Cape Town-based shipbuilder Veecraft Marine has contracted Australia’s Incat Crowther for the design of a 20-meter monohull workboat for the South African Special Forces. The vessel will be tasked with the transportation of personnel and equipment and supporting training activities in coastal areas
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of six P-8A patrol aircraft to the Republic of Korea under an estimated $2.1 billion contract. South Korea’s decision to pick Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon as its new maritime patrol aircraft was made known in June this year. The P-8A would replace th
Australia’s largest maritime exercise has wrapped up in the Top End, following an intensive two weeks of realistic and challenging engagements from the air and the sea. This year, a total of 23 ships, 21 aircraft, a submarine and 3,000 personnel from 27 visiting nations participated in the exercise.
ASC has launched a new partnership with Australian Asset Management Council (AM Council) to strengthen its life-cycle management execution of the Collins Class submarine fleet. As informed, the move follows ASC becoming the first Australian defense company recognized with international certification
The German Navy’s frigate Augsburg (F213) will set sail for the Mediterranean Sea next week to participate in the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia. The Bremen-class ship is scheduled to depart its Wilhelmshaven homeport on Monday, September 17. Following an extensive training program, Augsburg is to re
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has unveiled a new proposal for the 10,000-strong European Border and Coast Guard to help better protect European borders and tackle migration. The proposal is one of three new initiatives presented in Juncker’s State of the Union Address 2018 on Sep
In an effort to ensure maritime security in the Gulf of Aden, the Singapore-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 conducted focused operation on behalf of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The operation, Vigilant Lion, which ran from August 31 to September 8, involved adjacent forces in CMF, the Europ
BAE Systems Australia has welcomed the Royal Australian Navy’s third Anzac class warship to its Henderson facility. As explained, this is part of the navy’s fleet upgrade to keep the ships in service until they are replaced by the Hunter class frigates. The Mid Life Capability Assurance Program (AMC
Australia and New Zealand are deploying three aircraft to Japan to conduct maritime surveillance in support of the international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions on North Korea. Australia will deploy two AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, while New Zealand will send i
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has inspected 23 foreign-flagged fishing vessels on the high seas as part of joint maritime patrols it conducted recently with three other countries. Offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Otago and a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion aircraft supported the maritime
The Republic of Fiji Navy ship Kikau will use the sea phase of Kakadu 2018 to work alongside regional partners including Australia and Tonga to boost joint capability. This is the first time that the Fijian Navy has participated in the bi-annual Kakadu regional exercise, although it has previously a
Australia plans to establish a center for strategic analysis of information to help strengthen maritime domain awareness and provide security alerts and advice for Pacific security agencies. The Pacific Fusion Centre was announced by Marise Payne, Australian foreign affairs minister, during the Paci
The US polar icebreaking program needs to address risks before committing resources, the country’s Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in its recent report. The US Coast Guard (USCG) and Navy are planning to invest up to $9.8 billion to build and maintain three heavy polar icebreakers to con
On August 29, 2018, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)’s JS Akebono and the Spanish Navy’s ESPS Castilla conducted a passage exercise (PASSEX) in the Gulf of Aden. JS Akebono (DD-108) and ESPS Castilla (L52) are flagships under the command of Combined Task Force (CTF151) and the European
