Sensors & Combat Systems
US Navy to christen newest attack submarine USS Washington
The U.S. Navy is set to christen its newest Virginia-class attack submarine USS Washington (SSN 787), Saturday, March 5, at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia. The future Washington is the 14th Virginia-class nuclear submarine and the fourth Virginia-class Block III submarine. The s
US Navy sailor develops new sonar system
USS Fitzgerald’s Chief Sonar Technician (Surface) Benjamin Lebron has developed a new program that assists in locating and tracking submarines and improves his ship’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The program, known as Single Leg Bearing Range (SLBR), is a passive target-motion analysis tacti
Royal Navy divers find German WWII torpedo
Royal Navy’s Northern Diving Group have identified a Second World War German torpedo at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys, Scotland, on March 1. The torpedo was found on the seabed after a recent routine sonar survey on behalf of Orkney Islands Council. It was also filmed using an underwater remote-operated
German Navy ship trains Somaliland Coast Guard
Germany Navy corvette FGS Erfurt, part of Operation Atalanta, provided specialist training to Somaliland Coast Guard students in coordination with EUCap Nestor under the Local Maritime Capacity Building efforts. EUCap Nestor is a civilian mission which is mandated to support the development of marit
Mount Whitney stages SAR exercise with Republic of Cyprus Rescue Center
U.S. Navy’s command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) conducted a combined search and rescue (SAR) exercise with the Republic of Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Lanarca in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, February 29. The purpose of the exercise was to increase response capabi
GALLERY: Belgian Navy destroys WWII mine
Images: Belgian Navy Belgian Navy’s Tripartite-class minehunter M924 Primula detected what it classified as a potential mine in the Gootebank area, about 14 nautical miles off the coast, February 25. The Navy ship thereafter used its Seafox-I ROV (remotely operated vehicle) and identified the sonar
HMS Artful tests custom-developed combat system
Royal Navy’s third Astute-class submarine HMS Artful test fired its Common Combat System which will be used in the RN submarine fleet in the future. Using a Spearfish torpedo for the test, the system was able to interpret sonar readings, and then attack a moving target with a practice weapon. The CC
Australian Defence White Paper doesn’t go unnoticed
Australian Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence unveiled the long-awaited 2016 Australian Defence White Paper February 25. The plan is set to increase defence spending by AUS $29.9 billion (approx. US $21.5 billion) over the following ten years. A Defence Industry Policy Statement (DIPS) and a
U.S. Navy will sail more in the South China Sea
The U.S. Navy will sail, fly and operate wherever international law allows, Admiral Harry B. Harris, Commander of the United States Pacific Command, said at an Armed Services House committee hearing yesterday, February 24. The U.S. Navy Admiral, in confirmation of U.S. fears, said that China was “cl
Thales to upgrade Estonian Navy’s Sandown-class minehunters
French multinational defence contractor Thales has been contracted by the Estonian Ministry of Defence to upgrade three Estonian Navy’s Sandown-class Single Role Minehunters. Under the contract, the company will fit its Sonar 2193 system as well as its latest generation M-CUBE command and control sy
Saab picks iXBlue’s fiber-optic gyroscopes for Sweden’s new submarines
Saab has awarded the French navigation technology provider iXBlue a seven-year contract to deliver fiber-optic gyroscope technology for the two next-gen A26 submarines of the Swedish Navy. The contract will see iXBlue provide its MARINS inertial systems for the submarines. Built by Saab, the A26 is
HMAS Ballarat starts sea trials after upgrade
Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigate HMAS Ballarat recently started sea trials in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, after undergoing the Anti-Ship Missile Defence Upgrade. The sixth frigate of its class built for the Royal Australian Navy, Ballarat was the fifth vessel to proceed to mariner
Gallery: Mount Whitney departs Italy for operations
Images: US Navy The U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) departed the Italian port city Gaeta for routine operations in the Mediterranean Sea on February 22. While underway, the ship will conduct unit-level training, perform duties as the fleet command and contro
HMS Artful to be handed over to Royal Navy mid-March
Royal Navy’s third Astute-class attack submarine, HMS Artful, has been conducting final contractor sea trials ahead of her maiden deployment set for mid-March 2016. The submarine sailed from Barrow-in-Furness, England in August last year for her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde, Scotland and since th