The US Navy has named a new littoral combat ship in honor of Cleveland, Ohio, and the citizens of Cleveland for their service and longstanding support of the US Navy and Marine Corps team. The name was announced by Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer in a ceremony aboard the USS Cod submarine m
The newly established Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) embarked a US Navy ship for the first time off the Philippine coast on October 2. The ARDB conducted amphibious operations with amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during Kaagapay N
The Royal Canadian Navy has given the go-ahead for the Underwater Warfare Suite Upgrade (UWSU) of its Halifax-class frigates with a contract award to General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada. The upgrade will modernize the underwater warfare sensor suite that is currently installed on the frigates, e
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has completed the sale of HII’s Avondale facility to Avondale Marine, a joint venture between terminal operator T.P. Host and real estate firm Hilco Redevelopment Partners. As part of cost-saving measures, HII announced in 2010 the decision to close the facility,
The US Office of Naval Research has contracted UK-based defense technology company QinetiQ to develop two separate systems for use in armored reconnaissance vehicles. Under the contract, Qinetiq will be responsible for developing its proprietary hub drive unit electric propulsion system and long tra
US Coast Guard’s national security cutter USCGC Strato returned home after a deployment in which operations spanned from the Arctic Ocean to the coasts of South America. Stratton’s crew began their deployment in the Arctic Ocean in support of Coast Guard District Seventeen and operation Arctic Shiel
The US Navy will christen the newest guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), at a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on October 6. Launched in July this year, the future Frank E. Petersen Jr. will be the 71st Arleigh Burke
The first of ten future Royal Saudi Arabian Navy MH60-R Seahawk helicopters landed at Naval Station Mayport on October 2. Saudi pilots and crew are expected to spend the next three years training with HSM 40, a helicopter squadron based out of Naval Station Mayport. “This is an exciting day!” said L
The annual IBSAMAR maritime exercise organized between the navies of Brazil, India and South Africa kicked off at Simons Town, South Africa, on October 1. The two-week exercise changes hosts every year, with the previous edition taking place in India. The exercise is designed to build interoperabili
F-35 Lightning jets achieved another milestone during flight trials on board the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth by completing first night-time landings. Britain’s biggest warship is currently conducting flight testing off the east coast of the United States and part of that is pract
US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is ready to start Enduring Promise, an 11-week medical assistance mission conducted with host-nation health and government partners in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Honduras. Comfort is scheduled to depart Norfolk on October 11, en route to South America a
Ships and personnel from the US, Spain, Germany and France concluded the four-day Smart Defense Exercise (SMARTEX) on September 28. SMARTEX is a NATO initiative designed to enhance interoperability and training between participating countries. During the exercise, Spanish sailors embarked aboard the
After completing integrated Defense of the Amphibious Task Force (DATF) drills in the South China Sea, US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) entered Singapore’s Changi Naval Base together with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) for a scheduled port visit on October 2. Capt. Col
Canadian shipbuilder Seaspan announced it has awarded Hawboldt Industries two contracts totaling CAD$8 million for work on Canada’s new Joint Support Ships (JSS). This is one of several contracts expected to be announced for Canadian suppliers supporting Seaspan’s work on naval supply ships under th
