Britannia Maritime Security (BMS) is launching a unique laser which offers the private maritime security industry a non-lethal option for repelling hijackers or other potential attackers. The SMU – 100 Laser Dazzler, which works both day and night at 800 metres with two square metres coverage, is de
Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC), a joint venture between DRS Technologies and Thales, successfully demonstrated advanced mine-hunting capabilities with the US Navy during the 2013 Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) Unmanned Systems (UxS) Campaign. By towing the unmanned high resolution synthetic aperture
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Acoustics Division, with Bluefin Robotics, executed a record setting 507 kilometer (315 mile), long-endurance autonomy research mission using its heavyweight-class mine countermeasures autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), Reliant. NRL’s Reliant AUV, when eq
On Monday, NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD warship UPS HETMAN SAGAIDACHNY of Ukraine boarded a skiff with seven suspected pirates aboard in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). As the Ukrainian boarding team approached, the skiff tried to escape and suspected pirates
More than 200 participants including representatives from African nations, the shipping industry, legal experts and NATO discussed the continuing threat of piracy off the eastern African coast at an international conference held in Djibouti this week. The meeting was the 15th Plenary of the Contact
The first NH90 NFH Step B has been delivered to the Italian Navy. This fully operational naval helicopter will be assigned to the 5th Helicopter Squadron of the Italian Navy at the Sarzana-Luni base. The Italian Navy has ordered 56 NH90s, 46 of which in the NFH variant. “This NH90 Step B will allow
Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), Nov. 2 completing a 11-month Major Maintenance Period (MMP). Michigan, homeported out of Naval Base Kitsap,Bangor, entered Bremerton in December 2012 fo
The Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, General Knud Bartels, travelled to the Gulf of Aden on 28-30 October 2013 to visit the Ukrainian Navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy deployed there as part of Operation Ocean Shield, NATO’s counter-piracy mission. “Ukraine’s ability to plug in and out of NATO’
The Navy bade farewell to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate USS Ford (FFG 54) after more than 28 years of service during a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Everett, Oct. 31. The ceremony featured former USS Ford commanding officers, plankowners and family of the ship’s na
Army and RAF personnel have been getting their sea legs on board HMS Richmond while on her patrol of the South Atlantic. The Yorkshire Regiment and 230 Squadron RAF are affiliated to the Portsmouth-based Type-23 frigate and seven personnel were given the opportunity to stay on board and experience l
HMAS Success returned to sea on 25 October and has commenced Sea Qualification Trials and a Unit Readiness workup package. The significant milestone marked the end of a complex refit package, which included an extensive docking, considerable engineering plant overhaul and structural work. Commander
USS Denver (LPD 9) held a change of command ceremony aboard the ship Oct. 24 while in its homeport of Sasebo. Capt. Michael Donnelly relieved Capt. Kevin P. Lenox as commanding officer, becoming the 31st commanding officer of Denver since the ship’s commissioning in 1968. “I am extremely humbled to
Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division’s (NSWC PCD) Search and Rescue (SAR) crew responded to an urgent marine alert Oct. 23, from Coast Guard Sector Mobile concerning a kayaker who became adrift in rough seas about four miles offshore from Phillips Inlet in Panama City Beach, Fla. Accord
Amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Va., following a seven-year assignment in support of Forward Deployed Naval Forces, Oct. 22. Tortuga was relieved by USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a hull swap in which the crew of Ashland delivered the
