Training & Education
F-35B ready USS Wasp arrives at new homeport in Sasebo, Japan
US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrived in Sasebo, Japan, on January 14, to become the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in 7th Fleet. USS Wasp, which has undergone significant upgrades to be able to land and launch the US Marine Corp’s F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, completed
Royal Navy minehunter ‘Cattistock’ deploys to Baltic with NATO SNMCMG1
Royal Navy Hunt-class minehunter HMS Cattistock got underway from naval base Portsmouth on Thursday to join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1). Cattistock will be spending the next three months in the Baltic Sea contributing to NATO mine countermeasure operations. “The ship’s c
OCEAN2020: Leonardo chosen to lead major European autonomous systems project
Italian defense company Leonardo was selected to lead the first European Defence Fund’s initiative project which will see the integration of unmanned platforms in surveillance and interdiction missions. OCEAN2020, as the project is called, is issued by the European Union under the ‘Preparatory Actio
Newest US Navy LPD ‘Portland’ to serve as laser weapon host ship
The newest US Navy amphibious transport dock ship Portland (LPD-27) will serve as a platform for the technology demonstration of a laser weapon developed by the Office of Naval Research. This was announced by LPD-17 and LHA program manager Capt. Brian Metcalf at the Surface Navy Association’s annual
Minor fire breaks out aboard Indian Navy frigate INS Shivalik
A fire broke out aboard Indian Navy frigate INS Shivalik while it was docked at naval base Visakhaptnam, Indian media reported on Thursday. No one was injured in the incident and the damage caused is considered to be minor, according to the reports. The fire broke out in the engine store room and wa
Royal Marine engineers test amphibious support skills
A squadron of Royal Marines engineers took to the shores of western Scotland recently for an exercise that tested their ability to provide support to an amphibious unit in the field. On paper, the boat group from Plymouth’s 539 Assault Squadron should be able to deploy two hovercraft, eight ORC raid
German air-defense frigate ‘Hessen’ deploying to US for drills with US carrier strike group
German Navy’s F124 air-defense frigate FGS Hessen will be joining a US Navy aircraft carrier strike group off the US east coast for joint drills. Hessen is scheduled to depart her homeport of Wilhelmshaven on January 15 and will be joined by a Norwegian frigate which will also be integrating into a
Royal Navy frigate HMS Sutherland starts Asia Pacific deployment
Royal Navy frigate HMS Sutherland and her crew started a somewhat out-of-the-ordinary deployment on January 9, getting underway from their homeport at HM Naval Base Devonport. What is special about the Type 23 frigate’s deployment is that Sutherland will be the first Royal Navy vessel to operate in
iXblue to provide navigation systems for new French FTI frigates
French shipbuilder Naval Group has selected navigation and positioning systems company iXblue to deliver its Marins systems for the French Navy’s new FTI (Fregate de Taille Intermediaire) medium-size frigates. As a prime contractor on the FTI project, Naval Group signed a contract with iXblue for th
US destroyer USS Ross starts its sixth forward-deployed patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) got underway from Naval Station Rota, Spain, on January 8, to start its sixth forward-deployed patrol in Africa and Europe. Ross completed its previous four-month patrol in July 2017. The 2017 patrol saw the destroyer take part
US destroyer USS Carney enters Ukrainian port of Odessa
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney (DDG64) arrived at the Ukrainian Port of Odessa on December 8, three days after entering the Black Sea. This is the destroyer’s second Odessa visit within a year. In July last year, Carney pulled into Odessa before taking part in the international e
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan heads for NATO SNMG2 deployment
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan got underway from naval base Portsmouth on December 8 to start her deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and the Royal Navy’s operation Kipion tasking. HMS Duncan is the first Royal Navy destroyer to deploy in 2018. The remaining five destro
Patria contracts Saab for Finnish Navy Squadron 2000 mid-life upgrade program
Finland’s Patria has contracted Swedish defense contractor Saab for work on the Finnish Navy Squadron 2000 mid-life upgrade program. The contract awarded to Saab is worth SEK 960 million (approx. US$117.7 million) with deliveries set to start in 2018. According to Patria, the total value of the upgr
Indian Navy Mig-29K crashes at Goa airport, pilot ejects
An Indian Navy Mig-29K aircraft went off runway during a take off at Goa airport on January 3, an Indian Navy spokesperson confirmed. The aircraft’s trainee pilot managed to eject before the aircraft crashed and caught fire. The incident caused delays in civilian arrivals and departures at the Goa a