Funding
Spanish LHD, frigate meet EUNAVFOR units en route to Persian Gulf
Spanish helicopter carrier ESPS Juan Carlos I and frigate ESPS Blaz de Lezo met up with EUNAVFOR units in the Red Sea recently as they transit towards the Persian Gulf. The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship and F-100 class air defense frigate are deployed as part of a Spanish Navy operation call
Royal Navy’s Dreadnought submarines facing £2.9b funding gap
The UK defense ministry’s program for the development of a new class of nuclear missile submarines and Trident nuclear program renewal is facing a £2.9b “affordability gap”, a review by spending watchdog National Audit Office (NAO) has found. This is in addition to the pressure faced by the defense
UK allocates funds for seventh Astute-class submarine ‘Agincourt’
The UK defense secretary is set to announce a £2.5bn investment for new Royal Navy submarines during his visit to BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria on Monday. According to the UK defense ministry, the investment includes £1.5bn for the construction of the seventh Astute-class sub
France to build fifth nuclear Barracuda-class submarine
French defense minister Florence Parly announced on May 4 that another Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine was ordered for the French Navy. According to a defense ministry statement, the decision to order the fifth boat in the class was made during a defense ministry meeting on May 2. The new g
German Navy frigate FGS Sachsen concludes operation Sophia deployment
The first German Navy vessel to deploy in 2018 is returning home after concluding a five-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the EU-led operation Sophia. FGS Sachsen, the lead ship of the German Navy’s F124 air defense frigates, is set to return to her homeport in Wilhelmshaven on M
Sonar, naval robotics MoU signed during Macron’s Sydney visit
Deeper collaboration between Australia and France in advanced sonar and naval robotics technology will flow from a research agreement announced in Sydney today during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Flinders University in South Australia,
Germany extends participation in Op Atalanta
Germany has decided to continue its campaign against piracy in the Horn of Africa, the Federal Government said in a statement. Specifically, Federal Armed Forces has extended the participation of the German Navy in the EU-led Operation Atalanta by May 31, 2019. As informed, Germany’s involvement wil
GMB: UK shipyards need to get £1bn order for new RFA ships
The UK government should reverse its decision to put a £1 billion order for three new military support ships out to non-UK bidders, the country’s union for shipbuilding workers GMB said. As explained, the New Fleet Solid Support ships are needed to service the UK’s £6.3 billion Queen Elizabeth-class
Royal Navy’s HMS Albion set for Indonesia visit
Royal Navy landing platform dock HMS Albion is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on April 22, for the ship’s first port call in Southeast Asia as part of her Asia Pacific tasking. Albion will arrive in Jakarta on April 22 for a three day visit during which the ship’s crew will conduct bilateral talks
German Navy tender Mosel to join operation Sophia
On April 18, 2018, the German Navy’s tender Mosel will depart its homeport Kiel, heading to the Mediterranean Sea, the navy said. Under the command of Frigate Captain Jens Röder, the tender will participate in the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia. Crewed by 106 members, Mosel will replace the air defen
Counter-piracy operation welcomes new force commander
The EU-led counter-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia has welcomed a new force commander in a ceremony held in Djibouti on April 5. Italian Navy Rear Admiral Simone Malvagna will now be in charge of operation Atalanta from aboard his flagship, FREMM frigate ITS Carlo Margottini. The frigate i
Meteoro departs Spain to join Op Atalanta
Spanish Navy’s ESPS Meteoro is joining the European Union Naval Force’s (EUNAVFOR) Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean. The offshore patrol vessel departed the Military Arsenal of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on April 1, 2018, the navy informed. As explained, the deployment of Meteoro is part of th
German P-3C Orion MPRA returns to Djibouti
A German P-3C Orion maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) and its crew have returned to Djibouti to rejoin the fight against piracy as part of the EU NAVFOR-led operation Atalanta. The P-3C, its crew and supporting staff deployed to the Horn of Africa area of operations on March 23 to w
Royal Navy, Thales trial surface warship sonar software upgrades
French defense and technology company Thales worked with the Royal Navy recently to see if upgrades in submarine sonar systems could be applied on towed array sonars used on surface ships such as the Type 23 frigates. Sonar 2076 is the Royal Navy’s major sonar platform on all submarines, while the T