Royal Navy Commodore Andrew Burns, commander of Amphibious Task Group embarked on the U.K.’s HMS Ocean (L 12), took command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force (CTF) 50 in the Arabian Gulf, November 25. This marks the first time a Royal Navy officer has led a U.S. task force in the Mid
After a year in refit HMS Example has made her return to the the Royal Navy fleet, and taken her place as one of 14 patrol boats that make up the Royal Navy’s 1st Patrol Boat Squadron (1PBS). The Archer-class patrol boat has a new Ship’s Company, headed by Lieutenant Thomas Stapley-Bunten RN. HMS Ex
The Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) has contracted Kongsberg Defence Systems to upgrade the combat management systems of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates. Under the agreement, the defense company will also update the ships’ active sonar systems. Kongsberg said the c
The lead ship of the Italian Navy’s FREMM frigates recently accomplished a first for the Italian Navy by launching the Aster 30 missile at the Italian Quirra firing range on November 22. By firing the missile, Fincantieri-built frigate Carlo Bergamini tested the SAAM ESD (surface anti air missile –
The Royal Navy’s primary aviation training ship RFA Argus was recently validated for multi-spot and multi-aircraft aviation operations as she returned to operational status following several months of refit. Over the last four months Argus’ ships company comprising of both Royal Fleet Auxiliary and
Three NATO ships and two submarines began a new NATO maritime security operation in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday. Italian frigate ITS Aviere, Bulgarian frigate BGS Verni, Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik, Greek submarine HS Papanikolis and the Spanish submarine ESPS Mistral – will conduct the first
HMS Charger, Liverpool URNU’s affiliated P2000 patrol boat, returned to her home port in October following a year-long major refit – and just in time to escort HMS Dragon into harbour to play her part in the Arctic Convoy commemorations being held in the city. Charger welcomed some bleary-eyed stude
HMS Albion – the Royal Navy amphibious assault ship that has been mothballed in 2011, just eight years after she joined the fleet – is gradually coming to life one step at a time. In her latest milestone, the amphibious command ship been placed in long term lay-up with her own generators now powerin
The UK Royal Marines first improved Merlin Mk4 performed its maiden flight earlier in the week at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton. Working under a 2014-contract worth £330 million (€400), engineers from Leonardo are converting 25 Royal Air Force AW101 Merlin Mk.3 and Mk3A helicopters to replac
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has contracted Swedish defense contractor Saab to deliver an integrated combat system for the two new Royal Australian Navy replenishment ships. According to Saab, the contract is worth SEK 226 million (approx US$25 milion). Helicopter control radar and decoy system are
U.S. based defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation demonstrated its AQS-24B mine hunting system at the Royal Navy-sponsored Unmanned Warrior exercise in Scotland marking the first time the AQS-24B towed mine hunting sensor has been deployed from an unmanned surface vessel in British waters.
The Russian Navy said it was ready to lay the keel for the first ship in a new class of corvettes also referred to as Project 20386. The ceremony is scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg on October 28. Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Korolyov ordered the first vessel to be named
French technology company iXblue has received a contract to supply inertial navigation systems for Germany’s four F123 Brandenburg-class frigates and two F122 Bremen-class frigates that are to be upgraded. Under the contract, iXblue is to deliver Marins M3 inertial navigation systems and Netans N3 s
A WW1 naval mystery might be finally solved after a German U-boat was found off the coast of Wigtownshire, Scotland by engineers who are working on a subsea power cable laying project. Sonar images have revealed what is presumed to be the German UB-85 submarine, which was, according to reports from
