Defense Strategies
US Pacific Command visits China for maritime plenary
Senior representatives from U.S. Pacific Command traveled to China to participate in the annual military maritime consultative agreement working group and plenary which took place between November 7-10. According to the Pacific Command, the meeting served as a mechanism for open and transparent comm
Malaysian, US forces train together during Tiger Strike 16
Sailors and marines aboard the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) joined members of the Malaysian Armed Forces for exercise Tiger Strike 16 in Lahad Datu, Malaysia, Nov. 10-13. Tiger Strike 16, formally known as MALFEX (Malaysia – United States Amphibious Exercise), is a Mala
Japan, US conclude amphibious drill Keen Sword 17
Sailors from U.S. and Japan concluded the joint amphibious field training exercise Keen Sword 17. U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units joined forces with Japanese Self Defense Force units to conduct a range of amphibious missions between November 1-11. Surface ships took part in live-fire exercises and
India’s CSL completes aircraft carrier refit
The Indian government announced that Cochin Shipyard Limited completed repair works on the Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya on November 5. The ship spent little over a month in dry dock after the navy decided in September to dry-dock the carrier when it was at the Karwar Naval Base. Official
US Navy’s Amphibious Squadron 11 wraps up 3-month Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol
Ships of the U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 completed their three-month, Indo-Asia-Pacific region patrol as part of the Bonhomme Richard amphibious readiness group (ARG), November 3. The Bonhomme Richard ARG/Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) team consisted of amphibious assault ship USS
Ukraine agrees to provide engines for Indian frigates built in Russia
Ukraine has agreed to provide gas turbine engines for improved Krivak-class (Project 11356) frigates that India will acquire from Russia, India’s Defense Minister told reporters on Tuesday. Based on Krivak-class, or Talwar-class as the ships that were built for India are called, the improved version
South Korean HHI to build two frigates for the Philippines
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced today that it signed a contract to build two 2,600 ton frigates for Philippine Navy. The frigates will be designed as a smaller version of the Incheon-class frigate which is already in service with the Republic of Korea Navy. Accordin
US amphibious dock landing ship arrives in Cambodia
U.S. Navy’s Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) arrived in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, for a scheduled port visit, October 16. Germantown and the embarked Combat Logistics Battalion of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Sihanoukville after completi
China to export eight submarines to Pakistan
China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, one of two biggest shipbuilding conglomerates in China, confirmed that a project to export eight attack submarines to Pakistan has been initiated. The corporation held a conference to discuss details of the arrangement, the China People’s Daily news site repo
Ronald Reagan carrier strike group visits South Korea during Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol
Units from from the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 arrived in Busan for a port visit, October 16. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), and the embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), and the Arle
US, ROK Navy start drills off Korea’s coast
U.S. Navy ships centered around the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan began a series of exercises with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy to strengthen maritime interoperability and tactics, techniques and procedures. The drill started October 10 and will continue until October 15. “This exercise is
Pacific Partnership returning home after four months underway
After concluding mission stops in six countries, this years’s Pacific Partnership arrived in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility en route to Hawaii aboard hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). Pacific Partnership members are on a brief stop as the mission nears conclusion. Mercy departed Naval B
Pacific Partnership 2016 wraps up
The 2016 edition of the largest annual multilateral disaster relief preparedness mission Pacific Partnership concluded in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. The mission was led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, embarked aboard hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). Approximately 1,200 military and civi
US Navy amphibious assault ship qualifies first female helmsman in a decade
U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) recently qualified the first female master helmsman in the past decade. Seaman Gabrielle Connelly, a junior Sailor in Deck department, accomplished her goal after setting sail aboard USS Boxer on February 12. “I think it is pretty awesome, I defi