Operations
US Navy identifies sailor who died in small boat accident
The US Navy has identified the sailor who died from injuries sustained in a small boat incident in the Red Sea on July 8. The sailor, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), was identified as Ensign Sarah Mitchell, 23, of Feasterville, Pennsylvania. M
19-nation Black Sea drill Sea Breeze 2018 kicks off
The Ukraine-hosted and US Navy-led international exercise Sea Breeze kicked off in Odessa, Ukraine, on July 9. According to the Ukrainian defense ministry, a total of 19 nations are taking part in the drill which is aimed at enhancing interoperability among participating nations and strengthen regio
US Navy sailor dies during small boat operations in Red Sea
A US Navy sailor assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) died from injuries sustained during small boat operations on July 8. According to the US Naval Forces Central Command, the sailor was medically evacuated to a hospital in Aqaba, Jordan, and was pronounced dead at 12
USS Coronado wraps up IOT&E for MQ-8C Fire Scout
US Navy littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) completed the first comprehensive Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) for the MQ-8C Fire Scout on June 29. The ship’s crew worked with the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VX-1) for the IOT&E which will inform decision-makers on how be
US Navy destroyer, command ship arrive in Ukraine for exercise Sea Breeze
US Navy destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) and command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Ukraine ahead of the start of exercise Sea Breeze 2018. Only USS Porter pulled into the Ukrainian port city of Odessa prior to the exercise. The two ships entered the Black Sea on July 6 and July
HMS Enterprise hands over SNMCMG2 flagship role to FGS Rhein
Royal Navy’s HMS Enterprise concluded a year-long stint with NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2, handing over the flagship role to German Navy tender FGS Rhein. The Royal Navy survey ship concluded her deployment in a change of command ceremony in Souda Bay, Crete, on July 6. Enterprise le
Australian frigate home after seizing over 33 tons of narcotics
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga returned home on July 8, concluding a record-breaking deployment to the Middle East. Minister for defense, Senator Marise Payne, joined Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mike Noonan, on the wharf to congratulate the crew on their record breaking deployment. Du
Report: Japan to send JS Kaga to South China Sea, Indian Ocean mission
Japan is likely to send its Izumo-class helicopter carrier to the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean this year as well. The two-month deployment of the 27,000-ton JS Kaga comes as Japan aims to boost its presence in this strategically important region, Reuters reported citing two unnamed Japanese
US Navy’s tenth EPF aces builder’s trials
The US Navy’s tenth expeditionary fast transport vessel Burlington (EPF 10) completed builder’s trials on June 29. The week of trials began dockside at the Austal USA Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. EPF 10 engaged in pierside dock trials with the Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast working with the s
ESSM Block 2 passes first live fire test
The upgraded Block 2 Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) recently intercepted a BQM-74E aerial target in a successful flight test, the US Navy announced on July 5. This was the first ESSM flight test to utilize the new Block 2 active guidance seeker-head. ESSM Block 2 will employ both semi-active and
US Navy test pilot school receives new flying classroom
The United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) received the new Airborne Systems Training and Research Support (ASTARS) III aircraft at Naval Air Station Patuxent River on June 29. ASTARS III is the third, and newest, generation of flying classroom for the USNTPS curriculum. The aircraft is a cu
US destroyer USS Jason Dunham works with Egyptian Navy
US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) met up with the Egyptian Navy frigate El Zafer (F951) for a passing exercise (PASSEX) in the US 5th Fleet area of operations. PASSEX is an exercise in which multiple ships, operating in close vicinity, practice evolutions together to improv
German Navy’s only two tankers out of operation
The German Navy has been forced to withdraw its only two tankers from NATO operations this year. As disclosed, the tanker oldies, Spessart and Rhön, will not be operational until the end of this year. Due to engine issues, both 1974-built ships will undergo repairs in the following months. The compl
HII gets further $27m for USS Fitzgerald repairs
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries another contract modification worth $27 million for work on the repairs of Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). The destroyer was heavily damaged in a collision with Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Cr