US Navy destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) completed a war-at-sea exercise (WASEX) with Albanian Naval Brigade patrol vessel ALS Iliria (P 131) in the Adriatic Sea on February 7. The two vessels completed the drill before the US destroyer pulled into the Albanian city of Vlore for a regularly-scheduled por
The US Navy has submitted its long-range ship acquisition plan to Congress under which it expects to reach its 355-ship fleet by the early 2050s. Released February 12, the 30-Year Ship Acquisition Plan is a Congressionally-mandated report which describes the Department of the Navy’s long-range shipb
The US Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton is scheduled to offload approximately 7 tons of cocaine worth an estimated $190 million wholesale. The cutter will offload the narcotics on February 13 in Port Everglades, Florida. The drugs were interdicted in seven separate interdictions off the coasts of Mexico,
US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) pulled into Laem Chabang, Thailand, on Feb. 11, where its sailors and marines are to participate in exercise Cobra Gold 2018 (CG18). The CG 18 opening ceremony took place February 13, marking the beginning of one of the Indo-Pacific region
A task group of three Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships (JMSDF) arrived in Brunei on February 11 for a regularly scheduled port call. Asagiri-class destroyers JS Sawagiri and JS Yamagiri and Hatsuyuki-class destroyer JS Yamayuki were welcomed by the Royal Brunei Navy to the Muara Port. The hea
The Coast Guard received its 27th fast response cutter (FRC), Richard Snyder, in Key West, Florida, on February 8. According to the Coast Guard, the cutter will be the first FRC stationed in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, and will be commissioned in April. Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Richard T. Snyd
The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems Hawaii Shipyards a $22.7 million contract for scheduled selected repair availability (SRA) on Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90). According to the US Department of Defense, the focal point of the work is to perform main engine intake and uptake comp
The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on February 9 after four months of operations in the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf. Hopper operated in the US 7th and 5th Fleets, Hopper supporting ballistic missile defense and promoting securit
NATO ships from two maritime groups currently operating in the Black Sea entered two Bulgarian port cities for weekend port calls. On February 10, three warships from Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, as part of their routine Black Sea patrol. Led by Royal Navy Com
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Navarra will be leading a three-ship NATO group during the Mediterranean Sea operation Sea Guardian, the Spanish defense ministry announced. In addition to the Spanish Santa Maria-class frigate, the group will include Belgian frigate BNS Louise Marie and an Italian Navy shi
The US Coast Guard on February 7 released a request for proposal for the procurement of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for its national security cutters (NSCs). The US Coast Guard is looking to buy commercially available intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems for the NSC fleet
US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) got underway from Naval Station Mayport, Florida, on February 7 to lead a three-ship group on a deployment to Europe and Middle East. With more than 2,500 sailors and marines aboard, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) will spend the next six months as the lea
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth pulled into Gibraltar on Friday morning for her first ever overseas port visit. The visit will be a logistical one for the 65,000-tonne future flagship which left her home in Portsmouth last week for helicopter trials. These helicopter trials take plac
The US Navy on February 8 released the final request for proposal (RFP) for a multiyear contract for Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer construction. The DDG 51 multiyear procurement (MYP) contract will cover fiscal years 2018 to 2022 and will be limited to competition between the two current
