Having no standing army and operating just four coast guard vessels has not prevented NATO-member Iceland from hosting one of the organization’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercises. From June 26 to July 8, NATO ships and submarines will gather in Iceland for a series of drills aimed at improvin
The lead ship of Russian Navy’s new Project 20385 corvettes, Gremyashchy, was rolled out of the factory hall and placed on the open slipway ahead of her launch on June 30. The Severnaya Verf shipyard rolled out the corvette on June 19 and is yet to assemble her topmast and underwater parts. Designed
After completing two-year overhaul in Portsmouth, Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster has trained with a number of Merlin Mk2 helicopters during her preparations to return to the fleet. The Type 23 frigate now has her own embarked Merlin, however, named Gatekeeper – for guardian to underworld from Gh
Russian Navy’s second Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate (Project 22350), ‘Admiral Kasatonov’, has started tests of diesel generators ahead of her builder’s trials that are reportedly set to start later this year. According to shipbuilder Severnaya Verf, Admiral Kasatonov should complete the engine room
United Kingdom, France and the United States are stepping up their submarine cooperation with an agreement signed by the three countries’ naval leaders on June 1. The agreement outlines anti-submarine warfare activities of the three countries as they operate in waters of Western Asia. Commander, U.S
Russian Navy vessels have launched four Kalibr cruise missiles at ISIS positions near Palmyra, Syria, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The navy’s newest frigate, Project 11356 Admiral Essen, launched two of the missiles. The frigate was commissioned earlier this month and is currently o
German military technology company Rheinmetall is showcasing its submarine training technology at the Undersea Defence Technology (UDT) that is taking place in Bremen, Germany, between May 30 and June 1. The Submarine Command Team Trainer (SCTT) that is being put on show allows submarine crews to pr
Ships and submarines from the navies of Germany, Norway and the United States completed some 20 days of anti-submarine warfare drills in the Norwegian Sea. Dubbed Eastlant 2017, the Norwegian-hosted exercise started on May 8 and concluded on May 26. Not much has been said about the exercise, and the
The prime contractor for the construction of Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates has contracted Brüel & Kjær to deliver a hull vibration monitoring system (HVME) for the new class of ships. The system is supposed to reduce a ship’s radiated noise signature providing self-noise monitoring capabilities
Saab’s Swordfish maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) now incorporates new mission equipment and an expanded operational payload, the company announced on May 16. According to the company, the Swordfish can now be armed with up to six lightweight-torpedoes for the ASW role and can also carry the Saab RBS
Pakistan is acquiring four Turkish Project MILGEM corvettes while Turkey is buying 52 Pakistani Super Mushshak training planes under agreements signed during the 2017 IDEF defence exhibition in Istanbul, on May 10. Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited (KSEW) from Pakistan, signed a letter of
The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has awarded DCNS a contract to renovate three of the five La Fayette-class frigates (FLF) currently in service with the French Navy. The renovation work, which will start in 2020, will be performed in Toulon and synchronised with the scheduled overhauls of
The Russian newest Black Sea frigate Admiral Essen joined the navy’s permanent task force in the Mediterranean Sea after transiting the Strait of Gibraltar. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Admiral Essen is joining sister ship Admiral Grigorovich to carry out their Mediterranean Sea tas
The Finnish Defence Forces have signed a contract with Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) for the design of the Finnish Navy’s four Squadron 2020 project multirole corvettes. The 7.5 million euro design contract follows the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the Defence Forces and RMC