On 4 May, the European Union Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI commenced its activities in the Mediterranean Sea with the French naval vessel Jean Bart and a maritime patrol aircraft contributed by Luxembourg. The military operation was planned in a very short timeframe and launched by the European Union
The Royal Australian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel (OPV) program has reached another milestone with the two halves of the first Arafura class OPV coming together to form a complete hull. The milestone comes a year after the keel for the lead ship in the class was laid in Adelaide. Built by Luerssen
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $187.46 million advance procurement contract from the US Navy to provide long-lead-time material and advance procurement activities for future amphibious assault ship LHA 9. “This contract allows us to maintain the health of
Shipbuilder Austal has been awarded an A$324 million contract to design and construct six evolved Cape-class patrol boats (CCPBs) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It is the largest contract for an Australian vessel construction program ever awarded to Austal in the company’s 30-year history. The
Four US Navy ships and a Royal Navy frigate recently entered the Barents Sea, working together to conduct maritime security operations in the challenging environmental conditions above the Arctic Circle. Three Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyers USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Ro
The US Department of Defense (DOD) awarded Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM), the US subsidiary of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, a nearly $800 million contract for the concept design and construction of the first-in-class guided-missile frigate of the FFG(X) program for the US Navy. The contract
The French Navy’s new nuclear-powered attack submarine Suffren has started first sea trials. Suffren is the first of six new Barracuda generation of navy boats built by Naval Group to replace the ageing Rubis-class. The sea trials started on April 28 after the newbuilding left Cherbourg Naval Base,
Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group has cut the first steel for the US Coast Guard’s (USCG) second offshore patrol cutter (OPC). The ship, to be named Chase (WMSM-916), is scheduled for delivery in 2023. The cutting of steel started the fabrication and assembly of the cutter’s hull, and ESG is
The US Navy’s coronavirus-hit guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) arrived at Naval Base San Diego on April 28. In San Diego, medical care will be provided for Kidd’s sailors and the ship will be cleaned and disinfected. As of Tuesday, 63% of USS Kidd crewmembers to include all who were sympt
The US Navy’s USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group (CSG) and the French Navy conducted a bilateral, interoperability exercise in the North Arabian Sea from April 25 to 26. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE), guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and FS For
USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), the lead ship of the US Navy’s next-generation, multi-mission surface combatants, was delivered to the navy on April 24. Following this delivery, the ship will transition from combat systems activation to the next phase of developmental and integrated at-sea testing. This eve
On April 24, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) to the US Navy. Prior to delivery, the ship successfully conducted a series of at-sea and pier-side trials to demonstrate its material and o
Forty-seven sailors onboard the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) have been infected with COVID-19, the navy confirmed on April 27. The number of coronavirus cases surged from 18 on Friday to 47 on Monday. Two sailors assigned to the Kidd who tested positive f
France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have decided to join efforts in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis currently affecting their overseas territories. In order to help relieve local populations, they decided to bring a coordinated military answer in support of civilian crisis management too
