Equipment & technology
Steel cut for first Saudi Navy MMSC combat ship
US shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine has started construction of the Royal Saudi Navy’s first Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) ship. The “cut steel” ceremony took place on October 24. Delivered by Lockheed Martin as prime contractor, the 4,000-metric-ton MMSCs were ordered in 2017 under
US Navy names newest destroyer after late Senator Cochran
The US Navy has named its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in honor of late Sen. Thad Cochran, a Navy veteran. Cochran was commissioned an ensign in the US Naval Reserve in 1959 after graduating from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and complete
International Maritime Exercise gathers 30 ships in Middle East
The IMX 19 (International Maritime Exercise) that took place in the Middle East recently gathered 30 ships and over 50 nations for two weeks of mine countermeasures evolutions. Spread across a vast area from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and Gulf, the exercise will see participants sharing knowled
Hyundai Heavy launches South Korea’s third Daegu-class frigate ROKS Seoul
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has launched the third Daegu-class frigate for the Republic of Korea Navy. The future ROKS Seoul was launched on November 11 and is scheduled for delivery in early 2021. In addition to being the third ship in its class and the fourth ROK Navy s
Australian Navy’s LADS completes final flight
The Royal Australian Navy’s laser airborne depth sounder flight (LADS) has completed its final sortie after 26 years of outstanding service. This world-leading capability was developed in South Australia and since 1993 has been providing the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian government survey
WWII US submarine wreck found after 75 years
USS Grayback (SS-208), a US Navy submarine missing for 75 years, has been found in Japanese waters. Veteran ocean explorer and Tiburon Subsea CEO Tim Taylor along with his “Lost 52 Project” team have discovered the WWII submarine wreck. The US Navy officially verified the discovery of Grayback which
Australian Navy’s final air warfare destroyer completes trials
The Royal Australian Navy’s third and final air warfare destroyer, future HMAS Sydney, has completed sea trials and should be ready for delivery in February 2020. Sydney is the third and final ship being delivered by the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance which includes the defense department, Raytheon
HII lays keel for US Navy’s first Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyer
Shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries hosted a keel laying ceremony for the US Navy’s first Flight III destroyer, the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), on November 7. Although the official start of fabrication began in May 2018, authenticating the ship’s keel symbolically recognizes the joinin
Philippine Navy’s second 2,600-ton frigate launched in South Korea
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has launched the Philippine Navy’s second multi-dimensional frigate. The launching ceremony for BRP Antonio Luna took place in Ulsan on November 8. The 2,600-ton ship is part of the navy’s two-unit Frigate Acquisition Project. The first ship, B
Japan launches second lithium-ion battery powered submarine Toryu
Shipbuilder Kawasaki Heavy Industries has launched the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s 12th Soryu-class diesel-electric submarine. Named Toryu (with pennant number SS 512), the boat is the second in the class to be fitted with lithium-ion batteries which store considerably more power than the le
Three US destroyers return from European, Middle East deployments
US Navy destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87), USS Nitze (DDG 94), and USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) returned to Norfolk Naval Station on November 5, completing a seven-month deployment to the US 6th and 5th Fleet areas of operation. The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyers deployed April 1 as part of De
USS Ronald Reagan trains with JMSDF in Philippine Sea
US Navy ships assigned to the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group trained with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Escort Division 12 in the Philippine Sea between October 24 and November 2. “Conducting bilateral exercises with the JMSDF enables both navies to continue to strengthen the uni
French Navy receives first ATL2 maritime patrol planes upgraded to standard 6
The French naval air station Lann-Bihoué received the first two ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft upgraded to standard 6 in late October. Carried out by Dassault Aviation, the aircraft upgrades included the installation of a Thales Search Master with active antenna, a new Thales acoustic subsystem to ga
Littoral combat ship Kansas City (LCS 22) passes acceptance trials
The US Navy’s future Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Kansas City (LCS 22) has concluded acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico. The navy announced this on October 31, after the ship completed a series of in-port and underway demonstrations. “This level of performance is among the best