Vessels
UK opens High-G training site for fighter jets
A new High-G training and test facility used by fast jet pilots in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force to replicate flight in aircraft was opened at RAF Cranwell on February 4. Developed under a £44m project, the facility will allow pilots to experience up to 9G – nine times the normal gravitational
HMS Montrose visits Darwin on second Asia Pacific port visit
After becoming the first Royal Navy ship to visit Auckland, New Zealand, in 20 years, Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose visited Darwin, Australia. Continuing a trend, the frigate became the first Royal Navy warship in a decade to visit Australia’s northernmost and remotest city. The Plymouth-based warshi
US, Spanish, Italian warships start drills with French aircraft carrier off Toulon
Ships form the navies of Spain, Italy, and the US got underway from the French naval base in Toulon on February 3 to join the French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle and ships form its carrier strike group on their final pre-deployment exercise. The carrier is on the final leg of deployment pre
Babcock nets Royal Navy ship data handling contract
The UK defense ministry has awarded defense contractor Babcock International a configuration management contract for the Royal Navy (RN) and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) surface ship fleet. Supported by Allan Webb Ltd, who will provide specialist data interrogation skills, Babcock will assume res
Atlas pitches MCM toolbox for new Belgian, Dutch minehunters
German-based technology company Atlas is offering a set of mine countermeasures (MCM) systems for a new class of minehunters that are to be built for the Belgian and Dutch Navy. The current minehunters operated by Belgium and the Netherlands were integrated by Atlas Elektronik and are equipped with
NATO’s SNMG1 readies for exercise Dynamic Guard
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group ONE (SNMG1) are on a scheduled port visit in Bergen where thy are finalizing planning for Allied Maritime Command led exercise Dynamic Guard 19-1. Hosted by Norway, Dynamic Guard is a multi-national exercise, merged with Norwegian led exercise TG 19-1 and ai
Babcock completes upgrades of Estonian Navy flagship EML Admiral Cowan
Estonian Navy minehunter EML Admiral Cowan received a series of upgrades during a dry dock period in Fife, Scotland, Babcock International – the company in charge of the upgrades announced. Admiral Cowan is the Estonian Navy flagship and the first of three Estonian Navy minehunter vessels scheduled
CP Technologies contracted for work on Greek P3B Orion upgrades
CP Technologies (formerly known as Chassis Plans) announced it has been awarded a contract to modernize and update the mission control computers in the P3B Orion aircraft used by the Hellenic Navy and Air Force. The contract was awarded to CP Technologies last year and was prototyped in 12 weeks. CP
France officially orders four FLOTLOG replenishment ships under €1.7 b contract
The French defense procurement agency “Direction Générale de l’Armement” (DGA) on January 30 signed a €1.7 billion contract for the procurement of four new Logistic Support Ships (LSS) for the French Navy as part of the country’s FLOTLOG (Flotte logistique) program. The contract signing comes three
Russia commissions third Aleksandrit-class minesweeper ‘Ivan Antonov’
The Russian Navy commissioned its third Aleksandrit-class minesweeper Ivan Antonov in a ceremony on January 26. The flag raising ceremony for Ivan Antonov was held in Baltiysk and the ship will be homeported in Sevastopol as part of the Russian Navy’s Baltic Sea fleet. The Sredne-Nevsky shipbuilding
US destroyer exits Black Sea after drills in Georgia
US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) exited the Black Sea after nine days of operations in the region. The destroyer transited the Bosphorus Strait en route to the Mediterranean Sea on January 28 after a port visit to Batumi, Georgia, and training with the country’s coast guard
Boeing gets $2,4b to build Poseidon MPAs for US, UK, Norway
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Boeing a $2.45 billion contract modification to start construction on a number of Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft for the US Navy, the UK and Norway. Under the latest contract modification, Boeing is to deliver 10 P-8As to the US Navy, four for the
Fincatieri launches Spartaco Schergat, Italy’s ninth FREMM frigate
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri launched the navy’s ninth FREMM frigate – the future ITS Spartaco Schergat – at its Riva Trigoso, Genoa, shipyard on January 26. Godmother of the ceremony was Mrs. Anna Rosa Aonzo Grillo, daughter of the Golden Medal for Military Value, Giuseppe Aonzo. After the launc
USS Porter visits Latvia on Baltic Sea tour
US Navy destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Riga, Latvia, on January 22 for a scheduled port visit. Porter is one of two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers operating in the Baltic currently, under the close watch of Russian Navy corvettes. “We would like to thank our Latvian hosts fo