Equipment & technology
German Navy Sea Lynx makes emergency landing in Kiel
A German Navy Sea Lynx helicopter was forced to make a “safety landing” at the Kiel airport on January 16, the navy has informed. The helicopter was conducting training with tender FGS Werra in the Kiel Bight when the crew noticed a warning light in the cockpit. The crew then proceeded to land at th
Sweden announces names of new A26 AIP submarines
The Swedish Navy’s two new A26 submarines will be named HSwMS Blekinge and HSwMS Skåne, Sweden’s defense ministry announced on January 16. The names of the two new submarines were approved by Swedish king Carl XVI Gustaf, according to the Swedish Navy ship naming tradition, the defense ministry said
Four-nation aircraft carrier drill underway in Persian Gulf
Frigates, destroyers and an aircraft carrier from four nations are currently underway in the Persian Gulf as part of the annual, multinational exercise Intrepid Sentinel 2019. The multilateral exercise is designed to increase capability and interoperability between the four nations. According to pho
Spanish Aegis frigate joins Carrier Strike Group 12 in Norfolk
The Spanish Navy’s Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez (F 104) arrived at Naval Station Norfolk on January 14 where it will become part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 and conduct joint training and exercises. Méndez Núñez, homeported in Ferrol, Spain, was commissioned in 2006. She join
US destroyer Gravely becomes NATO group flagship
US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) assumed the role of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) flagship in a change of command ceremony in Denmark on January 14. US Navy Rear Adm. Edward Cashman assumed command of SNMG1 from Royal Danish Navy Commodore Anders F
French Navy receives first F3-R upgraded Rafale
The French Navy officially received its first Rafale M fighter jet upgraded to the F3-R standard in a ceremony at the Landivisiau Naval Air Base. The first flight of F3-R from Landivisiau took place on December 17, the defense ministry said. The aircraft was delivered after the upgrade was approved
US destroyer Donald Cook resumes European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain resuming it’s eighth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, January 12. Donald Cook was in Naval Station Rota for a training and maintenance
Algerian Navy commissions additional two Kilo-class submarines
The Algerian Navy commissioned two new Project 636 Kilo-class submarines in a ceremony at the Mers el Kebir naval base in Oran on January 9. Named Ouarsenis (031) and Hoggar (032), the newly commissioned submarines are the third and fourth units in their class. They were ordered in February 2014 and
Germany starting construction of first new K130 corvette next month
A consortium of three German shipbuilders is scheduled to officially begin works on the first of five new K130 corvettes in February this year, the German Navy chief has announced. Speaking in Dobbin-Linstow on January 10, Vice Admiral Andreas Krause said the steel-cutting ceremony for the future FG
SIMBAD-RC-launched Mistral missile defeats fast boats in latest test
French missile systems specialist MBDA announced they tested the Mistral missile against fast boats such as fast inshore attack craft in a demonstration in front of a number of foreign delegations. The firing was performed from a SIMBAD-RC automated naval turret firing from the land against a fast m
Russia developing improved, longer-range Kalibr cruise missile
Russian Navy ships and submarines are poised to be equipped with a new and improved Kalibr cruise missile that is currently under development, according to a Tass report. The upgraded missile will have a range of over 4,500 km, twice that of the current 3M-54 Kalibr cruise missile (NATO codename SS-
BAE Systems signs Royal Navy aircraft carrier mission systems support contract
UK defense contractor BAE Systems announced it would be providing essential mission system support to the Royal Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers as part of an updated integration services agreement. Through an addition to the Naval Combat Systems Integration Support Services (NCSIS
USS Fort McHenry is the first US Navy ship to enter Black Sea since Kerch Strait incident
Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) entered the Black Sea on Sunday, becoming the first US Navy ship to do so since the Kerch Strait incident from November 2018 when Russia fired on, and seized, three Ukrainian Navy ships near the the Kerch Strait. USS Fort McHenry, with
USS Porter arrives in Aksaz, Turkey for port visit, exercises
US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Aksaz, Turkey for a port visit on January 1. Following the port visit, the Arleigh Burke-class ship is scheduled to take part in a joint exercise with the Turkish Navy and Air Force in the Mediterranean Sea. Porter got underway from Spa