U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel welcomed yesterday Portuguese Minister of Defense Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco to the Pentagon, and expressed to the minister his appreciation for Portugal’s many contributions to international security, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a Defe
On 16th March the Force Commander of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean visited the Spanish Offshore Patrol Vessel, ESPS Relampago for the first time since the ship arrived in the piracy high risk area. ESPS Relampago joined Operation Atalanta, the EU
After two and a half years protecting the World Food Programme (WFP) ship, MV Caroline Scan, from pirate attack off the coast of Somalia, the EU Naval Force has bid the vessel and her hard-working crew a fond farewell. In April 2014, MV Caroline Scan will be entering a period of maintenance, so th
It’s not every day that passengers on board a civilian cruise liner would get so close to a warship on operations that they could wave to each other, but this is just what happened last week when the German cruise liner, AIDAdiva, with over 2,000 passengers on board, met German frigate FGS Hessen at
“ We are observing concentration of Russian troops and their manoeuvres on Ukrainian border with the Russian Federation. The absence of invading interests at the official level should not diminish attentiveness and watchfulness of the Ukrainian army. Our servicemen are on full alert. Generally, this
Ahead of Chinese President Xi’s visit to the European Union in Brussels, a significant naval exercise has taken place in the Gulf of Aden to demonstrate the growing cooperation between the EU and China on issues of international security and defence. EU Naval Force warships, FS Siroco and FGS Hess
Korea Opts for Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Aircraft The Republic of Korea has formally selected the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft for its F-X fighter acquisition program. USS Elrod Takes Over Escort Duties of Libyan Seized Tanker The U.S. Navy’s USS Elrod relieved the USS Stout of
Royal Marines from 42 Commando prepare to launch an amphibious assault from HMS Bulwark’s landing dock within Exercise Joint Warrior. The exercise, which began on 25 March, will engage more than 35 warships, 25 different types of aircraft, and a total of nearly 13,000 personnel from the various pa
Russia could provide China with its latest Kalina-class submarine, the Voice of Russia writes. Official Beijing had initially requested from the Russian Government to provide its Navy with four Lada-class submarines. The plan was to revamp these subs with Chinese engines and an electronic fire-con
Exercise DYNAMIC MOVE (DME14), a week-long naval mine counter-measures exercise hosted by the Belgium-Netherlands (BE-NL) Naval Mine Warfare School EGUERMIN (NATO Naval Mine Warfare Centre Of Excellence / NMW COE), wrapped up last week. The annual NATO exercise, designed to test naval mine counter
Russia continues to reinforce units along the eastern and southern Ukraine border, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said during a news conference today. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last week that the Russian troops were massing f
Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) participated in Exercise NIRIIS 2014 earlier this month near Crete. The exercise focused on training participants in Maritime Interdiction Operations, including asymmetric threat scenarios, helicopter and flight-deck training, mine countermea
The Royal Navy’s ultra-modern Type 45 destroyer, HMS Dauntless, pays a much anticipated visit to Newcastle, her affiliated city, today. One of the Senior Service’s newest ships, HMS Dauntless, was due alongside at Northumbrian Quay in North Shields this morning at 9am. She remains in port until Mo
U.S. and United Kingdom defense leaders yesterday reiterated that there must be consequences for Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s forced annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel hosted British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond at the Pentagon. The two discuss
