Surface Vessels
Canadian ships return from worldwide operations
Royal Canadian Navy vessels ranging from coastal defense vessels through frigates to replenishment oilers returned to their Atlantic and Pacific bases from operations in European, South American, and Asia-Pacific waters. Kingston-class coastal defense vessels HMCS Edmonton and Nanaimo returned to Ca
Russia commissions lead Karakurt-class corvette Mytishchi
The Russian Navy commissioned its lead Project 22800 guided-missile corvette ‘Mytishchi’ in a ceremony on December 17. The corvette will join the Baltic Fleet after completing sea and state trials and testing all systems and weapons. Mytishchi is the first of over 20 planned Project 22800 ships (als
Royal Navy frigates return from Trident Juncture, Westlant deployments
Royal Navy Type 23 frigates HMS Westminster and HMS Monmouth returned to their homeports in Portsmouth and Devonport, respectively, on December 14. Westminster returned after an eight-week stint in the North and Baltic Sea where she trained with other NATO and ally ships as part of NATO’s largest ex
Tods Defence to provide sonar domes to Norwegian Navy
Tods Defence, a Unitech Aerospace company, is to provide the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) with upgraded sonar domes for the Nansen-class frigate in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy. “Tods Defence is proud to continue their long association with the Nansen-class frigate. We had the h
Portuguese Navy’s NRP Setúbal completes sea trials
The Portuguese Navy’s new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) NRP Setúbal has completed sea trials. As explained, the trials were designed to test the ship in extreme operational conditions. They consisted of actions that evaluated the behavior and maneuver in the sea, the response of the propulsion and el
Royal Navy’s next-generation patrol ship completes maiden sea trials
HMS Medway, the second of the Royal Navy’s next-generation patrol ships, will debut in Portsmouth in the New Year after completing her maiden sea trials. The offshore patrol vessel (OPV) spent 15 days in the Firth of Clyde testing her engines, maneuverability, sensors and main cannon under a mixed c
French Navy frigates to feature Thales STIR radars
The French Navy plans to install seven tracking and illumination (STIR) radars on its frigates for their gun and missile fire control, defense technology company Thales said. As informed, five of the radars will be installed on board future intermediate-size frigates (FTI), and two will be placed on
HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives back home
Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Portsmouth today following the completion of initial fast jet trials in America. The 65,000-ton carrier’s first transatlantic deployment, which began in August, saw her embark two F-35B Lightning II test aircraft, from the Integrated Test
Three shipbuilding consortia get funds for their Type 31e frigate plans
Three shipbuilding teams have received funds from the UK to continue developing their plans for the construction of Type 31e frigates. On December 10, 2018, the country’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) awarded three contracts for the Competitive Design Phase. The contracts have been awarded to consortia
USS Iwo Jima home from Trident Juncture
US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned to her homeport of Mayport, Florida, Dec. 4, after nine weeks of operations in the northern Atlantic Ocean. As flagship of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), the ship returned to sea after completing a six-month deployment to part
SNMG2 ships train with Egyptian Navy
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) trained with Egyptian Navy vessels after concluding a visit to the Egyptian Navy base in Alexandria on December 4. Although hampered by the weather conditions, the passing exercise consisted of a tactical maneuvering exercise, helicopter operatio
Elbit, Leonardo join forces to equip Seagull USV with mini torpedoes
Israeli unmanned systems specialist Elbit Systems has teamed up with Italy’s Leonardo to equip the Seagull unmanned surface vessel (USV) with mini torpedoes. The agreement, announced at the Exponaval exhibition in Chile, will see the two companies develop the USV’ capability of mounting and launchin
Royal Navy, RFA ships getting new radios under £23m contract
UK’s Defence Equipment and Support agency has awarded Thales a £23 million contract to equip Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships with new V/UHF radios. As announced by the agency, the radios will be installed on 39 ships in total, including Type 23 frigates, survey and ice patrol vessels, min
In pictures: Here’s how the Norwegian Navy plans to raise its sunken frigate
The Norwegian defense ministry has shared a detailed, and illustrated, plan of how it plans to salvage the HNoMS Helge Ingstad which has been sitting on the sea bottom in the Hjeltefjorden fjord after colliding with a tanker on November 8. While the plan provides no timetable on when the operation w