Surface Vessels
Portuguese Navy frigate to undergo midlife upgrade
Portuguese Navy frigate NRP Bartolomeu Dias (F333) departed Portugal on April 26, heading for Den Helder in the Netherlands where it will undergo a modernization program. The midlife upgrade of the former Karel Doorman-class frigate is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019, the navy said. Bui
SNMCMG2 welcomes Italian, Turkish mine countermeasure ships
Italian and Turkish navies are sending their ships to join Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2). On April 23, the Italian Navy’s minesweeper Alghero departed La Spezia and is en route to the base port Mahón. In addition, the Turkish Navy’s mine countermeasures vessel TCG Anamur is
Spanish warships switch places in counter piracy mission off Africa
A Spanish offshore patrol vessel replaced an auxiliary oiler as the Spanish Navy contribution to the counter-piracy effort off the Horn of Africa – operation Atalanta. On April 21, oiler ESPS Patino left the Somali basin after five months of operations as part of the EUNAVFOR-led operation. Filling
Italian Navy takes delivery of 7th FREMM frigate
The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its newest frigate, Federico Martinengo. The delivery ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard, La Spezia, on April 24. The newbuild is the seventh of a series of ten vessels of the FREMM program – Multi Mission European Frigates – commissioned to
Damen lays keel for first of two Pakistan Navy OPVs
Dutch shipbuilder Damen recently hosted a keel-laying ceremony for the first of two Pakistan Navy offshore patrol vessels at its shipyard in Galati, Romania. The ceremony was attended by Pakistan Navy Rear Admiral Farrokh Ahmad, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Projects), other navy officials and Da
Royal Navy’s HMS Albion set for Indonesia visit
Royal Navy landing platform dock HMS Albion is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on April 22, for the ship’s first port call in Southeast Asia as part of her Asia Pacific tasking. Albion will arrive in Jakarta on April 22 for a three day visit during which the ship’s crew will conduct bilateral talks
UK starts construction of new maritime patrol aircraft hub
The UK defense secretary cut the first turf on April 19 for a new facility at RAF Lossiemouth which will house the UK’s new fleet of Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). The £132m site will be the future home to the country’s nine-strong, new P-8A Poseidon MPA fleet. The aircraft’s key role will
UK multinational drill Joint Warrior starting next week
The UK-hosted multinational, tri-service exercise Joint Warrior is starting next week with warships and personnel already en route to the Scottish Coasts. The exercise will be attended by 16 nations who will take part in a range of maneuvers over a course of two weeks. Before the actual at sea maneu
USS Harry S. Truman arrives in Europe
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and ships from its carrier strike group entered the US 6th Fleet area of operations April 18 as part of their deployment to Europe and Africa. The carrier strike group arrived in European waters after getting underway from Naval Station Norfolk on April 1
Helsinki hosts USS Porter
The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Helsinki, Finland, on April 18 for a scheduled port visit. The visit is aimed at enhancing US-Finland relations as the two nations work together to strengthen regional security and stability. It follows a bilat
Video: Turkish company showcases remotely-controlled naval mine drone
A Turkish defense company has shared video footage of what it says is an unmanned underwater vehicle capable of carrying enough explosives to destroy surface warships. The underwater drone is called Wattozz and was developed jointly by Albayrak Savunma, which entered the defense business in 2017, an
Kongsberg gets $153M contract for Malaysian Navy LCS Naval Strike Missile
The Royal Malaysian Navy has awarded Norwegian defense contractor Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace a EUR124 million (approx. USD$153.2m) contract for the delivery of Naval Strike Missile (NSM) systems for its new littoral combat ships. Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd is building the ships based on Nava
Royal Navy minehunter concludes SNMCMG1 deployment
Royal Navy’s Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel HMS Cattistock returned to Portsmouth Naval Base on April 17 after four months of operations with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1). During her deployment HMS Cattistock took part in a series of multinational exercises and operat
Mexican Navy long-range OPV getting Indra’s RIGEL electronic defense system
Dutch shipbuilder Damen has contracted Spanish defense technology company Indra to equip the Mexican Navy’s new long-range offshore patrol vessel (POLA) with its RIGEL electronic defense system. The system will allow the vessel, which is currently under construction, to detect the presence of other