Sensors & Combat Systems
USS Whidbey Island transits Suez, enters Red Sea
U.S. Navy’s amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), with embarked U.S. Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), transited the Suez Canal and entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations on August 7. Navigating the 120-mile-long canal is no easy task, requiring hours of
US Coast Guard Cutter Healy returns from Arctic Sea research mission
The largest U.S. icebreaker, Coast Guard Cutter Healy is set to return from a 39-day science mission to the Arctic Chukchi Sea. The icebreaker will moor in Seward on August 10 to disembark 46 researchers from the University of Alaska-Anchorage and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
US Navy tests Lockheed’s laser guided bomb
The U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in California recently tested Lockheed Martin’s new Dual Mode Plus laser guided bomb (LGB) in two successful flights, the company said. Tests were conducted to demonstrate operation of the new linear optics, GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) guid
Boeing gets $60M to improve Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Boeing $60.8 million to finalize work on upgrades for the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft. The contract will enable Boeing to mature the Increment 3 Block 2 capabilities through preliminary and critical design review. These capabilities in
Singapore Navy littoral mission vessels to be equipped with SharpeEye radars
Republic of Singapore Navy’s Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV) program is to be equipped with SharpeEye navigation radars, Kelvin Hughes, a British manufacturer of navigation systems, announced August 8. The lead ship of the fleet, Independence, was delivered in May of this year equipped with two I-Band
GAO recommends US Navy delay Flight III destroyer procurement
The U.S. Navy has not demonstrated sufficient acquisition and design knowledge regarding its next-generation Flight III destroyer procurement approach and opportunities exist to enhance oversight, a study carried out by the U.S. Government Accountability Office study has revealed. If the Navy procur
US Navy awards $287.9M close-in weapon system contract
Following contracts for MK-31 RAM missiles and SM-3 missiles earlier this week, the U.S. Navy has now awarded American defense company Raytheon a $287.9 million contract for work on the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS). Under the latest firm-fixed-price modification, Raytheon will carry out MK
Italian Coast Guard orders additional AgustaWestland helicopters
Leonardo-Finmeccanica, an Italian multinational aerospace and defence company announced July 4 it received an order from the Italian Coast Guard for additional two AW139 intermediate twin-engine helicopters. By placing this order the Italian service will bring its AW139 fleet to twelve with options
US Navy patrol ship tests new ‘eye in the sky’ in Arabian Gulf
The U.S. Navy’s coastal patrol ship USS Monsoon tested the capabilities of one of the ships newest assets, the RQ-20A Puma AE (all environment) during a Griffin missile system test that took place in the Arabian Gulf between July 19-25. The Navy says that the small unmanned aircraft system is easily
L-3 Communications to equip US Coast Guard cutters with C4ISR systems
L-3 Communications announced Wednesday that its Communication Systems group was awarded a contract from Bollinger Shipyards LLC to provide the integrated C4ISR system for the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC). The company said the value of this contract for 26 cutte
USS Shamal concludes 4th Fleet patrol with 1,483 kg of cocaine seized
U.S. Navy Cyclone-class patrol coastal ship USS Shamal (PC 13) returned from its third patrol in the U.S 4th Fleet area of operations on August 1. In support of Operation Martillo, Shamal’s third patrol assisted in five joint interdictions, resulting in the seizure or jettison of 1,483 kilograms of
Spanish frigate Cristobal Colon returns from combat system trials
Spanish Navy’s F-100 AEGIS-equipped frigate Cristóbal Colón arrived at her home port in Ferrol, Spain on August 2 after a 45-day deployment to North American waters where the ship carried out weapon systems trials. Cristóbal Colón visited the U.S. Naval Base of Norfolk for combat system ship qualifi
Germany Navy research institute receives new instrumentation platform
WehrTechnische Dienststelle (WTD 71), the maritime technology research arm of the German Navy, recently took delivery of a MacArtney FOCUS 2 ROTV system. The instrumentation platform was fitted with a Raytheon ProSAS aperture sonar system for a full scale on-site demo with the purpose of testing SAS
Japan, US conclude mine countermeasure drill 2JA 2016
U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) mine countermeasures units completed the mine countermeasures exercise (MCMEX) 2JA 2016 that took place July 15 to 30, near the region surrounding Misawa Air Base, Japan. MCMEX is an annual bilateral exercise held between the U.S. and Japan to