Operations
ITS Espero, Augsta-Bell AB 212 keep up pressure on pirates
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
New Russian Navy’s corvette conducts landing tests
Russian Navy’s advanced Project 20380 corvette, the Sovershenny, has taken the Ka-27 helicopter aboard during the recent official tests, according to TASS. The Ka-27 antisubmarine search and rescue helicopter landed over 20 times on the corvette during the day and night while the corvette was in mot
US Navy’s aircraft carrier arrives in Haifa, Israel
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) arrived in Haifa, Israel, for a scheduled port visit, July 1, to enhance U.S.-Israel relations as the two nations reaffirm their continued commitment to the collective security of the European and Middle East Regions. Bush’s arrival sy
After losing $83m frigate contract, Bergen gets smaller Norwegian Navy service order
Norwegian shipbuilder Bergen Group Services announced it has received a one-year contract extension for the service of Royal Norwegian Navy vessels, less than a month after losing a NOK 700 million (approx. $83 million) contract for the upkeep of Nansen-class frigates. On June 22, Norwegian Armed Fo
UK deploys two warships on NATO missions
The Royal Navy is sending two warships to NATO missions in the Mediterranean Sea, UK’s defense secretary Michael Fallon confirmed at the NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday. Multi-role survey ship HMS Enterprise is already underway and is set to join the Standing NATO Mine Counter
US aircraft carrier “Ike” arrives in Canada for 150th anniversary
U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 28, to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. Calling on Halifax, Ike was accompanied by guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto, guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill and replenishm
£3M needed to repair Royal Navy’s last flying Sea Vixen after crash
Estimators say over £3M and four years of work will be needed to repair the Royal Navy’s last airworthy Sea Vixen after it caught fire in an emergency landing last year. The veteran fighter suffered undercarriage failure and pilot Commander Simon Hargreaves was forced to bring Foxy Lady down at Yeov
NATO mine countermeasures group changes hands
NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) will be led by a Latvian Navy commander following a change of command ceremony at the Port of Riga on Thursday. Commander Johan-Elias Seljamaa of the Estonian Navy turned over command of the group after leading aboard the flagship, Estonian c
Royal Navy sailors find lost US Navy sonar
A team of Royal Navy sailors aboard the minehunter HMS Bangor helped save the U.S. Navy more than $1 million by finding and recovering a previously lost sonar. The large sonar was lost during the latest Anglo-French-US exercise in the Gulf, Artemis Trident. Although the chief aim of the workout was
Turkey takes over command of Combined Task Force 151
Turkish Navy assumed command of the Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 151 (CTF151) from the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) in a change of command ceremony on June 29. Rear Amiral Emre Sezenler Turkish Navy took over from Rear Admiral Tatsuya Fukuda JMSDF at CMF headquarters in
Russian ships, helicopters harass US cargo ship ahead of NATO drill in Baltic
Russian ships and helicopters reportedly harassed U.S.-flagged M/V Green Ridge in the Baltic Sea in May as it was carrying military equipment for exercise Saber Strike 2017, according to Defense News. The U.S. cargo ship was approached by Russian military assets as it was travelling near Russian wat
International naval force operation seizes 2 tons of narcotics
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
New Zealand sends frigate to support US operations after USS Fitzgerald collision
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
Australian Navy’s MV Sycamore arrives in Sydney
Royal Australian Navy’s multi-role aviation training vessel (MATV) MV Sycamore arrived in Sydney harbor on Monday morning after completing her maiden voyage from Vietnam. The 94-metre long vessel is now less than a month away from deployment after completing sea trials in April this year. Built by D