With the endorsement of Codes for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) in April 2014, WPNS navies have affirmed their commitment to safety during unplanned encounters at sea. Across the Indo-Pacific, 7th Fleet ships and aircraft train for the expected in
The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Bluefin-21, has been recovered about two hours into its first mission since returning to the search area so a communications problem could be investigated. During the recovery, Bluefin-21 was damaged but was able to be repaired expeditiously with spare parts on b
The Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R Romeo helicopter has had another system added to its arsenal, with the commencement of dipping operations off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida on 13 May. After five months of flying operations from Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, NUSQN 725 received its fi
Phoenix Express 2014, a multinational maritime exercise between North African, European, and U.S. naval forces, commenced its inport phase at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operation Training Center (NMIOTC) in Souda Bay, May 13. The U.S. Africa Command-sponsored exercise, now in its eighth year,
OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) has signed a contract to provide in-service-support for the Integrated Navigation and Bridge Systems (INTS) that the company has delivered and installed across the Royal New Zealand Navy fleet. Under the terms of this contract, OSI will act as the design authority, and p
The Royal Navy’s HMS Pembroke will sail into Pembroke Dock next week to support the Dockyard Founders Day celebrations. Arriving at No1 Berth Pembroke Dock on May 13, the 52.5 metre ship will remain in port until Saturday (May 17) – and she has two rather proud Pembrokeshire locals on board. “It i
It’s small, fast, heavily armed, networked and one of a kind. But the new coastal command boat just starting to operate in this region is giving sailors in the Persian Gulf a taste of the swift and bad-ass boats coming to the brown-water Navy. “There are lots of concepts we’re trying to prove out
The importance of expanded cooperation in the Gulf region was the theme of U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s remarks today at the Gulf Cooperation Council defense ministerial conference. Defense ministers from all six member nations, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Ara
Pascagoula-based Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has received a USD 12.1 million modification to previously awarded contract from the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command. Under the deal, HII will exercise options for DDG 51 class follow yard services (FYS). The FYS provides necessary engineering, t
The officers and crew of the guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) held a change of command ceremony on the ship’s flight deck, while in port, May 11. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Michelle Nakamura assumed command of Nitze from Cmdr. John L. Bub, Jr., marking the end of three years of command
The US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) transiting the Mediterranean Sea on May 11th, 2014. The cruiser is on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.
The Honourable Gail Shea, Australian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Honourable Denis Lebel, Canadian Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, yesterday announced a contract of up to $172 million awarded to Bell Helicopter for the procurement and delivery of 1
The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey for MK 48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology All-Up-Round (AUR) Warshot torpedoes and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $170 million. The U.S. Defense
The Ukrainian Navy’s fleet of ships and boats Pryluky, Kirovograd, Skadovsk, AK-1, and AK-2 completed a range of drills and training on May 11th. Capt. Lt. Vitaliy Lejnyuk, Commander of Boats Division, said: “We’ve completed all the scheduled training and exercises: gun practice in different areas
