Funding
Cutlass Express to start January 30
Cutlass Express, one of four regional Express Series exercises facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet is scheduled to take place in the West Indian Ocean from January 30, to February 6. The exercise focuses on increasing interagency capabilities in deterring counter-piracy, counter i
Swedish Navy Rear Admiral becomes new Op Atalanta commander
German Navy Rear Admiral Christophe Mueller-Meinhard has handed over the role of Deputy Commander (DCOM) of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta, to Rear Admiral Jonas Wikstrӧm of the Swedish Royal Navy. The handover took place at the EU Naval Forces’ Operational H
HDMS Absalon Commander visits MARCOM
Commanding Officer of Danish HMDS Absalon, Commander Per Moll Petersen paid a visit to Allied Maritime Command – MARCOM to deliver the Staff his mission debrief regarding his most recent deployment in NATO Operation Ocean Shield. During this visit, MARCOM Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio r
Op Sophia flagship back on track
Having spent less than two months idle in the port during her routine maintenance period, the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour now rejoined the EUNAVFOR Med operation Sophia. The Italian light aircraft carrier ITS Garibaldi assumed Cavour’s role on November 25, 2015. Now that the original mission
Swedish Navy joins European Amphibious Initiative
In 2015 Swedish Navy joined an organization called the European Amphibious Initiative (EAI) formed by five EU nations in 2000. The initiators were France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK. The aim of this organization is to strengthen the interoperability of European forces and optimize and
Gallery: HMS Protector completes Antarctic patrol
The UK Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol ship has just completed a historic five week patrol to the East Antarctic and Ross Sea. HMS Protector is the first Royal Navy, or UK Government, vessel to have visited the region in 80 years or to have traveled so far south having dipped below 77 degrees latitude. Her
ESPS Numancia relieves ESPS Canarias in Operation Sophia
Spanish ESPS Numancia, based at Naval Station Rota, left her homeport in the morning of January 18 to relieve the frigate Canarias which was deployed in the Mediterranean Sea with EUNAVFOR’s Operation Sophia. The frigate sailed off to her area of operations after a ceremony which was presided over b
ITS Carabiniere visits Madagascar
ITS Carabiniere, flagship of the EU Naval Force, paid her first visit to Antisiranana, Madagascar from December 22 to 26. Having berthed, Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri and the Commanding Officer of ITS Carabiniere, Commander Francesco Saladino were received by the Commander of the local Naval Base,
188 saved off Libyan coast
An EH101 helicopter embarked on Op Sophia’s flagship, ITS Garibaldi, spotted two rubber boats in international waters during a patrol on December 29. The rubber boats were sailing from the Lybian coast. The Royal Navy warship HMS Enterprise was tasked by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center to in
Finnish Navy designates €1.2bn for new vessel class
Finnish Minister of Defence, Jussi Niinistö, has authorized the nation’s Defence Forces to start the Finnish Navy project, Squadron 2020. The aim of the project is to construct four new corvette-size fighting ships for year-round operation in the special weather and ice conditions at the Baltic Sea.
ThyssenKrupp, Civmec aim for Australian submarine build
Civmec, in collaboration with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), unveiled December 14 a newly-built submarine hull section constructed by Civmec at their Henderson facility in Western Australia. This construction is a self-funded initiative, used by the companies to prove that they have the experti
Germany to Support France in Fight Against ISIS
A frigate, four to six reconnaissance aircraft, and aerial replenishment of French fighter jets will be the German contribution to the French fight against ISIS. The German government appropriated these assets one day after the meeting between the French President Francois Hollande and the German Ch
Operation Sophia Receives New Flagship
The Italian light aircraft carrier ITS Garibaldi joined the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia Task Force in the Central Mediterranean taking over the role of mission flagship from ITS Cavour November 25. Having left her home base port of Taranto (Italy) last June 26, only 4 days after the mission launch
BAE Systems to Reduce Workforce in Australia
BAE Systems, a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company, in an update on its business announced a “further headcount reductions” at its Australian shipyard. Despite Australia’s intention to launch a naval shipbuilding strategy, BAE Systems said that “it is unclear whether this i