Sensors & Combat Systems
Leonardo kits out Diamond DA62 with maritime surveillance capabilities
Italian defense technology company Leonardo has teamed up with Austria-based Diamond Aircraft Industries to equip the Diamond DA62 aircraft with customized maritime surveillance missions equipment. Dubbed DA62-MSA (Maritime Surveillance Aircraft), the light aircraft will be pitched to customers who
Third Royal Navy OPV HMS Trent completes sea trials
HMS Trent, the third of the Royal Navy’s second-batch River-class offshore patrol vessels has completed her sea trials in the Firth of Clyde. HMS Trent was put through her paces between Arran, Bute and Great Cumbrae – the same waters where her older sisters HMS Forth and Medway were tested by a mix
US Navy replacing Spain-based destroyers with newer ones, adding helicopter squadron
The US Navy intends to start replacing its four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, with newer platforms in 2020, the US 6th Fleet has announced. The navy did not disclose which ships would be stationed in Spain to replace USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Ross (DDG
Belgian, Dutch minehunter contract officially awarded
The Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, composed of Naval Group and ECA Group, officially received a contract for the construction of twelve mine-hunting vessels for the navies of the Netherlands and Belgium. As revealed, the 12 ships will be equipped with some 100 drones, clustered in ten mission
First new Argentine OPV officially starts construction in France
While the first block of a new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for the Argentine Navy was already assembled in Concarneau, French defense minister Florence Parly visited the site of shipbuilder Piriou to mark the official start of construction under the EUR280 million contract. The visit took place on
France launches seventh FREMM frigate Alsace
The French Navy’s seventh FREMM frigate was floated out Naval Group’s Lorient shipyard on April 18. In addition to being the seventh unit in the class, FREMM Alsace is also the first of two air-defense variants that will be delivered to the navy under the program. Alsace was launched thirteen months
Italian Navy receives eighth FREMM frigate Antonio Marceglia
The Italian Navy has taken delivery of FREMM frigate Antonio Marceglia from shipbuilder Fincantieri at its Muggiano, La Spezia, shipyard. The eighth frigate in its class overall and the fourth in multipurpose configuration was delivered on April 16. The future ITS Antonio Marceglia was delivered aft
US, French, UK navies kick off mine warfare drill in Persian Gulf
Ships from the navies of the US, the UK and France have kicked off the mine countermeasures exercise Artemis Trident in the Persian Gulf. “Mine laying poses a risk to naval ships as well as merchant shipping vessels,” the US 5th Fleet said in an announcement. “As mines threaten maritime traffic indi
German air-defense frigate Hessen deploying to Aegean
German Navy F124 frigate FGS Hessen is scheduled to depart its Wilhelmshaven homeport on April 11 to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2). The air-defense frigate will replace another German vessel currently deployed to the mission in the Aegean Sea. Combat support ship Bonn deployed to
Finland picks Saab over Lockheed, Atlas for Squadron 2020 combat systems
The Finnish defense ministry has selected Sweden’s Saab as the preferred bidder for the development and delivery of combat systems for the Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2020 vessels. Finland’s defense minister Jussi Niinistö announced on April 8 that Saab’s offer performed best in the comparison of quotat
US Navy’s AN/AQS-20C towed minehunting sonar completes developmental testing
The US Navy recently completed developmental testing of the AN/AQS-20C (Q-20C) towed minehunting sonar, bringing the mine countermeasure system a step closer to joining the fleet. The Q-20C has advanced acoustic and electro-optic sensing capabilities that will detect, localize and classify bottom, c
Germany’s SeaSpider anti-torpedo torpedo passes first sea trials
German Bundeswehr Technical Center for ships and naval weapons, maritime technology and research (WTD 71) recently completed sea trials of the SeaSpider anti-torpedo torpedo in the Baltic Sea. The trials were carried out sometime in 2018 from a WTD 71 multipurpose vessel in cooperation with defense
Spain authorizes EUR 4.3B for construction of five F-110 frigates
The Spanish government approved EUR 4.3 billion of funds for the construction of five new F-110 frigates for the Spanish Navy on March 29. The council of ministers authorization comes roughly a month ahead of the construction start which is scheduled to take place in May this year. The new generatio
Brazil selects Germany’s MEKO design for new Tamandaré corvettes
The Brazilian defense ministry has selected the Águas Azuis Consortium as the preferred bidder for the construction of the Brazilian Navy’s Tamandaré-class corvettes. The consortium, formed by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security and Atech, will build a total of four ships under t