Equipment & technology
L3 buys unmanned vessel specialist ASV Global
US defense contractor L3 Technologies announced it has acquired unmanned surface vessel (USV) and autonomous vessel control systems company ASV Global. With this acquisition, L3 is expanding its unmanned vessel portfolio with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) solutions, unmanned off-board sensors and int
Royal Navy buying Teledyne-built SEAL delivery vehicles
The US State Department has approved the sale of three SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDV) MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS) to the United Kingdom. The contract is worth an estimated $90 million and includes spares, handling and test equipment, and program support. According to the statement,
Russia’s second Lada-class submarine launched 13 years after construction start
Russian shipbuilder Admiralty Shipyards has launched the Russian Navy’s second Project 677 (Lada-class) submarine ‘Kronshtadt’. The launching ceremony took place in St. Petersburg, on Thursday, September 20 – 13 years after construction works first started on the submarine in 2005. The first submari
Royal Navy Sea Kings retire with ceremonial flypast after 49 years of service
The Royal Navy’s Sea King Mk7 helicopters officially retired from active service as two Sea Kings from 849 Naval Air Squadron performed a final, three-hour flypast on September 19. Helicopters ZE420 and ZA126 flew as far east as Teignmouth, over the wilds of Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, the northern Co
After short deployment pause, USS Harry S. Truman returns to US 6th Fleet operations
US Navy aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman has resumed operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations after returning to its Norfolk home in July for a month-long deployment pause. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) initially deployed to the European theater April 11, 2018, and returned
Rolls-Royce opens F-35B LiftFan production site in UK
A facility for the manufacturing of LiftFan systems for F-35B jets has been ceremonially opened by UK defense minister Stuart Andrew at Rolls-Royce in Bristol today. Production at the site has been building up since 2009, with the official opening now marking the fact that the facility is heading to
Three new autonomous underwater vehicles for Royal Netherlands Navy
The Royal Netherlands Navy’s mine detection and neutralization force has added three new autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The new generation Remus 100 marine robots enable mapping of the underwater soil and viewing objects such as mines, explosives but also missing persons. The AUV can perform
Veolia starts deconstructing Redoutable-class nuclear submarines
Naval Group has started deconstruction operations on French Navy’s five first-generation ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) in Cherbourg, France. The project was awarded by French defense procurement agency to Naval Group in 2016. Subsequently, Naval Group has entrusted Veolia with the contract rel
Colombian Navy hosts Unitas LIX exercise
Gathering in Cartagena, Colombian naval forces are taking the helm for Unitas LIX, a multinational maritime exercise taking place from August 31 – September 11. Colombia is hosting eleven navies participating in the exercise — the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, M
Rolls-Royce’s new MTU hybrid propulsion system to be available for patrol boats
As of 2020, technology company Rolls-Royce will launch a range of completely integrated MTU hybrid ship propulsion systems onto the market. As informed, the propulsion systems will be made available for patrol boats, work boats, yachts and ferries in a power range extending from around 1,000 kilowat
UK hands back WWI U-boat propeller to Germany
A World War One U-boat propeller was handed back to the German Navy on August 31 following a joint operation between the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Historic England and North Wales Police. The propeller was formally handed over onboard FGS Bonn, a German replenishment ship which is currently
Croatian Navy ship joins NATO operation Sea Guardian
The Croatian Navy has sent the first contingent of troops to participate in the NATO maritime security operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean Sea. A ceremony for the navy’s warship, RTOP-41 Vukovar, and her crew of 50, was held in Split on September 3, Croatian defense ministry said in a statem
German minehunter Homburg to join SNMCMG 1
The German Navy is sending its Frankenthal-class minehunter Homburg (M 1069) to participate in the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1). On Tuesday, September 4, the ship is scheduled to depart its Kiel homeport. Homburg, which belongs to the navy’s 3rd Minesweeping Squadron, will
Russia announces 25-ship Mediterranean Sea drill
Just days after media reports on Russia’s naval buildup in the Mediterranean Sea first emerged, the country’s defense ministry on Thursday announced a large-scale drill in the Mediterranean. Prior to the defense ministry’s announcement, the Russian Navy was said to have a little over ten warships sa