Shipbuilding is an arduous business, especially when it comes to constructing naval state-of-the-art vessels, such as the future Royal Australian Navy’s destroyer, Hobart, which is taking shape at Adelaide, Australia. The construction process marked a giant milestone on July 2 when Hobart’s final ke
A port visit to the Seychelles provided a much-needed opportunity for the crew of HMAS Newcastle to re-energise ahead of her next high-tempo counter-terrorism patrol on Operation SLIPPER. Soon after coming alongside Port Victoria, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Guided Missile Frigate (FFG) took on
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on July 1, 2013 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of up to 100 MK 54 All-Up-Round Torpedoes and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $ 83 million. The Government of Australi
Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the first of 24 MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters has successfully completed its first test flight. The initial test flight occurred at Sikorsky’s Production Facility, Connecticut USA on 26 June 2013. It passed a range of tests includi
Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the final keel block for the future destroyer, Hobart, has been successfully lifted into place by the AWD Alliance in Adelaide. Dr Kelly said the final keel block is the 18th of 31 blocks to be joined into what is rapidly becoming the
Australian Navy’s Electronics Challenge will commence mid-July as part of the inaugural Engineering Challenge providing technical sailors the chance to demonstrate professional skills through healthy competition. Lieutenant Commander Damon Craig and Petty Officer Jeremy Younger of Chief Information
The Royal Australian Navy has joined forces with the United States Navy (USN) and Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) to participate in a tri-lateral exercise, Pacific bond 2013, June 22-26. Pacific Bond is a multi-national naval exercise designed to advance participating nations’ military-to-
As part of its embed with the US Navy’s 7th Fleet George Washington Carrier Strike Group, the Royal Australian guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney has exchanged officers with the American Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Preble as a means to increase understanding, and ultimately interoperability, b
As part of its embed with the United States Navy’s 7th Fleet George Washington Carrier Strike Group, the Australian guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney is taking part in Exercise Nichi Go Trident, a bilateral exercise between the Royal Australian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force that
Naval personnel and units from Australia, Japan and the United States are enroute to participate in a tri-lateral maritime exercise, Pacific Bond 2013, that is due to take place from 22nd to 26th June, 2013. The exercise will be conducted in the western Pacific Ocean, in the vicinity of the Marianas
Australia, Japan and U.S. Naval forces flexed the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aspects of exercise Pacific Bond 2013 near the Marianas Island chain, June 23. “This ASW exercise is a building block toward acquiring the ability to seamlessly integrate on common initiatives to promote security and pros
Cobham has received a one year supplementary contract extension from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to provide maritime surveillance services using two F406 twin turboprop fixed – wing aircraft through June 2014. The aircraft are fitted with a surveillance radar and satellite c
The commanding officer and crew of EU Naval Force warship ESPS Numancia have received a heartfelt thank you from the crew of chemical tanker MT Perla, after the Spanish frigate provided assistance to two seriously injured Filipino sailors after they suffered severe burns in a fire on board their mer
HMAS Newcastle rendezvoused with “Big Ike” the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Arabian Sea for a day of steaming in company on 2 June 2013. Joining the one hundred thousand-ton Nimitz-class carrier and her escorts the Ticonderoga-class Guided Missile Cruiser USS Hue City and the German Guided Missil