Equipment & technology
Russian Navy’s 9th Steregushchy-class corvette enters water
Russian shipbuilder Amur Shipbuilding has launched the country’s ninth Steregushchy-class (Project 20380) corvette, four years after construction start. Named Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, the ship honors the Russian Pacific Fleet sailor who sacrificed his life to save other shi
SEA, iXblue unveil autonomous anti-submarine surveillance system
Defense technology company SEA and navigation systems provider iXblue have joined forces to develop an autonomous anti-submarine surveillance system at the DSEI conference in London. SeaDrix, as the system is named, is intended for long endurance surveillance patrols and can be deployed as a standal
Royal Navy frigate facilitates autonomous systems trials
Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll has lent its capabilities to a BAE Systems team trying out their unmanned Pacific 24 sea boat in trials at London’s Docklands. The trials are part of the Royal Navy’s NavyX autonomous hardware accelerator program and will take place over the course of this week. Type 23
US Navy issues RFP for large unmanned surface vessels
The US Navy has released a request for proposals with the aim of awarding multiple conceptual design contracts in support of the navy’s first block of large unmanned surface vessels (LUSV). These prototype design contracts will integrate common government furnished equipment warfare systems with com
Dutch, Portuguese frigates getting Thales’ radar electronic support measures
Royal Netherlands Navy and Portuguese Navy Karel Doorman-class frigates are getting Thales-developed Vigile D radar electronic support measures as part of their planned upgrades. The solution will be fitted on three Dutch Navy vessels, and two Portuguese Navy frigates. As explained by Thales, Vigile
Ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska launches four Trident II (D5) missiles
US Navy’s ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN-739) launched four unarmed Trident II (D5) missiles in two tests off the coast of Southern California. The Ohio-class boat launched the first two missiles on Sept. 4, and the last two on Sept. 6. All occurred before sunrise. These test flights
US Navy turns to drones to battle corrosion
The US Navy is looking to employ unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) as another tool in its inventory for the management of corrosion on its ships. In a recent demonstration, a UAV launched from the deck of the decommissioned USS Midway, capturing ship imagery for a few minutes along its predetermined fl
TKMS, Kongsberg introduce new combat system for non-nuclear subs
kta naval systems, a joint venture of Germany’s thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Norway’s Kongsberg, has unveiled a new combat system for non-nuclear submarines at the 7th International Submarine Conference SubCon in Kiel. The combat system is called ORCCA and was developed as part of a joint drive b
NATO ships visit New York ahead of ASW drill off Canada
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group One (SNMG1) wrapped up a four-day visit to New York on September 3 after previously completing their first series of training events since arriving in the US. The ships are now headed for Halifax, Canada, where they will be part of a 22-ship strong anti-subm
Northrop contracted to deliver new all-electronic bomb fuze for US Navy
The US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to deliver the first serial FMU-139D/B, a new all-electronic bomb fuze suitable for many general purpose bombs. With the US Navy’s decision this January to authorize full rate production, the improved FMU-139D/B bomb fuze will increase performance
US Navy’s first Next Generation Jammer arrives for testing
The US Navy has received its first Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) pod to start tests with the US Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23. Delivered by Raytheon, the mid-band engineering development model is the first of 15 pods Raytheon will deliver for mission systems testing and qualificatio
German air-defense frigate Hamburg deploying to NATO’s SNMG2
German Navy Sachsen-class frigate FGS Hamburg is scheduled to depart her Wilhelmsaven homeport on September 6 to join NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). Hamburg will set sail for the Aegean Sea where the international group is most active. The air-defense frigate and her crew will spend the n
USS Wasp leaves Japan-based 7th Fleet after short stint
USS America (LHA 6), another F-35B-capable unit, will take USS Wasp’s place.
France pinpoints three La Fayette frigates for mid-life upgrades
The French defense ministry has pinpointed three Marine Nationale La Fayette-class frigates (FLF) that will be receiving mid-life upgrades. From 2021, the lead ship FS La Fayette, along with third and fourth ships in the class, FS Courbet and FS Aconit, will benefit from an upgraded ships’ platform