MQ-8C Fire Scout, the US Navy’s new unmanned helicopter, has reached initial operational capability (IOC) after some six years of flight trials. The navy declared IOC on June 28, after the MQ-8C clocked in over 1,500 flight hours with more than 700 sorties. The sea-based, vertical lift unmanned syst
US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Normandy returned to its Norfolk homeport on July 6, less than a day after getting underway for exercises with the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group. The cruiser was forced to break off from the drills due to what navy officials said were maintenance issues
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has carried out the first test of its two Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS), engaging both air and surface targets. The trial took place on July 7, as the ship is in the final stages of preparations for a departure to the US coast where it will wr
Ships and submarines from Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) are taking part in the anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose in the Norwegian Sea and across the Article Circle. The group shifted into the new area of operations from the Baltic Sea where it completed its participation in
Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019, the largest Australian-US bilateral exercise, was held in the Port of Brisbane on July 7, on the USS Ronald Reagan. Australian defense minister Linda Reynolds CSC said the exercise was designed to enhance combat readiness and interoperability between the Australian and
The UK Ministry of Defence has signed an £85 million contract with engineering company Rolls-Royce to maintain the engines of the Royal Navy’s Type-23 frigate fleet. The contract includes a comprehensive support package to Spey gas turbines, including the overhaul of engines, provision of spares, as
On July 3, the French Navy’s nuclear attack submarine Saphir (S602) reached the Cherbourg port, prior to her retiring from the navy’s fleet. After 35 years of service, Saphir will be the first of six Rubis-class submarines to be retired from active duty at the end of this month. Launched in 1981 and
UK’s Royal Marines have tested their ability to take out airborne targets with a new laser-guided missile system on the ranges in south Wales. Air Defence Troop of Plymouth-based 30 Commando IX Group is the first sub unit to use the fresh-out-the-packet Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) system. Th
The US Navy’s Ronald Reagan Strike Group has arrived in Brisbane, Australia, for a regularly scheduled port visit. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) pulled into Brisbane July 5, while the Arleigh Burke Class
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has entered the Black Sea to conduct routine patrols with NATO allies. Starting July 2, 2019, Canadian Halifax-class frigate HMCS Toronto is sailing the Black Sea with Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) to enhance interoperability with allies and build on cooperat
USNS Carson City (T-EFP 7), a military sealift command Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship, departed Rota, Spain, on July 2, as part of the US Navy’s second deployment to the Gulf of Guinea this year. Sailors and embarked personnel will work alongside regional partners on an Africa Par
The Romanian authorities have selected French Naval Group and its Romanian partner Santierul Naval Constanta (SNC) for the program to build four new Gowind multi-mission corvettes. In addition, Naval Group and SNC will modernize the T22 frigates and create a maintenance center and a training center.
Fourteen sailors have been killed in a fire on board a Russian Navy deepsea research submarine. The incident occurred in the Russian territorial waters of the Brents Sea on July 1, according to a statement issued by the Russian government. The fourteen crew members died from smoke inhalation after t
India’s Ministry of Defence has issued four shipbuilding requests for proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of various ships and craft for the country’s navy and coast guard. As informed, the RFPs amount to INR 150 billion (around USD 2.2 billion) and are part of the Indian government’s defence moderni
