Sensors & Combat Systems
Japan Coast Guard orders fifth Dassault Aviation Falcon 2000 maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA)
The Japan Coast Guard has acquired its fifth Falcon 2000 maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA), aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation has announced. The Coast Guard had previously ordered four MSA aircraft, which are based on the 4,000 nm Falcon 2000LXS. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delive
Arrowhead 140 design for UK Type 31e frigate revealed
A Babcock-led industry team has officially unveiled the Arrowhead 140 concept as their design for the UK defense ministry’s Type 31e general purpose light frigate program. Babcock, Thales, OMT, BMT, Harland and Wolff and Ferguson Marine are all part of the team bidding for the UK MoD’s £1.25 billion
Royal Navy’s new anti-air Sea Ceptor missile system enters service
A new anti-air missile system designed to protect the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers as well as other ships in the fleet has been declared operational, the UK defense ministry has announced. Developed at a cost of about £850m (approx. US$1.1b), the Sea Ceptor is the Royal Navy’s new short-range
France’s sole aircraft carrier refloated in mid-life refit milestone
French Navy’s sole aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle has entered the water again after spending over 14 months in the dry dock as part of her mid-life upgrade. The aircraft carrier was refloated at the Toulon navy base on May 16 after entering the dry dock on February 8, 2017. FS Charles de Gaul
Turkish minehunter finds unexploded ordnance during Spanish MINEX
Turkish Navy minehunter TCG Anamur has discovered historical unexploded ordnance during mine countermeasures drills conducted as part of the Spanish-hosted multinational exercise MINEX 2018. According NATO Maritime Command, the ordnance was discovered by TCG Anamur on 8 May using the ship’s speciali
Thales begins Sea Fire radar production for French FTI frigate
French defense technology company Thales announced it has started production works on the first Sea Fire radar for the French Navy’s FTI future medium-size frigates. The Sea Fire is fully solid-state multifunction radar with a four-panel phased array antenna. According to the company, it is designed
First unmanned minesweeping system delivered to Royal Navy
An autonomous minesweeper system that can safely clear sea lanes of mines has been handed over to the Royal Navy, UK Defence Minister Guto Bebb has announced. Following a period of successful trials, the demonstrator system could go on to be used by the navy in the future to defeat the threat of mod
Sonar, naval robotics MoU signed during Macron’s Sydney visit
Deeper collaboration between Australia and France in advanced sonar and naval robotics technology will flow from a research agreement announced in Sydney today during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Flinders University in South Australia,
HMS Magpie on sea trials ahead of next month’s delivery
The first of a fleet of over 30 new workboats that are to join the Royal Navy has started rough weather sea trials in the Irish Sea less than a month after being launched. In addition to being the first, the future HMS Magpie is also the largest of the batch. It is set to […]
Mexican Navy long-range OPV getting Indra’s RIGEL electronic defense system
Dutch shipbuilder Damen has contracted Spanish defense technology company Indra to equip the Mexican Navy’s new long-range offshore patrol vessel (POLA) with its RIGEL electronic defense system. The system will allow the vessel, which is currently under construction, to detect the presence of other
BAE Systems investing in AI, electronic warfare research
UK defense contractor BAE Systems has announced a £10 million (approx. $14.2m) investment into upgrades of the Maritime Integration & Support Centre (MISC) aimed at improving research into artificial intelligence, information and electronic warfare, unmanned vehicles and new weapons. Located in Port
Italian Navy research vessel ‘Alliance’ wraps up Iceland-Greenland Seas Project
Italian Navy’s multi-purpose research vessel ITS Alliance is set to return to its homeport in La Spezia, Italy, on April 6, concluding a 79-day mission in waters off Iceland and Greenland. Alliance’s mission was to support a project carried out under the custody of NATO’s Center for Maritime Researc
Royal Navy deploys five P2000 boats on Scotland patrol
The Royal Navy has deployed five Archer class P2000 fast inshore patrol boats on an Easter tour of Scotland aimed at promoting the navy to Scottish communities. The vessels, which are all part of the First Patrol Boat Squadron, will transit the Caledonian Canal and spend the next few weeks visiting
German P-3C Orion MPRA returns to Djibouti
A German P-3C Orion maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) and its crew have returned to Djibouti to rejoin the fight against piracy as part of the EU NAVFOR-led operation Atalanta. The P-3C, its crew and supporting staff deployed to the Horn of Africa area of operations on March 23 to w