Funding
Raytheon awarded funds to improve MK-31 RAM missile
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $36.6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract option for design agent and engineering support services for the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) upgraded MK-31 Guided Missile Weapon System improvement program. The MK-31 RAM Guided M
Migrant crisis: German minehunter rescues 133 off Tripoli coast
German Navy minehunter FGS Datteln rescued 133 migrants 75 kilometers north-west of Tripoli, Libya on August 1. The ship was initially tasked by the Force Headquarters to neutralize two empty rubber boats. While doing so, the ship’s crew spotted an overcrowded rubber boat in the vicinity. Upon rescu
Operation Atalanta welcomes new Deputy Operation Commander
On Friday 29 July 2016 Rear Admiral Jonas Wikstrӧm (Swedish Navy) handed over the role of Deputy Operation Commander (DCOM) of the European Union’s counter-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia to Rear Admiral Cristobal Gonzalez-Aller (Spanish Navy). The handover took place at the operational He
Multi-Ship refueling keeps Operation Atalanta warships on patrol
Operation Atalanta’s warships are deployed off the coast of Somalia to ensure that the pirate attacks that terrorized seafarers in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden for a number of years are not allowed to resurge. In order to ensure that the EU NAVFOR warships are able to maintain their counter-pir
Royal Navy nuclear submarine collides with merchant vessel off Gibraltar
HMS Ambush, a nuclear-powered Astute-class submarine, collided with a merchant vessel off Gibraltar on July 20, the Royal Navy confirmed in a statement. According to the Navy, the submarine suffered some external damage but there is “absolutely no damage” to her nuclear plant and no member of the sh
Spanish frigate trains with Seychelles Coast Guard, Air Force
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Santa Maria recently enjoyed a break from her counter-piracy patrolling under Operation Atalanta and had five days alongside in Port Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, on Mahe Island. Whilst there, the crew of ESPS Santa Maria took the opportunity to conduct training
Timelapse: Watch as ships get underway from Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC 2016
The U.S. Navy has shared a time lapse video of ships getting underway from Pearl Harbor earlier this week for the sea phase of the international Rim of the Pacific exercise 2016. From submarines through destroyers to large aircraft carriers, Naval Station Pearl Harbor tug operators show how it’s don
Navantia signs platform design services contract with Australia
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia signed a new contract with the Australian Capabilty and Sustainement Group (CASG) to provide platform design services for Australian Navy vessels. This contract will allow Navantia’s Australian division to provide engineering and technical assistance for the Australian a
Operation Atalanta flagship hosts Somali Deputy Prime Minister
During FGS Bayern’s recent port visit to Djibouti, Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Kaack, welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Mohamed Omar Arte, on board. It was the first time that the Deputy Prime Minister has visited the German warship and he was received on board wi
European Parliament gives nod for unified European border, Coast Guard
The European Parliament has backed the European Commission proposal to establish a European border and Coast Guard with the aim of protecting Europe’s external borders. “We welcome the endorsement of the proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard by the European Parliament today. If we want to m
Saab receives order for Anzac frigate upgrade services
The Australian government has contracted the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab for work on the sustainment of the combat system on Australia’s Anzac class frigates. The order value amounts to AUD 37 million (approximately 248 million Swedish krona) and covers services from July 2016 until D
Raytheon gets $291M for work on AIM-9x Block II missiles
American defense contractor Raytheon has been awarded a $291,750,539 contract modification for the AIM-9x Block II program which is an upgrade of the U.S. Navy’s Aim 9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile. The U.S. Navy cleared Raytheon to begin full-rate production on the AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II infra
MARSUR, Europe’s maritime security project
Military and civilian situational awareness practitioners have met in Hamburg, Germany to learn and share experiences with the aim of enhancing security at sea within the European MARSUR project. The Maritime Surveillance project (MARSUR) was launched in September 2006 by the European Defence Agency
Royal Navy submarine docks in Gibraltar in Brexit aftermath
Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine HMS Ambush docked in Gibraltar on June 25 arriving shortly after a Spanish official announced the possibility of a joint sovereignty over ‘The Rock’. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said during an interview that Brexit opened greater possib