Defense Strategies
Egyptian, French Navies train in the Med
French and Egyptian Navy ships rendezvoused in the Mediterranean Sea for a series of exercises aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two sides. French Cassard-class anti-air frigate Jean Bart and Egyptian frigate Damietta conducted drills in Egyptian Navy’s Northern Mediterranean Fleet area
Royal Navy joining Persian Gulf maritime mission with US Navy
The UK has confirmed its navy ships would join US assets on a new international maritime security mission in the Persian Gulf. The mission will see the Royal Navy working alongside the US Navy to assure the security of merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The push to organize an international m
Royal Navy frigate escorts Chinese Type 052C destroyer through English Channel
Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster escorted a Chinese Type 052C destroyer through the English Channel as it was returning from Russia’s annual Navy Days event in St Petersburg. Fresh from a five-month patrol with NATO in the waters of northern Europe, Portsmouth-based HMS Westminster was activated t
Citing synergies, Germany chooses NH90 as Sea Lynx successor
After choosing the NHIndustries-developed NH90 to replace its old Sea King search and rescue helicopters, the German Navy now announced that it has picked the NH90 as replacement for the Sea Lynx Mk 88A helicopters. The navy said the decision to have a single aircraft type adjusted for performing bo
Final Tide-class tanker joins Royal Navy fleet
Almost a year after arriving in the UK for military customization and armament, Tide-class tanker RFA Tideforce entered service. Tideforce is the final of four ships in the class acquired to support Royal Navy, NATO and ally ship operations by providing fuel and fresh water. After receiving military
Standing NATO groups welcome new flagships in Spain
NATO’s two standing maritime groups welcomed new flagships in a ceremony at naval station Rota, Spain, on July 26. SNMG1, the group that mainly operates in the North and Baltic Sea, has a US Navy ship at its helm again as USS Gravely (DDG 107) was relieved by sister destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101).
HMS Duncan arrives in the Gulf to bolster merchant shipping protection
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan has arrived in the Persian Gulf where it is set to ensure the safe passage of British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s seizing of tanker Stena Impero on July 19. Last week the government confirmed that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accom
BAE Systems completes P950 autonomous RIB trials
UK defense technology company BAE Systems has completed “one-of-a-kind” trials of the autonomous Pacific 950 rigid inflatable boat (RIB) demonstrator. The company now says that the autonomous technology will allow navies to go beyond the limits of human endurance with unmanned vessels that can trave
German minehunter Weilheim joining NATO mine warfare group SNMCMG1
German Navy Frankenthal-class minehunter FGS Weilheim is set to join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) for over four months of joint operations. The vessel will depart its Kiel homeport on July 29 for a two-week at-sea phase before heading to the German Navy’s fire and damage
German NH90 wraps up mission demonstrations ahead of first deliveries
The German Navy’s new NH90 Sea Lion helicopter performed mission demonstrations for its relevant roles earlier this month, ahead of first unit deliveries later this year. The demonstrations included SAR missions, checking navy reconnaissance capabilities, and dropping off commandos and special force
Royal Navy landing ship Albion ends two-month Baltic Sea mission
Royal Navy landing platform dock HMS Albion returned to her home port of HM Naval Base Devonport in Plymouth, after leading an international task group on two months of exercises in the Baltic Sea. This was Albion’s first Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group mission that demonstrated
France launches first of new class of nuclear-powered attack submarines
Suffren boats will be more silent, durable, and deadly than their predecessors.
NATO ASW exercise Dynamic Mongoose underway off Norway
Ships and submarines from Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) are taking part in the anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose in the Norwegian Sea and across the Article Circle. The group shifted into the new area of operations from the Baltic Sea where it completed its participation in
UK MOD awards £85M contract to Rolls-Royce to boost Type-23 fleet capabilities
The UK Ministry of Defence has signed an £85 million contract with engineering company Rolls-Royce to maintain the engines of the Royal Navy’s Type-23 frigate fleet. The contract includes a comprehensive support package to Spey gas turbines, including the overhaul of engines, provision of spares, as