Guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) departed Ghana after a three-day Africa Partnership Station (APS) port visit, Feb. 21. The visit featured medical training and shipboard damage control with sailors from the Ghanaian navy, tours of the ship for high-school students from the American Intern
Friends and families of the USS Columbus (SSN 762) crew gathered at the submarine piers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to say goodbye as the Los Angeles-class submarine departed for a Western Pacific deployment, Feb. 22. “The submarine is in outstanding material condition thanks to the recent ins
Hundreds of workers at a British missile factory have been thanked by the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Peter Luff for their efforts in supporting the Armed Forces during the Libya intervention. The Minister visited MBDA UK at Lostock in Bolton last week to see for himself w
For the first time, France, Poland and the United States have taken part in the General Officers Steering Committee (GOSC) of the Extended Air Defence Task Force (EADTF) between 13 and 17 February 2012. These countries wish to eventually become full members of this German-Dutch organisation, which o
Following his posting as Commander of the UK Counter-Piracy Task Group, Captain Gerry Northwood, Royal Navy, has written in The Times newspaper about how concerted efforts are helping reduce attacks on merchant vessels. Captain Northwood writes: “Eleven pirates on board with automatic weapons and ro
Venezuelan Armed Forces are about to establish a Coast Guard Command armed with Russian-made Bal-E mobile missile systems, reports Infodefensa. At present, a group of Venezuelan officers and technicians is passing initial training in Russia. Caracas was supposed to receive coast defense missile syst
As the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSSG) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 17, the CSG’s Air Wing Commander credited the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) with improving the group’s readiness seven months earlier as it prepared to deploy. “The Hawaii Range Complex provid
Bluefin Robotics, a subsidiary of Battelle, is joining with The Columbia Group to invest in the next generation large submersible vehicle. Bluefin is a leader in design and manufacture of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and related technology. Battelle has a long history of meeting the technolog
Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) supported the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) by participating in NMCRS Day, Feb. 19. In addition to a series of recent fundraising raffles, events included a slam dunk contest and three-point shootout in the
The Seattle “Sea Gals,” official cheerleaders for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, performed for Sailors and Marines deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Feb. 13 as the ship conducted operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The event, sponsored by Armed Fo
St. Petersburg based JSC Severnaya Verf Shipyard has been contracted by the Defense Ministry to construct 13 warships for the Russian Navy. The contract includes construction of six corvettes of the Project 20385 and the Project 20380, six Project 22350 frigates and a reconnaissance ship. Official k
Russian armed forces must acquire technical dominance over any opponent within the next decade, said Russian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin. “We have launched large-scale rearmament of our armed forces and other security authorities. Our priorities are nuclear force, airspa
Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet announced Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year (SOY), Feb. 17, following a week of events where 10 SOY candidates, representing various commands from the Pacific submarine community, competed for the title. Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell awarded the 2011 Sea Sail
DCNS has achieved formal qualification of the FREMM frigate Aquitaine‘s flight deck for operations with the Lynx helicopter. This milestone was reached several months ahead of schedule after a successful deck landing campaign at sea, organised by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) in early
