Australia’s Anzac Class frigates will be further protected from supersonic cruise missile attacks thanks to new radar technology acquired and fitted onto the ships by the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). The CEAFAR Radar and CEAMOUNT Missile Control Illuminator are part of a multi-phased array r
A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion passing low overhead offered a new wave of hope for 49 Solomon Islanders stranded in life rafts with no sight of land last Saturday afternoon. The Orion and its crew had been tasked to support a search and rescue mission in the area on Friday after the
The Navy has successfully conducted trials of flying an SH-2G Seasprite helicopter from the deck of one of its Offshore Patrol Vessels, HMNZS OTAGO, marking a significant milestone in achieving the ship’s full operational potential. The trials have been conducted over the past month during which the
The Anzac Class Guided Missile Frigate, HMAS Ballarat, continues its North East Asian deployment after completing a successful exercise with the Chinese Navy it will conduct a port visit and exercise with the Republic of Korea. After a short port visit to the city of Busan, HMAS Ballarat will partic
The Royal Australian Navy has completed a maritime exercise with the Chinese Navy as part of a highly successful visit to the People’s Republic of China. Australia is committed to further developing strong and positive defence relations with China through dialogue and practical activities. The Passa
The amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and embarked Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Hong Kong for a port visit, May 23. This the second port visit for the crew since departing the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, May 8. New Orleans s
Australian Defence Force Command and Medical Specialist personnel have left Australia to participate in Pacific Partnership 2012, an exercise to improve responses to natural and humanitarian emergencies in the region. The exercise is an annual US-sponsored humanitarian assistance exercise also aims
Fostering a better understanding of how they operate in the maritime environment was the aim of the Passage Exercise (PASSEX) conducted between HMAS Ballarat (Commander Jonathan Earley) and the People’s Revolutionary Army – Navy frigate Anqing (LCDR Hu Jinchun) at the mouth of the Yangtze River on 2
HMAS Perth, has reaffirmed close Australian Defence ties to Canada with a visit to the Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria, Canada. The visit by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac Class frigate coincided with Canada’s Victoria Day. A contingent of HMAS Perth sailors marched in a place of h
‘Welcome to China’, that was the signalled greeting afforded to HMAS Ballarat (Commander Jonathan Earley) by warships of the PLA-N, as Ballarat carefully weaved her way through the busy nine hour pilotage that encompassed transits of the Yangtz and Huangpu Rivers into Shanghai on 17 May 12. Escorted
Dundee Beach, south of Darwin was the venue on Friday for the culmination of two weeks of training for seven Royal Australian Navy ships participating in Exercise TRITON THUNDER 01-12. HMA Ships Ararat, Larrakia, Diamantina, Gascoyne, Balikpapan, Shepparton, Benalla, AS350BA Squirrel Helicopters fro
On May 17, the Anzac Class Guided Missile Frigate, HMAS Ballarat, began a five-day ship visit to Shanghai, China. Ballarat will be docked at the northern end of Shanghai’s historic Bund from 17-21 May. The visit will involve cultural exchanges and visits to significant icons in Shanghai. The exercis
HMAS Collins has successfully wrapped up Exercise Bersama Shield 2012 after a series of challenging, high intensity evolutions in the South China Sea. The exercise consisted of a shore phase, a structured integrated period at sea and finally a freeplay or open conflict phase. HMAS Collins commanding
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to its homeport of Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka May 16, after completing sea trials. Sea trials is the testing phase of a U.S. Navy warship designed to measure a vessel’s performance and general seaworthiness. During th