Surface Vessels
Northern Coasts 2017: Over 50 vessels underway off Sweden
Over 50 vessels and 20 aircraft were at sea off the coast of Sweden taking part in the international exercise Northern Coasts which started on September 8. NOCO 2017 is an exercise that focuses on increasing the navies’ ability to operate together during war and crisis management situations. The exe
West Sea Shipyards launches Portuguese Navy Viana do Castelo-class OPV ‘Setubal’
NRP Setubal, the fourth Portuguese Navy Viana do Castelo-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), was launched on September 13 at West Sea Shipyards. The vessel is expected to join the navy by June 2018 replacing one of the remaining Baptista de Andrade or João Coutinho-class corvettes. West Sea Shipyard
China, Russia set for second round of naval drills
Chinese and Russian Navy ships are scheduled to start the second round of bilateral drills as part of the “Naval Interaction 2017” set of engagements between the two countries. Taking place near Russian Pacific Fleet base in Vladivostok, the exercises are planned to last from September 18 to 26. Acc
Germany awards €2.4bln contract for five new K130 corvettes
The German defense procurement agency BAAINBw has authorized a €2.4 billion contract for the construction of five new Braunschweig-class (K130) corvettes. The ARGE K130 consortium, composed of Lürssen Werft, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and the recently incorporated German Naval Yards Kiel, will be d
Babcock presents design contender for Royal Navy Type 31 frigate
British shipbuilder Babcock has unveiled a new frigate design that will be offered as a design for the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate. Arrowhead, as the design is named is a 120 meter general-purpose frigate Babcock believes it can build for the Royal Navy under the £250 million price limit set by the
SEA to deliver torpedo launchers for new Philippine Navy frigates
The Philippine Navy’s two new frigates, currently under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, are to be fitted with torpedo launcher systems (TLS) delivered by British company SEA. Announcing the contract on September 11, the company said the systems will be similar to those in se
HMS Diamond replaces HMS Ocean as SNMG2 flagship in wake of Hurricane Irma
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond stepped in for helicopter carrier HMS Ocean as NATO flagship to allow the Royal Navy fleet flagship to bring vital supplies to Caribbean areas affected by Hurricane Irma The fleet flagship HMS Ocean was originally planned to lead NATO’s Standing Maritime Gr
Duchess of Rothesay names HMS Prince of Wales
The Duchess of Rothesay today pressed a button to formally name the UK’s second new carrier. The ship’s sponsor – better known south of the border as the Duchess of Cornwall – triggered the launch of a ten-year-old bottle of whisky from the Laphroaig distillery on the Isle of Islay and 65,000-tonne
UK MoD announces plans for Royal Navy’s T31e frigates
Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin on September 7th launched plans for the procurement of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31e frigates – a day after the announcement of a new National Shipbuilding Strategy. The competition, unveiled by senior leaders from the Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy and Defence Equ
HMS Ocean to provide humanitarian aid to Carribean islands
Royal Navy fleet flagship HMS Ocean has been diverted from a planned task to provide vital humanitarian aid to Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma and in the path of Hurricane José. The helicopter carrier and amphibious assault ship will join Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay, providing lo
German frigate FGS Brandenburg concludes NATO SNMG2 deployment
German Navy frigate FGS Brandenburg is on her way home after spending six months as the lead ship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 in the Aegean Sea. Brandenburg is set to return to her homeport in Wilhelmshaven on September 8 after an eventful deployment. The frigate’s mission was to lead a NATO
Cathelco to supply equipment for Royal Navy’s Type 26 Frigates
Cathelco has signed a contract to supply equipment for the first three vessels in a new generation of warships which will have a major role across the full spectrum of the Royal Navy’s operations. The Type 26 Frigates will be installed with two types of Cathelco systems, one protecting the underwate
USS James E. Williams concludes port visit to Riga, Latvia
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) departed Riga, Latvia, Aug. 31, following a scheduled port visit. While in Riga, James E. Williams engaged in topside preservation, loaded food onboard, held tours for Latvian military members and participated in communi
HMS Diamond sails for nine-month operational deployment
Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond has sailed from Portsmouth Naval Base for a nine-month operational deployment. She will be taking over the Navy’s long-standing commitment to the region from HMS Monmouth, a Type 23 frigate based in Plymouth. She is the second Type 45 destroyer to sail on operational d