Mine countermeasure assets from the US and Royal Navy teamed up recently to test their skills during a major exercise in the Persian Gulf. The Royal Navy’s entire presence in the Middle East was engaged in Mine Countermeasures Exercise 18-2, designed to see how the navies of Britain and the USA can
The US Naval Oceanography’s Fleet Survey Team (FST) and Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center (NOMWC) recently joined the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise for an opportunity to develop interoperability with European allies in mine countermeasure operations. FST and the Hydrographic Support Squa
The US Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded Raytheon a $29.7 million contract for work on the Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) innovative naval prototype (INP). As its name indicates, the LOCUST project is aimed at developing a system for the deployment of small, low-cost swarming UAV
The Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) system has successfully passed its Defense Acquisition Board review and achieved milestone C, missile developer Lockheed Martin has announced. The signed acquisition decision memorandum approves the JAGM system to enter into low-rate initial production (LRIP).
The US State Department has approved a potential sale of five Aegis shipsets for the Spanish Navy’s new F-110 frigates. A contract for the construction of five frigates is expected to be awarded this year and Navantia is already working on some elements of the ships’ systems and design. The potentia
Over fifty ships and submarines from 26 nations gathered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam for the start of the world’s largest naval drill – RIMPAC 2018 – which kicked off June 27. Taking place in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California, the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise is s
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) returned to operations after concluding a four-day port visit to Marseille, France, on June 25. While in Marseille, Truman sailors welcomed more than 150 French guests aboard for a reception, June 23, including US Ambassador to the French Republi
US Navy ships from the amphibious ready group assembled around USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) got underway from Morehead City, North Carolina, June 21, to start the navy’s first East Coast surface warfare advanced tactical training (SWATT) exercise. In addition to Kearsarge, ships taking part in the first Ea
The US Navy has identified the pilot who died in the crash of an A-29 Super Tucano aircraft at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, on June 22. The pilot was identified as Lt. Christopher Carey Short, from Canandaigua, New York. Short died when the A-29 aircraft he was piloting crashed while on a mi
The US-led land and maritime exercise in the Caribbean region concluded on June 21. The exercise took place from June 4 to 21 and was divided in two main phases. The first one was in St. Kitts & Nevis and the Bahamas while the final key leader seminar phase took place in Miami. Land operations took
US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) wrapped up a seven-month deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation, returning to its homeport of San Diego on June 21. While deployed, Higgins conducted security, stability, and freedom of navigation operations, observed foreign mili
US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) has arrived in Marseille, France, two months into its deployment to Europe and Africa. The aircraft carrier entered Marseille on June 21 for a regularly scheduled port visit. Truman’s France visit comes shortly after the carrier’s
US Navy littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) started the underway operational testing phase of the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. The latest set of trials began June 15, off San Diego. The operations are a continuation of MQ-8C operational testing that began in April. This next phase is
The US Navy has deployed Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) to the US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) where it will support the multinational exchange Southern Seas 2018. This will be the first deployment for Gunston Hall since 2014. Southern
