home port in Ferrol, Spain, after taking part in different cooperation activities in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. The cooperative security activities with regional navies are organized by the Spanish Ministry of Defense and t
RFA Mounts Bay completes marathon deployment
Home with just seven days to spare before Christmas Day are the sailors and Royal Marines on RFA Mounts Bay which has completed a marathon deployment in the Mediterranean. The amphibious support ship has been away from home for 349 days as one of the first vessels to deploy in 2016… and last to retu
Operation Atalanta marks eight years of existence
This week the European Union is marking eight years since it launched its first ever maritime military operation, EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, in response to a surge in armed pirate attacks on merchant ships and other vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. Back in 2008, increasingl
German Navy minesweeper concludes NATO mine countermeasure deployment
German Navy minesweeper FGS Fulda has concluded her deployment to NATO’s standing mine countermeasures group two and is currently on the way back home. Fulda and her crew are set to enter the Kiel navy base on December 16 after four months at sea. Commanded by Captain lieutenant Michael Montag, the
Spanish oiler concludes NATO SNMG2 deployment
Spanish Navy’s replenishment oiler ESPS Cantabria has concluded its 71-day deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 and is now returning home. The ship is expected to arrive in the Spanish city of Ferrol on December 15. ESPS Cantabria has sailed more than 15,000 nautical miles, supplied more t
French Navy’s final nuclear submarine starts 18-month overhaul
Le Téméraire, the last of three French Navy’s nuclear submarines, has started her regular overhaul during which she will adapted to carry the M51 missile. Le Terrible, the fourth and latest in the series of new-generation of SSBNs has been equipped with the M51 missile from the outset. Le Téméraire
UK starts construction of two more Royal Navy offshore patrol vessels
The UK Ministry of Defence announced Thursday that work on two new offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Navy will get underway with a £278M contract with shipbuilder BAE Systems. The two new vessels were named HMS Tamar and HMS Spey. Preparation works were already underway and Minister for Defence
German frigate Sachsen becomes NATO SNMG2 flagship
German Navy’s air-defense frigate FGS Sachsen will depart its homeport to become the new flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2. Sachsen will be taking the place of Dutch De Zeven Provincien-class frigate HNLMS De Ruyter which has been at the helm of SNMG2 since September this year. The lead s