Surface Vessels
France: FREMM Frigate Aquitine Completes Three Weeks of Sea Trials
FREMM frigate Aquitaine berthed at DCNS’s Lorient shipyard on Friday 25 November after three weeks of successful sea trials, during which DCNS teams pursued integration and testing of the combat system under the supervision of the French defence procurement agency (DGA). The ship is to be delivered
Indian Ten Shipborne Pilots to Train in Russia
To provide readiness of Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya for coming acceptance in the end of 2012, ten shipborne pilots of MiG-29K will be sent to Russia for training, reported news agency Brahmand. India tied a contract with Russia for 16 deck-based fighters MiG-29K in 2004. In accordance w
Dutch Navy’s OPV Holland Gets Integrated Mast Module
After successful platform trials, handover to the Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation(DMO) and initial tests by the Royal Netherlands Navy the first OPV Holland returned to DAMEN Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in Vlissingen for the installation of the Integrated Mast Module (IMM). The installation
Russia: BF Ships Spent Over 300 Days at Sea
Baltic Fleet (BF) Chief of Staff RADM Sergei Farkov said at the session of BF Military Council that all tasks assigned to the fleet in training year had been completed. BF ships have performed 5 long-range cruises to different regions of the World Ocean. Crews of surface ships have carried out over
HMS Bangor Returns to Faslane, UK
The Faslane-based Sandown Class minehunter was welcomed home by families and friends who braved the bitterly cold winds and heavy rain as she sailed into HM Naval Base Clyde this morning, 25 November 2011. Rear Admiral Chris Hockley, Flag Officer Scotland Northern England & Northern Ireland (FOSNNI)
Construction of First Chinese Aircraft Carrier Faces New Unanticipated Problems
Construction of the first Chinese aircraft carrier faced new unanticipated problems; it turned out that the former Soviet carrier Varyag was not equipped with arresters, and it is unclear where China could get them. In 2007 news agency Kanwa exclusively reported from St. Petersburg that China would
HNLMS Tromp Fires Missiles off Norwegian Coast
On 15 November, during the international exercise Nordic Archer 2011 near Norway, the Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp fired two anti-aircraft missiles at a practice target. The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) is used to protect ships from attacking aircraft or missiles.During Nordic Archer 2011, matter
Royal Canadian Navy Ships to Maintain Presence in Mediterranean Sea Until End of 2012
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, today announced that Royal Canadian Navy ships will maintain a presence in the Mediterranean Sea until the end of 2012 in order to join Operation Active Endeavour, the NATO counter-terrorism effort in the region. Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship
Type 23 Frigate Visits Ascension Island
HMS Montrose has visited Ascension Island as part of her mission to promote British interests in the South Atlantic over the coming months. The island has always had very strong links with the military ever since HMS Zenobia and HMS Peruvian first anchored in English Roads in 1815; these strong mili
Britain’s First Next-Generation Jet Rolls Out of Factory
The F35 Lightning II, which will be flown by Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force aviators, will provide the strike of the largest ships ever to fly the White Ensign, HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales, from the end of this decade. Before there can be any thought of flying the F35 – […]
Russia: Northern Fleet Task Unit Completes Preparations for Deployment
Crews of Northern Fleet (NF) aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov and large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko have completed drill program at training ranges in the Barents Sea. Acting within carrier strike group headed by NF Deputy Commander Vice Admiral Alexander Vitko, th
USS Mitscher Arrives in Lisbon, Portugal
Guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, for a regularly scheduled port visit, Nov. 23. The visit serves as a continuing effort for U.S. 6th Fleet to build global maritime partnerships with European nations and improve maritime safety and security. “Liberty is a mi
France: OPV Gowind L’Adroit to Use Lethal, non Lethal Weapons
The OPV Gowind L’Adroit is intrinsically a powerful means of dissuasion and action to ensure maritime security. The L’Adroit can be equipped with lethal and non lethal guns and other weapons, all true assets when used at the right time and place. The French Navy equipped the L’Adroit with a 20 mm gu
Royal Moroccan Navy’s SIGMA Class Frigate Starts SAT
The 98 meters long SIGMA class frigate, the second built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for the Royal Moroccan Navy, left Vlissingen on the 18th of November for her sea acceptance trials (SAT) in the North Sea, right on schedule as agreed in the contract. During the SAT, a very intensive progra