Sensors & Combat Systems
Germany upgrades minehunters, buys training simulators
Germany is modernizing the last three of ten Frankenthal 332A class minehunters with a new mine countermeasure system. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) announced December 21 that Atlas Elektronik, a joint company of ThyssenKrupp and
Spanish sail training ship concludes 88th cruise
Midshipmen aboard the Spanish Navy’s training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano concluded the 88th training cruise by docking in Cadiz, Spain, on Friday. The purpose of these training cruises is to contribute to the nautical, military, social and human instruction of Spanish Navy midshipmen (future offi
US, ROK Navy start junior officer exchange program
A junior U.S. Navy officer embarked on a Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy ship as part of the newly created Combined Edge junior officer exchange program, December 21-23. Combined Edge was formed to improve combined warfighting integration between the U.S. and ROK navies by allowing U.S. Navy officers t
US Navy attack submarine on liberty port visit in Japan
U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757) docked at the Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan on December 22. The port visit is part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol. “Alexandria departed the shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire a little over one year ago,” said Cmdr. Todd San
Germany upgrades its air defense frigates with longer range radars
Germany has decided to upgrade its Sachsen-class air defense frigates with the aim of improving their contribution to NATO’s missile defense system. The ships’ long range radars are being replaced with new ones that will have a significantly broadened scope of engagement. Apart from defending agains
Raytheon gets $64.4M for CIWS design engineering and support
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon a $64.6 million contract for design agent engineering and technical support services for the Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS), SeaRAM, and land-based Phalanx weapon system. CIWS is a fast-reaction terminal defense against low- and high-fly
USS George Washington prepares for four-year break after 25 years of service
U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is preparing to take an extended 40-plus-month break for its Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) maintenance period after nearly 25 years of service. Throughout the first 25 years of an aircraft carrier’s life, it goes through
HMCS St. John’s picked as next Canadian ship to deploy to NATO’s SNMG2
The Royal Canadian Navy has selected Halifax-class frigate HMCS St. John’s as the next RCN ship to deploy on NATO’s operation Reassurance in early 2017. The frigate will support the standing NATO maritime group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Mediterranean Sea contributing to regional security and stability. HMCS
Video: US Navy tests unmanned swarming boats
The U.S. Office of Naval Research has recently tested autonomous unmanned swarming boats during a demonstration in the lower Chesapeake Bay. According to the service, the results have revealed ‘dramatic new possibilities’ for autonomy in future naval missions. Using a combination of software, radar
Australian Navy launches second Hobart class destroyer
The second Hobart class destroyer marked a major milestone in its construction when she was officially named Brisbane and launched in Adelaide on 15th of December. Mrs Robyn Shackleton, wife of former Chief of Navy and Commanding Officer of HMAS Brisbane II, Vice Admiral David Shackleton (retired),
USCG Cutters begin ice-breaking season
With the U.S. National Weather Service reporting frigid arctic air settling over New England Thursday night with lows in the single digits, U.S. Coast Guard cutters are poised to work hard to keep vital shipping lanes open during the ice-breaking season. The season officially started on December 12t
French Navy’s final nuclear submarine starts 18-month overhaul
Le Téméraire, the last of three French Navy’s nuclear submarines, has started her regular overhaul during which she will adapted to carry the M51 missile. Le Terrible, the fourth and latest in the series of new-generation of SSBNs has been equipped with the M51 missile from the outset. Le Téméraire
USS Nimitz sailors prepare for 2017 deployment
Sailors assigned to USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the U.S. Navy’s lead ship in the class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, have completed their tailored ship’s training availability and final evaluation problem (TSTA/FEP) on December 8. By doing so, sailors completed the ship’s 180-day, inter-deployment
Cohort’s SEA to work on Royal Navy acoustic and sonar systems
The UK Ministry of Defence has contracted Cohort’s subsidiary SEA to provide across-the-board support to acoustic and sonar underwater systems fitted to the Royal Navy’s surface and sub-surface fleets. Under the two-year contract, SEA will undertake what is known as the MoD underwater systems archit