Sensors & Combat Systems
USS Essex returns to sea after maintenance
The U.S. Navy’s Wasp-class multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) departed her homeport of San Diego, June 19 to recertify the ship after its maintenance availability. Essex has undergone more than a year of planned maintenance availability and is now testing its systems to return it
Airbus starts autonomous flights of VSR700 Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV)
Starting autonomous flight trials of its VSR700 Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) demonstrator, Airbus Helicopters has come a step closer to the first flight of the actual VSR700 prototype in 2018. A light military rotary-wing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle, the VSR700 is being developed jointly by
UMS Skeldar teams with Sentient for ViDAR enhancement
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) company UMS Skeldar has joined forces with Sentient Vision Systems to equip its SKELDAR V-200 VTOL UAV with a ViDAR (visual identification detection and ranging) system for its unmanned systems. The ViDAR payload on the SKELDAR V-200 will be deploying five to ten camera
US Navy identifies deceased sailors from USS Fitzgerald collision that almost sank destroyer
The remains of all seven USS Fitzgerald sailors previously reported missing were found in the ship’s flooded berthing compartments on June 18. The compartments were flooded in a collision between USS Fitzgerald and Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Crystal southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.. The col
Australia officially receives first air warfare destroyer Hobart
The Australian Ministry of Defense accepted delivery of its first Aegis-equipped air warfare destroyer, Hobart, in a ceremony at the Osborne naval shipyard on June 16. Hobart is the first of three destroyers being built and integrated by the AWD Alliance which comprises the Department of Defence, Ra
Royal Navy amphibious transport dock HMS Albion returning to sea
Royal Navy amphibious transport dock HMS Albion is scheduled to sail from Devonport Naval Base at the end of the week after spending almost six years tied to port in “extended readiness”. In late 2011 the ship was placed at extended readiness, following the decision by the UK Government in the Strat
Atlas Elektronik, Kraken team up for Canadian Remote Mine Disposal System
German naval contractor Atlas Elektronik has teamed with Canadian Kraken Sonar Systems to develop a solution for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Remote Mine Disposal System (RMDS). In addition to the RMDS program, Kraken and Atlas agreed to provide military grade KATFISH towed sonar systems to an undisclo
Overhauled Royal Navy frigate receives her embarked Merlin Mk2 helicopter
After completing two-year overhaul in Portsmouth, Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster has trained with a number of Merlin Mk2 helicopters during her preparations to return to the fleet. The Type 23 frigate now has her own embarked Merlin, however, named Gatekeeper – for guardian to underworld from Gh
ZNT Yard launches two SAR boats for Russian Navy
Russian Nizhegorodsky Teplokhod Shipyard (ZNT Yard) launched two Project 23040 search and rescue boats (SAR) for the Russian Navy on June 8. Named РВК-1239 and РВК-1261, they are the 19th and 20th boats in their class. ZNT Yard is to build an overall 22 units in the class for service in the navy’s B
ECA Group showcases mobile port and coastal protection system
French company ECA Group recently demonstrated its unmanned solution for port and coastal protection in the Toulon area, south of France. The mobile system is based on several robotic systems, a USV Inspector Mk2 and a UAV IT180-60, controlled and supervised from a centralized Command and Control ce
Croatia launches its first inshore patrol vessel
Croatia launched its first inshore patrol vessel in the construction hall of the Brodosplit shipyard in Split on June 3. This is the first of a planned five patrol vessels that will be built for the Croatian Coast Guard under a HRK 385,4 million (approx. US$58.5m) contract signed between the Croatia
HMS Queen Elizabeth crew moves on board
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is one step closer to departing Rosyth after the ship’s company took up residence on board the UK’s future flagship. Over the last couple of months, the 700-strong ship’s company has been navigating their way around the 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier fa
CARAT Thailand concludes
The U.S. and Royal Thai Navy concluded eight days of bilateral training events ashore and at sea and wrapped up the 2017 edition of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise on June 6. This is the 23rd-annual CARAT exercise and the Royal Thai Navy has been a participant in the s
Scavengers loot Australian WWII ship sunk in Java Sea
A recent dive on the wreck of the Royal Australian Navy’s World War II cruiser HMAS Perth revealed that due to illegal salvage activity, only 40 percent of the vessel is in place. The findings are the result of a joint dive conducted by maritime archaeologists from the Australian National Maritime M