Equipment & technology
French Navy’s A9-M AUVs get upgraded comms
The French Navy’s six A9-M autonomous underwater vehicles are set to receive upgraded long range communication equipment after thee years of operational service. The AUVs were delivered to the French Navy’s mine disposal divers (GPD) of Toulon and Brest by defense technology company ECA Group in 201
Photo: Spanish warship trains with Somaliland Coast Guard
Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel BAM Relampago took members of the Somaliland Coast Guard on board for maritime training off the coast of Somaliland on September 3. The training consisted of radar and search and rescue (SAR) drills including helicopter evolutions. UN Office on Drugs and Crime (
Rolls-Royce adjusts marine business, cuts 800 jobs in the process
Rolls-Royce has announced plans to accelerate the transformation of its Marine business citing continuing weakness in the maritime market as the primary reason of the move. In a statement released December 1, the company said it plans to further simplify the structure of the Marine business which su
Spanish F-100 frigate concludes air operations integration
Spanish Navy’s F-100 frigate Álvaro de Bazán returned to her home port after integrating into the Defense and Air Operations Command (MDOA in its Spanish initials). The purpose of this deployment was to conduct air surveillance and naval presence in several western Mediterranean areas. F-100 frigate
US destroyer sails from Spain for operation Atlantic Resolve deployment
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter departed Rota, Spain on November 30 to begin its regularly scheduled deployment. Porter’s operations will provide the ship and crew an opportunity to strengthen and build naval capabilities with allies and partners in the region and
Indonesia receives first Panther ASW helicopters
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first three of eleven AS565 MBe Panther helicopters to Indonesia. The helicopters were delivered at a ceremony at Airbus Helicopters’ headquarters in Marignane, France, in the presence of representatives from Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence and the Indonesian Nav
Denel’s SAM to be tested on Algerian Meko frigate next year
Denel’s Umkhonto surface-to-air missile that was installed on the Algerian Navy’s second Meko frigate is set to undergo extensive testing in early 2017. The two frigates, with an option for another two, are built at the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Northern Germany. Denel Dynamics supplies the SAM syste
USS Mason, FS Charles de Gaulle commanders meet in the Med
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) commanders and French officials from the Charles de Gaulle Strike Group (CDGSG) met while operating together in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Nov. 25, 2016. Having replaced the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71), Mason is deployed to s
NATO ships in second Turkish-hosted drill this month
Following the conclusion of Turkish-led exercise Mavi Balina, ships from several NATO countries kicked off a mine-warfare exercise in the Aegean Sea on Monday, November 28. The second Turkish exercise of the month will run through December 4 and will be aimed at testing combat readiness and strength
Indra joins forces with UPM to develop sensors for Spanish future F110 frigate
Spanish company Indra has partnered with the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) to jointly develop and integrate the sensors for Spanish Navy’s future F110 frigate. The partnership agreement has been reached within the industrial plan for the PROTEC F110 program, through which Indra will boost c
Turkish-led exercise Mavi Balina 2016 concludes in the Med
Ships from several nations concluded their participation in the Turkish-led exercise Mavi Balina in the Mediterranean Sea. Participating nations included Pakistan, Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. NATO Maritime Group 2, as well as observers from Algeria, Nigeria, and Georg
Chilean Navy frigates undergo obsolescence refit ahead of air warfare systems revamp
Chilean Navy frigates Almirante Cochrane, Almirante Condell and Almirante Lynch are set to undergo an obsolescence upgrade that will be undertaken by Cohort subsidiary Sea. The programme is being carried out in preparation for a major revamp of the Chilean Navy ships’ air warfare systems. The Britis
Norway to acquire five P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft
The Norwegian ministry of defense announced that it plans to replace its ageing fleet of nine maritime reconnaissance aircraft with five Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Under a project that is expected to cost 9,825 million Norwegian Krone (approx. EUR 1,1 billion) including the
Lithuanian Navy receives patrol ship bought from Denmark
Lithuanian Armed Forces have officially received the P15 patrol ship, a former Danish Navy Flyvefisken-class vessel, bought earlier from Denmark. P15 was transferred to the Lithuanian Navy at a ceremony in Korsør port in Denmark on November 23. The new ship is replacing 50 years old Storm-class LNS