Vessels
USNS Puerto Rico delivered to US Navy
The US Navy has taken delivery of its 11th expeditionary fast transport (EPF) vessel, the future USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF 11), from shipbuilder Austal USA. The delivery ceremony was held aboard the ship at Austal’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, on December 10, 2019. EPF 11 will be owned and operated b
Lockheed Martin to equip Spanish Navy’s future frigates with S-band radar
US defense contractor Lockheed Martin recently signed an agreement with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to equip five new F-110 multimission frigates and their land-based test site with Lockheed Martin’s first naval installation of its solid state S-band radar. The five new frigates will be built by Sp
Pacific Reach tests JFD’s submarine rescue system
JFD has successfully demonstrated its fully-integrated submarine rescue system during exercises off the coast of Western Australia. In a range of weather conditions, JFD’s system was used in the triennial Pacific Reach, a multi-lateral series of exercises. In 2019, the Pacific Reach was hosted by Au
Hanjin Heavy to build 4 high-speed landing craft for Korean Navy
South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has signed a contract with local shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) for the construction of four high-speed hovercraft landing ships (LSF-II) for the Republic of Korea Navy. The contract is valued at KRW 310 bill
US Navy christens littoral combat ship Mobile
The US Navy has christened its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Mobile (LCS 26). The christening ceremony took place at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, on December 7, 2019. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, representing Alabama’s first district, delivered the
HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to homeport
The Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group returned home on December 4 after three months in the USA. Following HMS Dragon’s return to Portsmouth earlier this week, the aircraft carrier made her way into Portsmouth – where she was greeted by sister ship HMS Prince of Wales. At the sam
US Navy to christen new Ford-class carrier John F. Kennedy
The US Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), will be christened at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS), Virginia, on December 7. John F. Kennedy, which was launched in late October 2019, is the second aircraft carrier of the Gerald R.
Fairbanks Morse to power US Navy’s sixth ESB ship
Marine propulsion specialist Fairbanks Morse has been awarded a contract to build and deliver the four main propulsion diesel engines (MPDE) for the sixth ship in the US Navy’s Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD)/Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) program. The ESB 6 will be constructed by General Dynamics N
Sailor medevaced from US destroyer off Washington
A Sailor from a US Navy destroyer was medevaced by a Coast Guard aircrew off the coast of Washington on December 3, 2019. As informed, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received an initial request for a medevac from crew members aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ralph Johnso
General Dynamics gets $22.2 bn contract for US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines
The US Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a contract valued at $22.2 billion for the construction of nine new Virginia-class submarines. The contract also includes the option of a tenth ship to be built within the contract time frame, bringing the total potential contract value to appro
HMS Queen Elizabeth in anti-submarine warfare drill with Norwegian frigate
The Royal Navy’s newest aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently conducting an anti-submarine exercise with a Norwegian frigate in the Western Atlantic. The NATO/anti-submarine warfare training with the Norwegian Navy’s newest frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, Type 23-class frigate HMS Northumb
New Zealand starts construction of Poseidon base
New Zealand’s defense minister marked the official start of construction works on a new base for the country’s future P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft with a sod-turning ceremony on November 29. The home for the new fleet of submarine-hunting aircraft is being built at RNZAF Base Ohakea. “The
Newest littoral combat ship Indianapolis arrives at its homeport
The US Navy’s newest littoral combat ship, the Freedom-variant USS Indianapolis (LCS 17), arrived at its homeport, Mayport, Florida Nov. 26. after completing its maiden voyage from the shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. Prior to arriving in Mayport, LCS 17 officially joined the fleet Oct. 26 when it
US Navy Boxer amphibious group returns home
The sailors and marines of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) returned to their homeport of San Diego, Nov. 27, following a successful seven-month deployment to the 7th and 5th Fleet operating areas. More than 4,500 Sailors and Marines of the Boxer ARG and embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit