Sensors & Combat Systems
HMS Northumberland Ends Middle East Deployment
The Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland returned to Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth on Friday, 5 December, after a successful patrol policing international shipping lanes in the Middle East. The vessel’s return marks the end of a successful seven-month patrol in the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean.
HMS Albion Slowly Awakening
After a period of three years in extended readiness, HMS Albion is finally turning into the nation’s future flagship. The assault ship has been in extended readiness since 2011 in her home base of Devonport, while her sister HMS Bulwark – currently leading the Royal Navy’s annual amphibious Cougar d
Ireland Orders OSI’s Software for Its Warships
Irish Naval Service has contracted OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) for the delivery of warship navigation systems, including OSI’s flagship ECPINS-W (Warship) software. Under the terms of this contract, OSI will provide engineering services, ship systems, operator training systems, and installation servi
New Zealand MPA Departs NATO’s OCEAN SHIELD
This week the crew of a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) P-3 Orion from the Royal New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) completed their support to NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD (OOS) Task Force 508 (CTF-508). Between 13 and 30 November, the NATO partner nation’s detachment of more than 50 cr
HMS Argyll Offloads USD 35 Mln Worth of Drugs
The crew of the UK Navy’s HMS Argyll offloaded 840 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated wholesale value of $27.9 million at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla, Nov. 29, and an additional 216 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated wholesale value of $7.1 million in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nov. 25. W
RFA Fort Austin Takes Part in Cougar 14
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Fort Austin has spent the last few weeks in company with HMS Bulwark as part of the Cougar 14 Task Group, sailing from the United Kingdom into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal and Red Sea and up into the Gulf. The Ship’s Company has been busy throughout, keeping th
UK Warship Seizes over 850Kg of Cocaine
HMS Argyll has dealt another blow to drug smugglers after seizing more than 850 kg of cocaine in a high speed midnight chase. It is the third drugs bust for HMS Argyll in as many months. This latest haul has a wholesale value of £36 million – in total she has now seized 1,600kg of […]
SNMCMG1 Sails into London, UK
Seven ships of Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1), under command of Lithuanian Navy Commander Giedrius Premeneckas, arrived in London for a routine port visit. SNMCMG1 is visiting London as part of the Group’s deployment to enhance maritime security and NATO’s readiness in the r
Australian DF: Russian Flotilla Leaves Coral Sea
Australian Defence Force vessels and aircraft have completed monitoring a Russian Surface Task Group that was operating in the Coral Sea to Australia’s north. The Russian ships did not enter Australian territorial waters and have now departed the Coral Sea. The flotilla included Russian Federation S
Hellenic Navy Chief Visits NATO MARCOM
The Chief of the Hellenic Navy, Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, visited NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) to enhance awareness of MARCOM activities and discuss topics of mutual interest with Commander NATO Allied Maritime Command, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson and the MARCOM staff. During the vi
EUNAVFOR, Chinese Navy Ships Rendezvous in the Gulf of Aden
On Monday 10th November, the EU Naval Force Flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, and the Chinese Flagship CNS Changbaishan met at sea in the Gulf of Aden. The Commander of Chinese Naval Escort Task Group 989, Rear Admiral Zhuang Chuanshu, and the Commanding Officer of CNS Changbaishan, Captain Deng Xianwu, t
Australia Keeps a Close Eye on Russian Vessels
Australian Defence is monitoring Russian naval vessels that are currently transiting through international waters to the north of Australia. In accordance with international law, Defence have been monitoring the Russian vessels. Defence regularly undertakes maritime surveillance patrols in the appro
Royal Navy’s Sea King Force Fully Returns to Sea
After five years of land-based operations in Afghanistan, the Royal Navy’s Sea King Force has fully returned to sea, flying their helicopters from Royal Navy ships in the Gulf. Whilst operating from Camp Bastion since May 2009, the ‘Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control (SKASaC) Force’, nicknam
UK Navy Takes Part in IMCMEX
Nearly 1,500 Royal Navy sailors, Royal Marines, specialist divers are engaged in the world’s largest naval exercise dealing with the threat of mines. The core of the Royal Navy’s presence in the Middle East has joined more than 5,000 military personnel from more than 40 nations spread across six con