Equipment & technology
Constanta, Romania is US destroyer’s first Black Sea port call
After entering the Black Sea on August 18, the crew of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) will be visiting Romania on the first port call of their Black Sea deployment. After conducting a replenishment at sea with the Turkish Navy replenishment oiler TCG Y
Germany, Norway formally start submarine cooperation
German and Norwegian defense ministers formally marked the start of a joint undertaking to acquire six Type 212 air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines. Over the course of the next seven years, Norway will receive 4 and Germany 2 submarines. Additionally, the two countries are to cooperate on na
USS George H.W. Bush completes seven-month deployment
US Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and more than 7,000 sailors assigned to its carrier strike group are set to conclude their seven-month deployment returning home to Norfolk on August 21. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), commanded by Capt. Will Pennington, and the guid
Watch the Russian submarine Severodvinsk test fire cruise missile in Barents Sea
The Russian Navy has released a video of the lead Yasen-class nuclear-powered attack submarine Severodvinsk test firing a Kalibr cruise missile in the Barents Sea. According to the navy, Severodvinsk launched the cruise missile from a submerged position in one of the training grounds of the Northern
Safehaven to build largest of Royal Navy’s new 38 workboats
Irish boat builder Safehaven Marine has been awarded a contract to build the largest vessel in a new fleet of Royal Navy workboats which are to be delivered by Atlas Elektronik (AEUK). Safehaven Marine will supply an 18 metre Wildcat 60 catamaran, to be part of a fleet of up to 38 new workboats, ran
NATO ships search for mines in Estonian waters
Ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) completed four days of historical ordnance disposal (HOD) operations along with Estonian minehunter ENS Admiral Cowan in Estonian territorial waters on August 17. The ships searched Estonian coastal areas that had not been previousl
Russia: New submariner rescue equipment demos at military-technical forum
A new, modernized underwater rescue system dubbed SSP-M and designed for the Russian Navy underwater forces will be demonstrated during the Army 2017 International Military-Technical Forum. According to the Russian defense ministry, the equipment was tested at the Rescue and Underwater Technologies
UK’s MAPLE autonomous platform project enters fourth phase
UK’s Maritime Autonomous Platform Exploitation (MAPLE) project is entering phase four after defense contractor Qinetiq signed a £4.5m contract to lead this phase of development. The project is being developed for the defense ministry’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and focuses on
USS Oscar Austin visits Theoule Sur Mer
The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) pulled into Theoule Sur Mer, France, for a scheduled port visit on August 14. During Oscar Austin’s first time in Theoule Sur Mer, the crew will participate in events commemorating the liberation of southern France
Spanish Aegis frigate returns from three-month Australia stint
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Cristóbal Colón (F-105) returned home to Naval Base Ferrol, Spain, on August 10 after spending three month in Australia where the ship’s crew helped prepare Australian sailors to operate the Aegis combat system. Just the like the future HMAS Hobart, the first of three new a
French La Fayette-class frigate ‘Surcouf’ returns from counter-piracy mission
The French Navy’s La Fayette-class frigate FS Surcouf returned to her homeport at Toulon naval base on August 10 completing a three-month counter-piracy deployment. Surcouf spent over 120 days with the Combined Maritime Forces’ CTF 150 patrolling the Indian Ocean intercepting traffickers between the
UK orders over 30 workboats from Atlas Elektronik
Atlas Elektronik is to deliver up to 38 workboats for the Royal Navy under a £48 million contract announced by UK defense minister Harriett Baldwin on Wednesday. The new fleet will assist Royal Navy ships from UK bases and on operations all over the world. The tasks to be carried out by the boats wi
Spanish Navy receives fourth upgraded Agusta Bell 212
The Spanish defense ministry has received the fourth upgraded Agusta Bell 212 (AB212) helicopter delivered by the joint venture made up of SENER and Babcock. The aircraft is the fourth of overall seven helicopters that are to be upgraded under a project that will extend their lifespan by another 15
US, British aircraft carriers meet off Scotland
Two aircraft carriers, one operational since 2009 and the other preparing for its commissioning ceremony, met off the coast of Scotland during the UK-hosted exercise Saxon Warrior. HMS Queen Elizabeth met up with the USS George HW Bush and her carrier strike group during a series of war games which