Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently undergoing extensive F-35B flight trials with the aim of determining the operational limits of both the ship and the fifth-generation stealth jets it is poised to operate. One of the trial evolutions included loading one of the jets with w
French shipbuilder Naval Group has hosted a steel-cutting ceremony for the French Navy’s first Fregate de Taille Intermediaire (FTI) frigate at its Lorient site. The lead ship in the class, to be named after the French sailor and general Pierre-Alexis Ronarc’h, is scheduled to be delivered in 2023.
The Russian Navy’s second Project 22350 frigate, Admiral Kasatonov, has begun state trials ahead of the ship’s delayed delivery which is expected to take place by the end of the year. According to the Northern Shipyard, Admiral Kasatonov has already passed a number of checkpoints, including tests of
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) recently concluded operations above the Arctic Circle while monitoring Russian maritime activity on Oct. 16. The service said the ship’s presence in the Arctic Circle reinforced the United States’ commitment to regional
Royal Navy base Portsmouth is now ready to welcome the second of two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers after works on a new jetty were successfully completed. HM Naval Base Portsmouth will now be able to berth both Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers side-by-side in a £30 million investment to e
The navies of Finland and Germany kicked off a mine countermeasure exercise in the Gulf of Finland on October 16. The two-day drill is designed to enhance the interoperability between the two countries’ explosive ordnance disposal divers. Participating units from Finland include the minehunter MHC V
The Philippine Coast Guard’s future offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang has passed its first sea trials, the French shipbuilder in charge of delivering the vessel announced. The milestone was achieved three months after the OPV was launched by OCEA at its Les Sables d’Olonne site. Hailed as t
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, for a port visit as part of its deployment to the Black Sea. The ship arrived at the port on October 13 with five Ukrainian officers on board observing sea-and-anchor operations. These operations e
The defense ministers of Greece and France have signed a letter of intent that will pave the way for further talks about Greece’s acquisition of French-designed Belharra frigates. French defense minister Florence Parly announced the document signing with her Greek counterpart Niko Panagiotopoulos on
The Polish Navy’s second Kormoran II-class minehunter was launched in a ceremony at Remontowa Shipbuilding on October 10. Albatros (hull number 602) was launched a little over a year after a steel-cutting ceremony marked the start of the ship’s construction in September 2018. In addition to the Alba
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has welcomed first British F-35B jets on board during its operational trials off the East Coast of the US. The arrival of British F-35Bs follows successful developmental trials last year with US Lightning jets, where forces conducted 500 take offs and
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose and French Cassard-class frigate FS Jean Bart made another drugs bust in the Arabian Sea operating as part of the Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. The suspicious dhow was initially located by FS Jean Bart’s helicopter and boarded by a team from the French ship
Navy ships taking part in the Royal Navy-led exercise Joint Warrior got underway from Faslane, Scotland, this week to start two weeks of drills in Scottish exercise areas. A dozen NATO nations are taking part with 16 warships, three submarines and nearly 60 aircraft, set to attend. Overlapping with
A Russian Navy task group composed of frigate Yaroslav Mudryy, tanker Yelnya and the seagoing tug Viktor Konetsky has transited the English Channel under the watchful eye of Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey. The Neustrashimyy-class frigate and her escorts made the transit en route to the
