The UK’s short take off vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B jets have started training on the first of three vertical landing pads at RAF Marham. The VLPs are built for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation by a joint venture between Galliford Try and Lagan Construction. The Norfolk site is the main op
The US Navy has awarded Saab a second contract for the delivery of its Sea Giraffe AMB multi mode radar (MMR) for the US Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutters (OPC). Saab received the initial order worth $16.8 million for the MMR for the OPCs in October 2017. Options for further deliveries could bri
Three teams of bidders have submitted their final proposals for the construction of a fleet of new frigates for the Royal Canadian Navy under the Canadian Surface Combatant Program. The companies received feedback to revise their proposals in May and the deadline for the final bids to be submitted w
Defense technology companies Leonardo, L3 Technologies and Ultra Electronics Command & Sonar Systems have teamed up to offer a “complete” anti-submarine warfare acoustic system. The system – announced by Leonardo at the Farnborough Airshow 2018 – is based on the company’s new ULISSES (Ultra-LIght So
US Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) mine countermeasure (MCM) units were joined by their Indian Navy counterparts for the start of the 2JA mine countermeasure exercise 2018 near Ominato, Japan, on July 18. 2JA is an annual exercise that, in addition to the US Navy and JMSDF, this y
A trials and test facility for submarine and surface ship sonar systems.
US Navy’s Independence variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8) has completed combat system ship qualification trials (CSSQT), the US Navy announced. During the qualification, which concluded July 1, several trials validated the performance of the combat systems suite. The tests involved
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) has teamed up with Leonardo to integrate SAGE electronic warfare surveillance system onto its MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicle. SAGE will be offered as an available baseline configuration for MQ-9B customers of Sky Guardian and maritime surveillance Se
The US Navy’s most expensive ship ever, aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), arrived at Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, July 14 to begin its post-shakedown availability (PSA) period. The PSA will be a yearlong maintenance and upgrade peri
The US Navy’s seventh Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, the future USS Wichita (LCS 13), has completed acceptance trials in the waters of Lake Michigan. The next step for the vessel will be the delivery to the US Navy which is scheduled to take place later this summer. During her trials, which t
US-based boat builder Metal Shark has teamed up with autonomous vessel technology developer ASV Global to offer an entire range of autonomous vessels. The autonomous technology – named “Sharktech” – is offered on Metal Shark’s entire portfolio of vessels, which range from 16’ to over 300’ in aluminu
The US Navy’s second Zumwalt-class destroyer Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) will need a new main turbine engine after turbine blades were damaged during the ship’s acceptance trials. According to a USNI News report: Michael Monsoor will have to receive the new MT30 engine at the Bath Iron Works shipyard
Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) announced it has completed its final critical design review (FCDR) for the US Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutter (OPC) program. The FCDR was accomplished on June 29, 2018, after a week of discussions, demonstrations, and design presentations by ESG’s design team to
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
