Operations
USS Hopper sailors visit Hong Kong
Sailors from the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) arrived in Hong Kong, Feb. 5, for a port visit during a routine patrol in the 7th Fleet area of operations. Hopper is deployed to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, and sails with a crew of approximately 300 sai
Photo: Indian Navy destroyer fires BrahMos missile
Indian Navy’s final Kolkata-class destroyer INS Chennai fired the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile during the fleet-wide theatre level readiness and operational exercise (TROPEX). The 30-day drill started on January 24 and involves ships and aircraft of both the Western and Eastern Naval
USS Coronado starts maintenance in Singapore
U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship USS Coronado on February 3 entered Sembawang Wharves in Singapore for a scheduled maintenance period following a four-day underway in the South China Sea. At sea the crew conducted training exercises designed to maintain operational proficiency while executing emerge
Indian Navy gets new, P8I-ready air base
The Indian Navy opened a new air base at Santa Cruz, Mumbai on Wednesday. The newly inaugurated Naval Air Enclave Santa Cruz has a big hangar and a large dispersal providing the Indian Navy with the capability to accomodate all types of fixed wing aircraft including the Boeing P8I long range maritim
USS Hopper docks in Colombo, Sri Lanka
U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a visit on January 19. During their four-day visit, the crew will have the opportunity to engage with members of the Sri Lanka Navy and public. The visit also provides the opportunity for the crew of Hopper to
F-35Bs arrive in Japan
U.S. Marines’ F-35B Lightning II aircraft arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on January 18 as the first F-35B squadron on an operational overseas deployment. With this deployment, the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 begins a permanent change of station to MCAS Iwakuni from MCAS Yuma, Ari
Indian Navy contracts private company to lift INS Betwa
The Indian Navy has contracted a U.S.-based marine salvage company to lift the INS Betwa which tipped over during a December 6, 2016 incident that left two sailors dead and a number of others injured. Resolve Marine Group received a INR 20 crore (US $2.9 million) contract to return the frigate to an
Attack submarine USS Topeka visits Japan
U.S. Navy’s attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan for a visit on January 17. The port visit is part of the Los Angeles-class submarine’s Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol. “We are honored to have the opportunity to visit Japan,” said Cmdr. Steven Tarr III, commandi
US Navy surveillance ship visits Japan
The U.S. Military Sealift Command’s ocean surveillance ship USNS Able (T-AGOS 20) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, as part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol. The January 16 port visit is aimed at strengthening the alliance between the U.S. and Japan through the crew’s interaction with the
Royal Marines train with Indian Navy during Konkan 2017
Royal Marines recently got an opportunity to train with the Indian Navy during a joint maritime security exercise. Named Konkan, the exercise is an annual military drill conducted between the Royal Navy and Indian Navy. This year, the week-long exercise focused on maritime security and, in particula
Taiwan monitors China’s aircraft carrier as it passes through Taiwan Strait
South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have all scrambled jets in the past 36 hours to intercept China’s military aircraft and the Liaoning aircraft carrier and its strike group as they returned from a training deployment to the South China Sea. Taiwan’s ministry of defense on Wednesday said that China’s air
US Marines’ F35 head for first operational overseas deployment
A U.S. Marines’ F-35B squadron from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, will become the first F35B squadron on an overseas deployment after heading for the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, on January 9. Iwakuni, Japan is thereby becoming the first location to receive the Marine Corps’ F-
India’s second Scorpene submarine ready for launch
INS Khanderi, the second of six Indian Navy Scorpene-class submarines, is scheduled to be launched on January 12. Built by the Indian shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited, the diesel-electric submarine is being launched some 22 months after the launch of INS Kalvari, the lead ship in the class, in April
2016 a year of firsts for the US 7th Fleet
As the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet looks back at 2016, it looks back at a year of innovations, new partnerships and upgraded ships. Ships and personnel teamed up with allies and partner nations in more than 110 exercises to exchange information, enhance capabilities and train together throughout 2016. Maj