Sensors & Combat Systems
UK: HMS Somerset Returns Home After Six Months of Deployment
More than 600 friends and family greeted HMS Somerset as she returned home from six months of chasing pirates in the Indian Ocean. The frigate completed a “very rewarding” deployment – during which she took part in several pirate busts – by sailing into Devonport. More than 600 joyous families and f
Russia: Vyborg Shipyard Joins USC
United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) and Vyborg Shipyard tied contracts for construction of two Project 21900M diesel-powered seagoing 16-mW icebreakers on Feb 23, reported the USC press service. The contracts with overall cost of about RUR 8 bln were signed by USC president Roman Trotsenko and Dir
Mistrals to Get Newest Russian Strike, Defensive Weapon Systems
Newest Russian strike and defensive weapon systems including supersonic cruise missiles will be mounted on all four Mistral-class amphibious assault ships built for Russian Navy in France and Russia, reports today ITAR-TASS referring to a source in Russian defense industry. “As is planned, first two
Russian Navy to Receive Iceland Underwater Robots
Russian Navy will receive stand-alone unmanned submersibles made in Iceland. Russian defense ministry plans to spend RUR 744.244 mln on eight autonomous unmanned submersibles produced by Teledyn Gavia (Iceland), reports Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspsper. Three underwater robots are expected to join Russ
UK: Navy Helps Reduce Somali Pirate Activity
Following his posting as Commander of the UK Counter-Piracy Task Group, Captain Gerry Northwood, Royal Navy, has written in The Times newspaper about how concerted efforts are helping reduce attacks on merchant vessels. Captain Northwood writes: “Eleven pirates on board with automatic weapons and ro
Russia: Severnaya Verf Shipyard to Construct 13 Warships
St. Petersburg based JSC Severnaya Verf Shipyard has been contracted by the Defense Ministry to construct 13 warships for the Russian Navy. The contract includes construction of six corvettes of the Project 20385 and the Project 20380, six Project 22350 frigates and a reconnaissance ship. Official k
France: Lynx Helicopter Lands on FREMM Frigate for First Time
DCNS has achieved formal qualification of the FREMM frigate Aquitaine‘s flight deck for operations with the Lynx helicopter. This milestone was reached several months ahead of schedule after a successful deck landing campaign at sea, organised by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) in early
UK: Construction of HMS Prince of Wales Starts at BAE Systems
Production on HMS PRINCE OF WALES, the second Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier, has started today at BAE Systems in Portsmouth Naval Base – the future home of the Queen Elizabeth Class. Work on the forward section of the hull, known as Lower Block 02, commenced as Commander-in -Chief Fleet Adm
Russia: Amur Shipyard Holds Construction-Starting Ceremony of Second Serial Project 20380 Corvette
A festive construction-starting ceremony of second serial Project 20380 corvette took place at Amur Shipyard on Feb 17; the ship was christened Gromky and is expected to join Pacific Fleet, city administration of Komsomolsk-on-Amur told Central Navy Portal. The ceremony was attended by Khabarovsk Go
UK: Royal Navy’s Next Generation Helicopter Completes Trials Aboard HMS Iron Duke
The Royal Navy’s next generation helicopter, Wildcat, has completed 20 days of demanding trials aboard HMS Iron Duke, laying the groundwork for future operations. Wildcat landed nearly 400 times on the frigate’s flight deck by day and night in various weather conditions as the ship sailed off the co
Russia: Admiralteyskie Verfi Shipyard Completes Strength Hull Sections for SSK Novorossiysk
JSC Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard has completed manufacturing of strength hull sections for Project 636.3 submarine. The first serial submarine named Novorossiysk is built under Russian Navy’s order and will be commissioned into Black Sea Fleet in 2014. Construction of the submarine under modernized
Divers of Royal Netherlands Navy Recover Body of Missing Dutchman
On 10 February 2012, divers of the Royal Netherlands Navy recovered the body of a missing Dutchman from a German lake. The military personnel had assisted German police in the search for the man at the request of the mayor of Horst aan de Maas. The 43-year-old Dutchman from Grubbenvorst went missing
First Dutch JSF Aircraft Gets Jet Engine
The first Joint Strike Fighter designated for the Netherlands has had its jet engine installed. The Netherlands has thus far ordered two of these F-35 fighter aircraft as test aircraft. Personnel of Lockheed Martin installed the Pratt & Whitney engine, which measures 5.5 by almost 1.5 metres. Produc
Russia: BSF Hydrographic Ship Returns From Survey Mission in Black Sea Fleet
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) hydrographic ship GS-86 returned from survey mission in the Black Sea Fleet. Within the responsibility zone of BSF Hydrographic Service spreading from Ai-Todor Cape to Tarhankut Cape, the crew has performed night inspection of lighthouses and marine lights, tested leading beaco