Training & Education
UK, France conclude Joint Expeditionary Force drill Griffin Strike
Armed forces personnel from the UK and France have concluded two weeks of training as part of the Griffin Strike exercise, a major rehearsal for the development of the UK-French Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. This year, Griffin Strike was combined with exercise Joint Warrior, and included repre
US leads International Maritime Exercise in Persian Gulf
The US Navy-led International Maritime Exercise 2019 (IMX 19) that will involve participants from over 50 nations kicked off in the Persian Gulf on October 21. The exercise will span from the Suez Canal south to the Bab-al-Mandeb, through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Northern Arabian Gulf. It w
Philippines, Japan, US conclude amphibious drill Kamandag
The US, Philippines and Japan concluded the bilateral military exercise Kamandag 3 in a ceremony in Manila, Philippines, on October 18. The Philippine-led, bilateral military exercise, which was designed to increase readiness through capabilities development, improve combined responsiveness, and enh
Dynamic Mariner Concludes off Spain
The 11-day NATO exercise Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-19 concluded on October 18 off the coast of Spain. The exercise brought together 32 surface ships, 2 submarines and 18 air assets, including Maritime Patrol Aircrafts and helicopters. Maneuvers ranged from mine countermeasures, anti-submarine, surface
New Zealand’s first upgraded frigate shows off new mast
HMZS Te Kaha arrived in Canada for modernization in March 2018.
Finnish, German Navy hone EOD skills in Gulf of Finland
The navies of Finland and Germany kicked off a mine countermeasure exercise in the Gulf of Finland on October 16. The two-day drill is designed to enhance the interoperability between the two countries’ explosive ordnance disposal divers. Participating units from Finland include the minehunter MHC V
US Navy names Arleigh Burke destroyer after Korean War hero
Future USS John E. Kilmer will be the 84th ship in its class.
USS Porter visits Ukraine on Black Sea tour
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, for a port visit as part of its deployment to the Black Sea. The ship arrived at the port on October 13 with five Ukrainian officers on board observing sea-and-anchor operations. These operations e
Poland launches second Kormoran II-class minehunter
The Polish Navy’s second Kormoran II-class minehunter was launched in a ceremony at Remontowa Shipbuilding on October 10. Albatros (hull number 602) was launched a little over a year after a steel-cutting ceremony marked the start of the ship’s construction in September 2018. In addition to the Alba
Japan joins US, Philippines for maritime exercise Sama Sama
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has joined the US and Philippine Navy for Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama Sama, an exercise that started with an opening ceremony in Puerto Princesa on October 14. This is the third iteration of MTA Sama Sama and the first time JMSDF will participa
International exercise Joint Warrior begins off Scotland
Navy ships taking part in the Royal Navy-led exercise Joint Warrior got underway from Faslane, Scotland, this week to start two weeks of drills in Scottish exercise areas. A dozen NATO nations are taking part with 16 warships, three submarines and nearly 60 aircraft, set to attend. Overlapping with
Spain hosts 18 nations for exercise Dynamic Mariner
The multi-national exercise Dynamic Mariner/ Flotex-19 (DYMR/FL19) that gathered 18 NATO allies kicked of off the coast of Spain on October 7. Maneuvers will range from mine countermeasures, through anti-submarine, surface and anti-air warfare, and air operations to amphibious and force protection o
Russian task group escorted through English Channel
A Russian Navy task group composed of frigate Yaroslav Mudryy, tanker Yelnya and the seagoing tug Viktor Konetsky has transited the English Channel under the watchful eye of Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey. The Neustrashimyy-class frigate and her escorts made the transit en route to the
USS Ronald Reagan, USS Boxer team up in South China Sea
US Navy ships from the Ronald Reagan carrier strike group and the Boxer amphibious ready group met in the South China Sea to carry out security and stability operations in the Indo-Pacific. Ships and aircraft from the Navy and Marine Corps, conducted a multitude of joint, warfighting exercises while