The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), joined other participants of exercise Talisman Sabre 2017 on July 8 ahead of the start of major at-sea portions of the drill. TS 17 is a joint exercise between the U.S. and Australia being held biennially off the coast of
The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet command is prolonging the deployment of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) after her sister ship USS Fitzgerald was damaged in a collision in June this year. USS Sterett is staying in the Western-Pacific until the end of August to provide
As part of an agreement between the European Union and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Damen Shipyards Group has delivered two SAR 1906 vessels to the Turkish Coast Guard. The two vessels – the first to be delivered in what is a six-vessel contract – will be mobilised in refugee
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) participated with four Royal Australian Navy ships, the Royal Australian Air Force, and United States Marine Corps during Field Training Exercise North (FTX-N). FTX-N is a precursor to Talisman Saber 17 (TS 17) while on pat
As part of her counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, EU NAVFOR’s Italian warship, ITS Espero, has an Agusta-Bell AB 212 helicopter embarked. This highly capable helicopter provides the commanding officer with much-needed versatility, speed and range, as well as an intelligence-gathering c
One of EU NAVFOR’s key missions is to protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels as they transit along the coastline of Somalia. It is essential that much-needed food and other humanitarian aid get safely delivered to the Somali people without any delay. EU NAVFOR has been protecting WFP vessels sin
Spreading out the Talisman Sabre 2017 ceremonial flag aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) off the coast of Sydney Australia on June 29 senior leaders of the United States and Australia kicked off Australia’s largest military exercise. In its 7th iteration, Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise t
The Australian government is changing its tendering process in an effort to increase the involvement of Australian companies in defense projects. “We are changing the process companies undergo when responding to tenders for defence equipment,” Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne said anno
The French-UK led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 seized nearly two tons of narcotics in the last two months during an operation called Southern Surge. The seizures included 1250 kg of heroin and 455 kg of hashish. Narcotics trafficking, particularly heroin, has long been associated with funding terro
Following the recent collision of the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald, the Royal New Zealand Navy will have its frigate HMNZS Te Kaha operating in Asian waters to support the United States Seventh Fleet. Te Kaha’s role will be to contribute to the security and protection of the Nimitz carrier str
Propulsion issues that tied the Royal Australian Navy’s two landing helicopter docks to port for four months are set to be resolved this week, according to the Royal Australian Navy. The navy said HMAS Adelaide is due to leave the dry dock at Navy’s Fleet Base East on June 27 after completing mainte
Royal New Zealand Navy’s amphibious and military sealift vessel HMNZS Canterbury will be bringing a majority of the 700 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel to the U.S.-Australian exercise Talisman Sabre. The Australian-hosted and United States-supported combined exercise starts on July 5 and
Embarking on operation Manitou, Royal Australian Nay frigate HMAS Newcastle became the first to deploy on operations with an MH60R helicopter and a ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System. Commanding officer Newcastle Commander Mark Sirois said their pre-deployment work-up involved integration of the new c
Salvage divers from nine Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) nations removed submerged wreckage around Guam, June 12-15, during the biennial disaster response-focused Diving Exercise (DIVEX) 2017. The team removed two submerged sailboats from the waters of Apra Harbor near the Port Authority of G
