Training & Education
Denmark receives final two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Denmark’s defense department has received the final two of overall nine MH-60R Seahawk helicopters delivered by Sikorsky Aircraft under a $686 million contract. The aircraft arrived at the Royal Danish Air Force base Karup on August 1 aboard an American C17 aircraft. MH-60R Seahawks will be flown by
US State Department clears MK 54 torpedo, SM-2 missile sales to Dutch, Danish Navy
Raytheon and BAE Systems would be prime contractors on the proposed sales.
US destroyer USS Porter wraps up European patrol
US Navy destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) returned to its Spain homeport on July 27, completing its fifth forward deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol. Porter departed Naval Station Rota on April 2, to conduct naval operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, interacting with 20 countries in the p
Mine warfare drill Noble Melinda concludes in Israel
The Israeli Navy recently hosted explosive ordnance disposal divers from the navies of the US and France for mine countermeasure exercise Noble Melinda 2018. The exercise focused on enhancing cooperation and regional maritime security by sharing tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) and fosterin
BNS Godetia becomes NATO SNMCMG1 flagship
Belgian Navy command and support ship BNS Godetia assumed the role of NATO Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) flagship on July 22, taking over from Dutch submarine support ship HNLMS Mercuur (A900). Despite having 780,000 nautical miles on the clock, Godetia brings a wealth of capabilit
French Jeanne D’Arc task group returns from five-month Asia-Pacific deployment
Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude and La Fayette-class frigate FS Surcouf wrapped up the French Navy’s annual Jeanne D’Arc mission returning to naval base Toulon on July 19. The two ships got underway in late February and sailed a total of 26,500 nautical miles over a period of 145 days.
Canadian frigate HMCS St. John’s returns from SNMG1 deployment
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS St. John’s returned to her homeport in Halifax on July 23 after spending six months deployed to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). Joining SNMG1 on January 18, 2018, the frigate contributed to NATO operations as part of the Canadian operation Reassurance. Duri
Bulgarian-hosted exercise Breeze 2018 concludes
The Bulgarian-hosted international maritime exercise Breeze 2018 concluded in the Black Sea on July 20. Units from Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey, United States and NATO’s Allied Maritime Command took part in a week of drills. During the sea phase of the exercise,
Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise returns from year-long NATO deployment
Enterprise spent the year as flagship of SNMCMG2
Fire breaks out aboard under-construction Italian Navy support ship Vulcano
A fire broke out late Sunday aboard the logistic support ship Vulcano which is under construction at Fincantieri’s Mugiano shipyard in La Spezia. According to Italian media reports, the fire broke out around 22:30, local time, and originated in the ship’s engine room. The Italian National Firefighte
HMS Montrose hosts open day in Scotland after Baltic Sea stint
After concluding two weeks of exercises with the Finnish and Swedish Navy in the Baltic Sea, Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose visited Stockholm for a few days’ break. The Devonport-based frigate joined Swedish and Finnish vessels for Baltic Cross, the first exercise involving the three navi
German frigate heads home as US Navy breaks off carrier strike group deployment
German Navy frigate FGS Hessen is en route home after spending six months with the US Navy carrier strike group assembled around aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. The F124 air-defense frigate is set to return to its home port in Wilhelmshaven on July 21, as the US Navy decided to return the CSG
GA-ASI to integrate Leonardo’s SAGE EWS into MQ-9B UAV
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) has teamed up with Leonardo to integrate SAGE electronic warfare surveillance system onto its MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicle. SAGE will be offered as an available baseline configuration for MQ-9B customers of Sky Guardian and maritime surveillance Se
Spanish frigate returns home from 3-month NATO deployment
Spanish Navy F100 frigate Álvaro de Bazán (F-101) has returned to the Ferrol Naval Base following a three-month deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1. During her deployment, Álvaro de Bazán sailed more than 16,000 nautical miles and visited seven countries. In mid-April, the frigate set sai