Training & Education
Danish frigate gets underway for deployment with French aircraft carrier
Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Niels Juel got underway from Naval Base Korsør en route to the Mediterranean Sea port of Toulon where it will join French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle for almost two months of training and operations. Denmark’s defense ministry expressed its interest in sendin
Royal Navy frigate joins US Navy oiler for South China Sea drills
US Navy fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) and Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose (F236) met up in the South China Sea on February 18 for a series of maritime security and logistics training. The drills involved Royal Marine commandos, Royal Navy sailors and Guadalupe crew members. Dur
US destroyer, NATO ships enter Black Sea after Dardanelles Strait transit
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook and ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) entered the Black Sea on February 19. Donald Cook entered the Black Sea after last visiting the region in January 2019, when it visited Batumi, Georgia and con
Dynamic Guard concludes off Norway
NATO-led exercise Dynamic Guard concluded off the coast on February 15. Ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG 1), commanded by U.S. Rear Adm. Edward Cashman, were joined by other ally units in the region for ten days of evolutions. The exercise is executed concurrently with Norwegian led
NAVDEX: MBDA unveils Mistral missile launcher module SPIMM
French defense contractor MDBA has unveiled a new shipborne module for the launching of Mistral missiles called SPIMM (Self-Protection Integrated Mistral Module). The air-defense module is based on the SIMBAD-RC system and designed to equip ships of all types, particularly those without a combat sys
In a first: Italian Navy uses new M-40 target drones in carrier protection exercise
The Italian Navy recently used the new Leonardo-developed M-40 target drones in an exercise involving the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and Durand de la Penne-class destroyer ITS Francesco Mimbelli. The exercise saw the aircraft carrier and its complement of AV8B+ fighter aircraft training alongside t
USS Porter in Spain for repairs after European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a scheduled training and maintenance availability (TRAV) on February 13. The maintenance is being conducted after the ship completed a patrol in the US 6th Fleet Area of Operations.
SNMG2 frigates conduct force integration training in Eastern Med
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) are currently underway in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, taking part in what the NATO Maritime Command describes as advanced Force Integration Training (FIT). The drills are being conducted as part of the group’s patrols in the region. Composed o
German frigate ‘Augsburg’ returns from final deployment
German Navy F122 frigate FGS Augsburg will return to her Wilhelmshaven homeport on Friday, Februrary 15, concluding her final operational deployment. The frigate is one of only two ships in her class and is scheduled to retire this year after 30 years of service. In addition to concluding her final
France’s Naval Group joins forces with Royal IHC on Dutch submarine replacement project
French defense contractor Naval Group has joined forces with Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC in a bid to secure a contract for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s submarine replacement project. The two companies are combining their experience and expertise in designing and manufacturing complex maritime and de
Germany issues RFI for new radars for Sachsen-class air defense frigates
Germany’s defense procurement agency BAAINBw is seeking to replace the current SMART-L radars aboard the German Navy’s Sachsen-class (F124) air-defense frigates, according to a request for information (RFI) issued on January 28. As stated in the RFI, the goal is to replace the Dutch-built radars cur
Sunken Norwegian frigate nearly ready for salvage as all torpedoes detonated
All torpedoes from the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad have been removed and detonated over a course of two days as navy and civilian crews finalize preparations for the lifting of the ship. The country’s defense ministry did not specify exactly how many Sting Ray torpedoes were det
HMS Montrose visits Darwin on second Asia Pacific port visit
After becoming the first Royal Navy ship to visit Auckland, New Zealand, in 20 years, Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose visited Darwin, Australia. Continuing a trend, the frigate became the first Royal Navy warship in a decade to visit Australia’s northernmost and remotest city. The Plymouth-based warshi
Leonardo to deliver electronic warfare training technology to NATO
NATO’s Joint Electronic Warfare Core Staff (JEWCS) agency has awarded Leonardo a contract worth approximately €180 million to provide new electronic warfare training equipment. According to an announcement from Leonardo, equipment will cover air, land and maritime domains and also includes a capabil