Defense Strategies
UK, France conclude Joint Expeditionary Force drill Griffin Strike
Armed forces personnel from the UK and France have concluded two weeks of training as part of the Griffin Strike exercise, a major rehearsal for the development of the UK-French Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. This year, Griffin Strike was combined with exercise Joint Warrior, and included repre
Dynamic Mariner Concludes off Spain
The 11-day NATO exercise Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-19 concluded on October 18 off the coast of Spain. The exercise brought together 32 surface ships, 2 submarines and 18 air assets, including Maritime Patrol Aircrafts and helicopters. Maneuvers ranged from mine countermeasures, anti-submarine, surface
USS Porter visits Ukraine on Black Sea tour
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, for a port visit as part of its deployment to the Black Sea. The ship arrived at the port on October 13 with five Ukrainian officers on board observing sea-and-anchor operations. These operations e
Poland launches second Kormoran II-class minehunter
The Polish Navy’s second Kormoran II-class minehunter was launched in a ceremony at Remontowa Shipbuilding on October 10. Albatros (hull number 602) was launched a little over a year after a steel-cutting ceremony marked the start of the ship’s construction in September 2018. In addition to the Alba
British F-35B jets land on HMS Queen Elizabeth for first time
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has welcomed first British F-35B jets on board during its operational trials off the East Coast of the US. The arrival of British F-35Bs follows successful developmental trials last year with US Lightning jets, where forces conducted 500 take offs and
International exercise Joint Warrior begins off Scotland
Navy ships taking part in the Royal Navy-led exercise Joint Warrior got underway from Faslane, Scotland, this week to start two weeks of drills in Scottish exercise areas. A dozen NATO nations are taking part with 16 warships, three submarines and nearly 60 aircraft, set to attend. Overlapping with
Spain hosts 18 nations for exercise Dynamic Mariner
The multi-national exercise Dynamic Mariner/ Flotex-19 (DYMR/FL19) that gathered 18 NATO allies kicked of off the coast of Spain on October 7. Maneuvers will range from mine countermeasures, through anti-submarine, surface and anti-air warfare, and air operations to amphibious and force protection o
Italy decommissions additional two ships as part of downsizing plan
The Italian Navy has hosted another dual-ship decommissioning ceremony as it proceeds with its plans for the downsizing and modernization of an ageing fleet. Maestrale-class frigate ITS Euro and the patrol ship ITS Aviere, which was initially destined for Iraq, bowed out of service in a ceremony at
Portugal hosts maritime unmanned systems experimentation drill
The international unmanned maritime systems experimentation exercise hosted by the Portuguese Navy concluded in waters near Lisbon, Portugal, on September 27. Named Recognized Environmental Picture augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems REP (MUS), the exercise was attended by US, European Navy and N
Royal Navy destroyer home after Strait of Hormuz patrols
The Type 45 destroyer performed a multitude of missions in the last seven months.
Italian Navy decommissions its final two Minerva-class corvettes
The Italian Navy retired the last of its Minerva-class corvettes in a sunset ceremony at the Augusta naval base on September 25. With the decommissioning of ITS Driade and ITS Minerva after their 30-year service, the navy is advancing its plan of downsizing an ageing fleet. Driade and Minerva were t
US Navy destroyer Porter and EODMU 8 taking part in REP (MUS) 2019
The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) and members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 participate in the first Recognized Environmental Picture Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems REP (MUS) exercise hosted by the Portuguese Navy in Lisbon,
A helicopter carrier for the German Navy?
The German Navy should acquire a helicopter carrier, a high-ranking German politician said as he stressed the need for the country to invest more in its defense. Speaking to German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Bavaria minister president Markus Söder said that the country should work harder toward the
Babcock announced as Royal Navy Type 31 frigate competition winner
The Royal Navy has picked Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 proposal as the preferred design for its Type 31 frigates. As confirmed by Babcock, the fleet of five ships will be built at an average production cost of £250 million per ship. The announcement of the preferred design also means that the Royal Navy’