Vessels
France’s Naval Group officially starting work on Argentine Navy OPV contract
French shipbuilder Naval Group on Thursday announced it is starting work on the Argentine Navy offshore patrol vessels (OPV), thereby officially confirming the four-ship contract with the South American country. As outlined by the shipbuilder, the first patrol boat to be delivered will be the L’Adro
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
Chile likely buyer of remaining two Dutch M-frigates
The Chilean Navy will likely acquire the remaining two Dutch Karel Dorman-class (M-frigates) frigates as they retire from the Royal Netherlands Navy’s service, following the signing of a letter of intent (LoI) between the two sides. The LoI was signed during the visit of Dutch defense procurement or
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
Royal Navy eyeing development of new “littoral strike ships”
The Royal Navy could possibly get a fleet of two new “Littoral Strike Ships” for operations close to the shore, UK defense secretary Gavin Williamson announced during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies on February 11. Research into the feasibility of the
Refurbished Italian Harrier returns home aboard USS Kearsarge
An Italian AV-8B Harrier hitched a ride home aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) after six months of maintenance in the US. The Italian aircraft, along with its flight crew, returned to Grottaglie Naval Base, Italy, on January 3, after the six months of scheduled maintena
Chilean icebreaker Antartica 1 getting Finnish electromagnetic kits
Chilean ivebreaker Antarctica 1 will feature electromagnetic compatibility and interference equipment from Finland’s Surma, under a contract awarded by prime contractor ASMAR. Surma will assist ASMAR throughout the multiyear project managing the EMC working group of the Antartica 1 project. The Finn
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
Fourth Viana do Castelo-class OPV enters Portuguese Navy service
The Portuguese Navy commissioned its fourth Viana do Castelo-class Offshore Patrol Vessel – the NRP Setúbal – in a February 6 baptism ceremony at the West Seas shipyards, in Viana do Castelo. The ceremony was attended by the Portuguese defense minister João Gomes Cravinho and the Chief of Staff of t
Royal Navy receives C-Enduro autonomous vessel
The Royal Navy received the long-endurance autonomous vessel known as the C-Enduro, vessel manufacturer L2 ASV announced on February 5. The C-Enduro will be used for military data gathering trials by the mine countermeasures and hydrographic capability (MHC) programme as the navy seeks to exploit au
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
Norway’s new support ship HNoMS Maud starts journey home
The Royal Norwegian Navy’s new logistics and support vessel HNoMS Maud is en route home after getting underway from Busan, South Korea, where it was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The ship started her journey home on Sunday, after being accepted by the navy from DSME in No