Operations
New Royal Navy OPV monitors Russian counterpart in English Channel
The lead ship of a new class of Royal Navy patrol ships is escorting one of the Russian Navy’s recently-commissioned Project 22160 patrol ships as it transits the English Channel. The second-batch River-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) HMS Forth had just returned to UK waters from her first foreig
US aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan arrives in Philippines
The US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived in Manila, the Philippines, for a port call on August 7. The carrier arrived together with ships from its carrier strike group, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS Antietam (CG 54). T
Royal Navy joining Persian Gulf maritime mission with US Navy
The UK has confirmed its navy ships would join US assets on a new international maritime security mission in the Persian Gulf. The mission will see the Royal Navy working alongside the US Navy to assure the security of merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The push to organize an international m
Australian flagship HMAS Canberra returns from six-month Asia deployment
Royal Australian Navy landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra returned home last week, completing a six-month deployment to Asia. The 230-meter LHD sailed almost 22,000 nautical miles during the deployment, visiting Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia as part of the
LCS USS Montgomery joins drill with Indonesian Navy
A littoral combat ship taking part in an Asia-Pacific exercise for first time since late 2017.
US command ship returns to Italian homeport after Baltic deployment
USS Mount Whitney supported a major milestone by the re-established US 2nd Fleet.
Japan Maritime Self Defense Force eyeing purchase of 20 unmanned helicopters
The Japanese government intends to acquire around 20 unmanned helicopters for its Maritime Self Defense Forces (JMSDF), local media reports have said citing unnamed officials. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the acquisition of a yet unspecified large, unmanned helicopter fleet would be in response
Standing NATO groups welcome new flagships in Spain
NATO’s two standing maritime groups welcomed new flagships in a ceremony at naval station Rota, Spain, on July 26. SNMG1, the group that mainly operates in the North and Baltic Sea, has a US Navy ship at its helm again as USS Gravely (DDG 107) was relieved by sister destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101).
Indian Navy commissions sixth landing craft utility
The Indian Navy has commissioned its sixth landing craft utility (LCU 56) in a milestone for both the navy and shipbuilder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE). LCU 56 is the sixth of eight units in the class and the 100th navy ship to be delivered by the shipbuilder since 1961. Th
US Navy tests unique vertical take-off UAV
The US Military Sealift Command’s expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) headed out to sea recently to test a range unmanned systems during a two-day underway. One of the less prominent systems that was tested was the V-BAT vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial v
HMS Duncan arrives in the Gulf to bolster merchant shipping protection
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan has arrived in the Persian Gulf where it is set to ensure the safe passage of British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s seizing of tanker Stena Impero on July 19. Last week the government confirmed that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accom
US Navy Independence-variant LCS starting surface-to-surface missile module testing
The US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Modules (MM) program is cleared to begin developmental testing following a successful structural test firing of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) on an Independence-variant LCS. Developmental testing is set to start in August after the test
US Navy picks Northrop Grumman as AN/SPQ-9B radar design agent
The US Navy has selected Northrop Grumman Corporation to be design agent for the AN/SPQ-9B surface search and fire control radar. As design agent, the company will provide support to existing and future systems, troubleshoot issues, perform redesign efforts as parts go obsolete and add new capabilit
Special Operations Forces drill Trojan Footprint expanding from the Baltic
Personnel from ten nations rehearsed the rapid deployment of special operations and armed forces in a drill that is no longer confined to the Baltic region. Taking place this June in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, exercise Trojan Footprint 19 was led by Special Operations Command Europe and included