Training & Education
US Navy, Air Force award Lockheed first Long Range Anti-Ship Missile production contract
The U.S. Navy and Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin the first production contract for the air-launched variant of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) on July 25. Worth $86.5 million, the contract will see the company deliver 23 missiles and engineering support. Low-rate initial production Lot 1
Chinese task group bound for Finland after Baltic Sea drills with Russia
After concluding their drills with the Russian Navy in the Baltic Sea, ships from the Chinese Navy’s task group are scheduled to visit Finland for a regularly scheduled port call. Three Chinese warships, Type 052D destroyer Hefei (DDG-174), Type 054A frigate Yuncheng (571) and Type 903 replenishment
USS Thunderbolt fires warning shots after Iranian vessel comes within 150 yards
In one of Iran’s more daring challenges to U.S. Navy vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, an Iranian naval vessel came within 150 yards of a U.S. Navy ship forcing it to fire warning shots. According to the U.S. Central Command, coastal patrol ship USS Thunderbolt was operating in international wa
RDEL launches two Indian Navy offshore patrol vessels
Indian shipbuilder Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited (RDEL) launched two offshore patrol vessels for the Indian Navy at its shipyard in Pipavav on July 25. Named Shachi and Shruti, the OPVs are the first two of overall five planned ships in the class. The primary role of the NOPVs will be to
German minehunter Sulzbach-Rosenberg joining NATO mine countermeasures group
German Navy’s Frankenthal-class minehunter FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg will be joining NATO’ Standing Mine Counter Measure Group 1 (SNMCMG1) operating in the Baltic and North Seas, the German Navy has announced. The minehunter is set to depart its home port of Kiel, Germany, on July 28 to spend the follo
Japan, US forces gear up for annual mine countermeasure drill 2JA
Warm-up exercises are already underway as Japanese and U.S. forces prepare for more complex scenarios of the annual 2JA mine countermeasure exercise (2JA MCMEX). The annual exercise, which officially began July 19, brings together Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and U.S. Navy surface and a
Royal Navy clearance divers recover WWII bouncing bombs
Clearance divers from the Royal Navy’s Faslane-based Northern Diving Group (NDG) helped recover historic World War Two bouncing bombs from the bottom of Loch Striven. On Wednesday, July 19, three of the famous “Highball” bombs broke the surface of the Argyll Loch for the first time in over 70 years.
Australia puts amphibious capabilities to the test
Taking charge of the largest amphibious assault conducted by an Australian force in 70 years as part of exercise Talisman Saber presented an opportunity to shine for the Amphibious Task Group Headquarters. The assault, led from amphibious asssault ship HMAS Canberra, was a significant milestone in t
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter concludes German frigate integration
A Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter has wrapped up its integration aboard a German Navy frigate during her pre-deployment training which started in April this year. The Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton-based helicopter spent seven weeks aboard the Bremen-class frigate FGS Lübeck. This was also t
Peru hosts 19 nations for multilateral exercise UNITAS
Peru is hosting naval forces from 19 countries for this year’s edition of the annual exercise UNITAS. Scheduled to conclude on July 26, the exercise will be commanded by Peruvian navy Rear Adm. Alberto Alcala. Participating countries include the United States, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Aust
Patrol boats join big warships for Talisman Sabre drill
Royal Australian Navy’s Armidale class patrol boats joined their much larger counterparts for the northern component of exercise Talisman Sabre proving they can play a role in complex war drills. The Darwin-based HMAS Bathurst and Broome took on a superior force including guided missile frigates HMA
US, India, Japan conclude major Bay of Bengal drill
Ships, submarines and aircraft from the U.S., India and Japan concluded their participation in the week-long Bay of Bengal exercise Malabar 2017 The exercise was designed to advance military-to-military coordination and capacity to plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment.
Chinese Navy task group heads for Baltic Sea and bilateral drills with Russian Navy
A Chinese Navy three-ship task group is sailing towards the Baltic Sea where it is set to take part in exercises with the Russian Navy. The bilateral drill, dubbed “Maritime Interaction 2017”, is scheduled to take place between July 21 and 28, and will involve an overall of 21 ships, according to a
Royal Navy assault ship HMS Albion completes first set of trials
Royal Navy assault ship HMS Albion has completed her first set of sea trials, spending four weeks in open waters after being tied to port for six years. After a £90m revamp in her home base which took her out of mothballs and saw 110 major changes and improvements carried out, the assault ship left