Sensors & Combat Systems
French Navy receives refitted aircraft carrier
The French Navy’s sole aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle has been returned to the navy after a mid-life refit, Naval Group said. As informed, the vessel will now start ramping up its systems before returning to its operational cycle in early 2019. The 1.3 billion euro renovation of the Charles d
Royal Navy destroyer, submarine meet up for Mediterranean security ops
Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond recently joined a Royal Navy submarine and a range of fighter jets and aircraft for two weeks of training in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The destroyer made extensive use of the facilities and equipment at Britain’s bases in Cyprus for the evolutions. The v
EMSA contracts Israel’s Elbit for unmanned aerial patrol services
The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has awarded Israeli unmanned systems specialist Elbit for unmanned aircraft system patrol services. As announced by the company, two-year contract has two single year option periods with a total value of €59 million (approximately $68 million) if all option
German procurement office contracts Leonardo for K130 corvette Super Rapid deliveries
Germany’s defense procurement agency BAAINBw has awarded Italian defense technology company Leonardo a contract to provide seven OTO 76/62 Super Rapid gun systems for the navy’s five new K130 corvettes. Leonardo says the contract also includes training and spare parts supply. The company also delive
Naval Group looks into the future with new SMX31 concept submarine
French shipbuilder and submarine specialists has unveiled a new submarine concept at the Euronaval show in Paris with which it prepares for future imagined threats, needs and constraints. The concept is a digital submarine adapted to the future generations. SMX 31 builds on the SMX 30 (introduced by
Type 26 frigates to feature SCANTER radars
The Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates will be fitted with Terma’s SCANTER radars and Raytheon Anschütz naval radar software whose joint solution recently obtained the International Maritime Organization certificate. The Terma-Raytheon solution will help save space, cost, and training efforts because
Euronaval 2018: Saab introduces hypersonic detection mode Sea Giraffe radar
Swedish defense technology company Saab has unveiled a new “Hypersonic Detection Mode” version of its Sea Giraffe naval radar at the Euronaval show in Paris, France. Saab says the HDM version is capable of detecting and tracking targets travelling at hypersonic speeds. As explained, naval vessels fa
Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands sign up for new M-class IFF systems
The navies of Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands have signed a contract with Thales for the delivery of new Mode 5 and Mode S identification friend or foe (IFF) systems for their Karel Doorman-class frigates. The upgrade to the latest NATO IFF standard will enable the vessels to perform military
Royal Navy to base all Type 26 frigates in Devonport
The eight Type 26 frigates being built for the Royal Navy will be homeported in Devonport, UK defense secretary Gavin Williamson has announced. The 6,900-tonne frigates will be anti-submarine warships and will provide protection for the UK nuclear deterrent and the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft car
Second Royal Navy aircraft carrier receives navigation bridge
The Royal Navy’s second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier – the future HMS Prince of Wales – received its navigation bridge, five months ahead of schedule. The Aircraft Carrier Alliance which is in charge of constructing the two carriers said the delivery of the bridge was originally planned fo
Royal Navy Sea Kings retire with ceremonial flypast after 49 years of service
The Royal Navy’s Sea King Mk7 helicopters officially retired from active service as two Sea Kings from 849 Naval Air Squadron performed a final, three-hour flypast on September 19. Helicopters ZE420 and ZA126 flew as far east as Teignmouth, over the wilds of Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, the northern Co
HMS Prince of Wales’ operations room comes online two months ahead of schedule
The second of two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers, the future HMS Prine of Wales, now has a functional operations room – two months earlier than it was intially expected. The operations room will allow the crew of HMS Prince of Wales to watch for threats, track the movements of the carrier’s F-35B
Babcock, Royal Navy consolidate training systems support contract
The UK defense ministry has awarded Babcock International a five-year maritime training systems through-life availability & support service (MARTASS) contract. As announced by the company, a series of support packages, defined by the maritime combat system (MCS) and maritime training acquisition org
Experimental mine countermeasures drill concludes in Croatia
US Navy explosive ordnance disposal specialists joined forces with maritime forces from the Republic of Croatia for an experimental mine countermeasures (MCM) operation in Croatian waters on August 17. In a combined partnership between US Sixth Fleet, the US Office of Naval Research, and Croatian Na