Vessels
General Dynamics NASSCO wins USS Mason modernization job
Norfolk-based shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO has been awarded a USD 96.9 million contract for the execution of the USS Mason (DDG-87) fiscal year 2020 depot modernization period. The contract covers a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile
Raytheon to build two more SPY-6 radars for US Navy
Raytheon Company will build two additional shipsets of SPY-6 radars under a USD 250 million contract with the U.S. Navy, bringing its orderbook to a total of nine radar shipsets to DDG-51 Flight III destroyers. SPY-6 is a family of next generation, integrated air and missile defense radars that scal
Philippine Coast Guard welcomes its newest offshore patrol vessel
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has welcomed its newest offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang. The change of flag ceremony for the 83-meter newbuild was held in Saint Nazaire, France, on December 18, 2019. It follows the OPV-8301’s successful completion of sea trials. The OPV is scheduled to
US Navy reveals names of 1st two Block V Virginia-class subs
The US Navy has unveiled names of its two newest Virginia-class (SSN 774) fast-attack nuclear submarines. As informed, the submarines will be named after the American heroes of the Greatest Generation who perished in the former USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and USS Arizona (BB-39), bringing those names back
CMF: Royal Navy destroyer seizes record haul of crystal meth
HMS Defender (D36), a UK Royal Navy destroyer operating in the Gulf of Oman in direct support of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), has seized 131 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine from a dhow. The operation was carried out in the northern Arabian Sea on December 19, 2019, Combined Maritime Force
GD NASSCO cuts steel of future USNS Harvey Milk
General Dynamics-National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (GD-NASSCO) has launched the construction of the US Navy’s John Lewis-class oiler USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206). “This ship will have significant contributions as part of our Combat Logistics Force, serving as the primary fuel pipeline from resu
The Netherlands to begin construction of new combat support ship
The cabinet of the Dutch government has submitted a D-letter to the parliament to begin the construction of the combat support ship (CSS) Zr.Ms. Den Helder, shipbuilder Damen said. The D-letter, part of the Defense Materiel Process (DMP), is the conclusive letter announcing the procurement decision
China’s 1st domestically built aircraft carrier enters service
China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier has been delivered to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The commissioning ceremony took place at the naval base in Sanya, Hainan, on December 17, 2019, China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC) said. On the occasion, the new
HMS Scott supports search for Chilean military plane
The Royal Navy’s ocean survey vessel HMS Scott (H131) arrived several days ago to the south of Chile to assist in the search for debris from a missing Chilean military plane. The plane, C-130 Hercules, crashed in the Drake Passage while en route to a Chilean military base in Antarctica on December 9
Video: US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier launched at NNS
Nine days after christening the US Navy’s newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding launched John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) into the James River for the first time, on December 16. With the aid of six tugboats, Kennedy was guided down the river about
US Navy’s new littoral combat ship passes acceptance trials
The US Navy’s newest littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS St. Louis, completed acceptance trials in Lake Michigan, Lockheed Martin said. Now that trials are complete, the newbuild will undergo final outfitting and fine-tuning before delivery. LCS 19 is the tenth Freedom-variant LCS designed an
French frigate: 3.5 tons of hashish seized in Gulf of Oman
Courbet (F 712), a second-line multimission stealth frigate of the French Marine Nationale currently operating in the Gulf of Oman in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, seized 3,534kg of hashish on December 13, 2019. The drugs were found after a specially trained team boarded the dhow using o
One dies after Russia’s sole aircraft carrier catches fire
One person died and a dozen people have been injured after Russia’s sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov caught fire while undergoing repairs in Murmansk. The fire broke out in the first power unit of the eight deck in the morning hours of December 12, according to Russian news agency Tass. More
Australian minehunters arrive home after East Asian deployment
Two Royal Australian Navy minehunters have returned home following a successful overseas deployment that saw them travel a record distance, the navy said. HMAS Ships Diamantina and Gascoyne traveled more than thirteen thousand nautical miles in the past four months as they deployed to East Asia for