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
The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) fleet of simulation trainers is planned to undergo a major upgrade and expansion, the country’s defense minister said. Christopher Pyne, Minister for Defense, announced on August 31 the investment worth more than A$80 million. A new bridge simulation trainer will be
Australian shipbuilder ASC has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the country’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) to further collaborate in the submarine-related technologies. Commenting on the new agreement, Stuart Whiley, ASC CEO, said: “I’m delighted to secure ASC’s continued collab
The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba has returned to its homeport of Fleet Base West, Rockingham, after the ship’s longest deployment to date, contributing to seven task groups in seven months. Commanding Officer, Commander Mitchell Livingstone, said Toowoomba achieve
Exercise Kakadu, the largest maritime drill off its kind in the Australian Northern Territory, is beginning today. Held biennially, Exercise Kakadu is a joint exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force. More countries are attending this year than eve
Numerous naval and coast guard assets participated in Helcom Balex Delta 2018, a major Baltic operational exercise in oil spill response. Coordinated by the Swedish Coast Guard and backed by the EU, the exercise took place in the waters of Karlskrona from August 27 to 31, 2018. Balex Delta is an ann
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Stuart and oiler HMAS Sirius got underway from Fleet Base West on August 22 for several months of operations. Despite sailing together for the Australian-hosted exercise Kakadu 2018 which will be held off Darwin, both ships will have a very different schedule of ev
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon a $60 million contract modification for work on the delivery of torpedoes and related support services for the navies of the US and Taiwan. Half of the purchases under the contract are reserved for Taiwan, while 47 percent is for the US Navy with
Ships deployed as part of the Royal Australian Navy’s annual maritime task group Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018 (IPE18) have returned to Australia following a three-month deployment to the Pacific. HMAS Adelaide docked in Townsville on August 23 to return embarked soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Royal
Ships deployed as part of the Royal Australian Navy’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour tour have concluded their final port visits before returning home later this week. HMA Ships Adelaide and Toowoomba visited the Solomon Islands’ capital Honiara, while HMAS Success visited Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, workin
The Australian defense industry minister has announced a request for information inviting companies to have their say on how marine support services should be delivered in the future. The RFI was issued for the Defence Marine Support Services (DMSS) program which includes services such as tugs for p
Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarine HMAS Sheean returned home to Fleet Base West after almost three months of operations in the Indo-Pacific. The navy did not reveal which exercises the submarine joined and how many port visits the crew made. The only known port visit was the one to Mala
Australia’s future P-8A Poseidon pilots are set to benefit from a new simulator and training systems facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh after it was officially handed over to the defense department on August 17. Australian defense minister Marise Payne said the advanced P-8A training system would bette
