The U.S. Navy’s MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter completed the initial testing phase aboard a littoral combat ship returning from USS Montgomery (LCS-8) on April 11. The Fire Scout test team along with USS Montgomery sailors conducted dynamic interface testing to verify the MQ-8C launch and reco
U.S. defense contractor Raytheon announced it has tested a new electric gun for the Phalanx close-in weapon system. The company said the new upgrade allowed soldiers and sailors to fire at varying rates, which uses less ammunition. The goal of the live-fire test was to ensure the electric gun can op
Russian shipbuilder Zvezdochka (Star) completed overhaul works on the Russian Navy’s Project 949A Oscar-class submarine ‘Orel’ and sent the boat from its shipyard back to the Northern Fleet’s Zapadnaya Litsa naval base. Orel started her voyage from Severodvinsk on April 6 and reached Zapadnaya Litsa
Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi concluded its participation in the EU NAVFOR-led operation Sophia in the Mediterranean Sea. The carrier stepped down from its duty as flagship of the mission on April 4, some six month after joining the group. During its time spent with operation
Ships and personnel from U.S., UK and France have kicked off the two-week multilateral amphibious exercise Alligator Dagger 17. The drill is taking place in international waters off the coast of Djibouti and in the vicinity of Djibouti and Arta Beach, between April 5 and 20. Participating forces inc
U.S. Navy’s Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) completed ballistic missile defense (BMD) certification on April 5, off the coast of Southern California as part of deployment preparations. The goal of BMD is to use surveillance and interception techniques to defend the U.S
U.S. Navy sailors assigned to the Eisenhower carrier strike group have been ready to deploy on short notice ever since they returned from their 2016 deployment. Now, approximately 6,000 sailors are conducting a sustainment exercise (SUSTEX) to maintain their readiness and capability to deploy should
U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrived in Sasebo, Japan, on April 10, completing its regularly-scheduled patrol in the 7th Fleet area of operations. Bonhomme Richard previously stopped in White Beach, Okinawa, to disembark personnel, vehicles and equipment of the 31st
Ships from eight countries have concluded their participation in the Hellenic Navy-led mine countermeasures (MCM) exercise Ariadne 17. The exercise took place between March 31 and April 7. The at-sea phase started April 3 in Greek territorial waters after a planning and harbour phase was conducted a
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Cohort company SEA a contract to upgrade the ambient noise prediction system (ANPS) for the Royal Navy. The ANPS takes meteorological and oceanographic forecasts, together with oceanographic databases, and performs complex acoustic propagation calculations to p
A Royal Navy Lynx Mk 8 helicopter recently performed air carriage and jettison trials of the MBDA-made Sea Venom/ANL anti-ship missile. According to the missile manufacturer, the trials proved that the missile can be integrated onto the Lynx and Super Lynx helicopters. Sea Venom/ANL has been develop
Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat departed Western Australia on April 3 kicking off a deployment to the South East Asia. Upgraded with anti-ship missile defense, the frigate departed navy base HMAS Stirling under the command of Commander David Landon. During her time in South
The U.S. Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship, USS America (LHA 6), destroyed a drone in a live-fire exercise using its ship self-defense Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) system on April 6. The live-fire exercise was part of an Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Integration
German Navy tender ‘Main’ is set to return to its homeport in Eckernförde on April 13, concluding her deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. The tender spent six-months resupplying other EU ships deployed to the EU NAVFOR led operation Sophia which fights against human smugglers in the Mediterranean S
