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
The U.S Navy began the active portion of the regularly-scheduled multinational exercise Noble Dina, along with Greece and Israel in the Mediterranean Sea, on March 26. Noble Dina is a combined exercise designed to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficien
Rear-admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río, Commander of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2) currently participating in operation ‘Ocean Shield’ fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean, welcomed Rear-admiral Kevin M. Sweeney, Commander of the U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group 10. The two flagships, the Sp
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training has won a USD 93 million worth modification to previously awarded contract to exercise options for production of Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS) in Poland and to provide multi-year procurement funding for Aegis Weapon System (AWS) MK 7 equipme
On Friday, 21 March 2014, HNLMS EVERTSEN delivered a badly injured civilian mariner to a Seychelles hospital after two days’ medical treatment at sea. The incident began Wednesday afternoon, when EVERTSEN received information that a crew member of the French fishing vessel BELOUVE was badly injure
HMS Illustrious, the Royal Navy’s helicopter and commando carrier, and the Type 23 Frigate HMS Kent sailed yesterday from Portsmouth to take part in Europe’s largest naval exercise off the coast of Scotland. They will join 10 other Royal Navy ships as well as vessels, submarines, aircraft and grou
On the 29th January 2014, HMS Brocklesby sailed from Portsmouth for a stormy trip across the Bay of Biscay to join the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measure Group in the Mediterranean. The crew of Brocklesby, Crew 1 of the 2nd MCM Squadron, ‘The Fighting Aces’, left the UK in to some of the worse [&h
The U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) departed the Black Sea, on March 21. While in the region, Truxtun conducted port visits in Romania and Bulgaria, and executed training scenarios with both navies that included a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) at sea. The PASSEX, conducted w
Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Ihor Tenyukh, said on Sunday that some Ukrainian military units would eventually be withdrawn from the Crimean peninsula. The decision follows a new turn of escalation of situation in the region on the heels of the referendum in Crimea. The Ukrainian Ministry
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu assured U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that Russian troops along the Russia-Ukraine border are there solely for exercise purposes and will not cross over into Ukrainian territory, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said yesterday (March 20).
Spanish Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ‘Infanta Elena’ has just concluded her participation in the international exercise ‘Saharan Express’ intended to develop and strengthen the capabilities of African nations in the control of their own territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. The African
One of the key elements of the EU Naval Force’s counter-piracy operation in the waters of the Horn of Africa is the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA). These long-range, capable aircraft conduct aerial patrols over the sea areas where pirates are known to operate and can provide earl
