Operations
Croatian Navy to deploy ship to NATO mission for first time ever
The Croatian Navy is preparing to deploy one of its vessels to NATO’s Mediterranean Sea operation Sea Guardian this year. While Croatian Navy vessels took part in NATO drills in the past, including Trident Juncture in 2015, the announced deployment would be the first time for a Croatian Navy vessel
Raytheon gets $29m for work on US Navy LOCUST UAV prototype
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
JAGM cleared for low rate initial production
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).
Spain cleared to buy Aegis systems for new F-110 frigates
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
World’s largest naval drill kicks off in Hawaii
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
Truman returns to sea after France visit
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
Russian Navy commissions 2nd Project 18280 ship Ivan Khurs
The Russian Navy has commissioned Ivan Khurs, the navy’s second Project 18280 intelligence-gathering ship. The commissioning ceremony for the newbuilding was held at St. Petersburg’s Severnaya Verft shipyard on June 25, 2018. The vessel, designed to provide signals intelligence (SIGINT), electronic
Three Italian warships start swan song deployment
Three Italian Navy warships, with 85 years of service between them, embarked on their final “deployment” before they bow out of active navy service in a ceremony scheduled for July 16. Aside from the task of training navy cadets, the deployment will be more of a tour of Tyrrhenian Sea port cities, a
Indian Navy submarine rescue system completes first open sea trials
UK-based underwater technology company JFD said it has completed the first open sea launch of Indian Navy’s dive and recovery of the deep search and rescue vehicle (DSRV). The DSRV is the first of two 3rd generation submarine rescue systems being delivered to the Indian Navy. The DSRV completed a fu
SM-2 missile fails to launch after booster burns out inside German air defense frigate VLS
A Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) failed to leave the MK. 41 vertical launch system after the rocket booster burned out while the missile was still inside its canister during a live-firing drill conducted by German air defense frigate FGS Sachsen. Nobody was hurt during the accident, the German Navy said
Kearsarge ARG ships get underway for first East Coast SWATT
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
US Navy identifies pilot killed in Super Tucano test flight crash
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
Caribbean-focused exercise Tradewinds 2018 concludes
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
USS Higgins returns from action-packed deployment
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