Ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) transited the Kiel Canal and arrived in Wismar, Germany, October 5, returning to the Baltic Sea for another routine patrol. The SNMCMG1 visit to Wismar included courtesy calls with local authorities, a force reception and ships ope
The Royal Canadian Navy has given the go-ahead for the Underwater Warfare Suite Upgrade (UWSU) of its Halifax-class frigates with a contract award to General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada. The upgrade will modernize the underwater warfare sensor suite that is currently installed on the frigates, e
Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Albion has arrived in Oman ahead of the start of an exercise that will see the involvement of over 4,000 British personnel. Exercise Saif Sareea (Swift Sword) is the largest combined military exercise for UK forces since 2002 and HMS Albion will be in charge of
US Coast Guard’s national security cutter USCGC Strato returned home after a deployment in which operations spanned from the Arctic Ocean to the coasts of South America. Stratton’s crew began their deployment in the Arctic Ocean in support of Coast Guard District Seventeen and operation Arctic Shiel
The Royal Navy’s second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier – the future HMS Prince of Wales – received its navigation bridge, five months ahead of schedule. The Aircraft Carrier Alliance which is in charge of constructing the two carriers said the delivery of the bridge was originally planned fo
The US Navy will christen the newest guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), at a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on October 6. Launched in July this year, the future Frank E. Petersen Jr. will be the 71st Arleigh Burke
At the beginning of October, the third of Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s new tankers headed to sea to begin military trials. RFA Tidesurge (A138) — one of four Tide-class ships built to support the new carriers and their battle groups — has already proven her seakeeping abilities courtesy as she arrived in
The Australian government announced on October 4 the signing of an interim contract with BAE Systems Australia for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigate program. The Advanced Work Arrangement (AWA) will cover ongoing work on the $35 billion program, ahead of agreeing the head contract. Au
The annual IBSAMAR maritime exercise organized between the navies of Brazil, India and South Africa kicked off at Simons Town, South Africa, on October 1. The two-week exercise changes hosts every year, with the previous edition taking place in India. The exercise is designed to build interoperabili
F-35 Lightning jets achieved another milestone during flight trials on board the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth by completing first night-time landings. Britain’s biggest warship is currently conducting flight testing off the east coast of the United States and part of that is pract
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia announced it has received a contract extension for the maintenance of four US Navy destroyers forward-deployed to the Spanish Navy base Rota. The original contract first entered into force in November 2013 and includes one-year extension options until November 2020. Acco
Construction works on the Royal Australian Navy’s new generation of offshore patrol vessels officially kicked off with a steel cutting ceremony on Wednesday. The steel cutting for the first of overall 12 vessels took place at Civmec’s Western Australia facility. Civmec will be responsible for buildi
Ships and personnel from the US, Spain, Germany and France concluded the four-day Smart Defense Exercise (SMARTEX) on September 28. SMARTEX is a NATO initiative designed to enhance interoperability and training between participating countries. During the exercise, Spanish sailors embarked aboard the
After completing integrated Defense of the Amphibious Task Force (DATF) drills in the South China Sea, US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) entered Singapore’s Changi Naval Base together with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) for a scheduled port visit on October 2. Capt. Col
