Sensors & Combat Systems
Sea Kings embark HMS Ocean in preparation for aircraft carrier arrival
Royal Navy’s Sea King Mk7 airborne surveillance and control helicopters have joined HMS Ocean in the Gulf to practise in preparation for Merlin helicopters that will succeed the Sea Kings as the carrier’s ‘flying eyes’. After years over the sands of Afghanistan – where their radars proved vital in t
USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group gets underway
U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its carrier strike group left their homeport in San Diego on January 5 to begin their deployment to the western Pacific. USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, and embarked Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 1 deployed with Ticonderoga
US Navy deploys new early warning aircraft to Japan
U.S. Navy’s newest E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning and control aircraft will join the forward deployed naval forces in Japan, the service announced Thursday. The E-2Ds from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 will become part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 at the Marine Corps Air Stat
Canadian Navy frigate sets sail for NATO’s operation Reassurance
Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS St. John’s left her homeport on Wednesday and headed for the Mediterranean Sea where it will join NATO’s standing maritime group 2. Departing from the naval base in Halifax, St. John’s set sail for the operation Reassurance to replace sister ship HMCS
2016 a year of firsts for the US 7th Fleet
As the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet looks back at 2016, it looks back at a year of innovations, new partnerships and upgraded ships. Ships and personnel teamed up with allies and partner nations in more than 110 exercises to exchange information, enhance capabilities and train together throughout 2016. Maj
Royal Navy contracts Ultra Electronics for more Merlin Mk2 sonobuoys
The Royal Navy has awarded British technology company Ultra Electronics a £9.7m contract extension for the supply and production of sonobuoys for the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 maritime patrol helicopter fleet. The company announced Wednesday that its Command & Sonar Systems sonobuoy facility, based in
Indian Navy launches 4, commissions 3 ships in 2016
India’s push for indigenous shipbuilding resulted in the commissioning of three and launching of another four ships for the Indian Navy in 2016. INS Chennai, a P 15A Guided Missile Destroyer, was commissioned into the Navy by the Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai o
Spanish, Pakistan Navy ships meet in Gulf of Aden
Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel ESPS Relámpago, currently part of the European Union Naval Force, met in the Gulf of Aden with Task Force 151 Pakistan Navy Ship, PNS Tariq on January 1. During the meeting, crewmembers from both ships cross-decked to the other in order to meet and share common
Japanese, US destroyers meet at sea for holiday gift exchange
Sailors from Japanese destroyer JS Yuugiri (DD 153) and U.S. Navy’s USS Shiloh (CG 67) met at sea to exchange holiday gifts on December 28. A week before, sailors from Japanese helicopter carrier JS Izumo visited U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for a gift exchange and ship tour. During the m
USS Rafael Peralta passes acceptance trials
The U.S. Navy’s future Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) completed acceptance trials December 16 after spending two days underway off the coast of Maine. USS Rafael Peralta is the third Flight IIA Restart destroyer laid down in October 2014 and christened a year later by the
Ike CSG to return home one day ahead of New Year’s Eve
U.S. Navy sailors from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group will arrive at their homeports December 30 following a seven-month deployment to the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean. More than 6,000 sailors will return home just in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations. The aircraft carrie
South Korea signs contract for six new frigates to be built by 2026
Initiating the first step in a process to construct six new Batch III frigates South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed an initial 16.6 billion KRW ($13.7M) with Hyundai Heavy Industries on December 27. The contract will see the shipbuilder start planing and design work
US Navy destroyer visits Puerto Princesa, Philippines
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain arrived in Puerto Princesa, the Philippines for a brief port call on December 24. During the visit, the McCain crew will participate in a series of community service projects and sporting events. The visit comes months after
USS Wasp wraps up 6-month stint ahead of Japan deployment
After 12 years of idleness in port, U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) deployed this year for a busy 2016. After six months underway, the ship is now set to return to Norfolk on December 24. Once there, Wasp will undergo a planned maintenance availability that is expected to be fin