Vessels
US Navy completes GARC/TALONS demo for LCS mission package
The US Navy has recently tested a system that couples Greenough Advanced Rescue Craft (GARC) and Towed Airborne Lift of Naval Systems (TALONS) for the littoral combat ship (LCS) mine countermeasure (MCM) mission package. According to an announcement from November 25, the GARC/TALONS prototype is bei
HMS Tamar welcomes first crew ahead of 2020 delivery
Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Tamar has welcomed the first members of her ship’s company. Four Royal Navy personnel joined teams from BAE, DE&S and MCTA for contractor sea trials in the Firth of Clyde. Tamar is the fourth Batch 2 River Class OPV to be built in Scotstoun, Glasgow, and has the
Babcock to develop weapon handling system for Australia’s new submarine
UK defense contractor Babcock has won a contract to design and build the weapons handling system for Australia’s new Attack class submarines. The contract with Naval Group, announced by the Australian Ministry of Defence, will support the operation and sustainment of the future submarines, including
Australian Poseidon concludes first Middle East mission
The Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has completed its first deployment to the Middle East. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said this deployment was a targeted and meaningful element of Australia’s broader contribution to the International
Japan, US Navy conclude major bilateral drill ANNUALEX
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and US Navy assets from Commander, Task Force (CTF) 72, completed their largest bilateral exercise, ANNUALEX, in the Sea of Japan Nov. 21. From CTF-72, the “Red Lancers” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 10 worked alongside the “World Famous Pelicans” of VP-45 dur
USS Abraham Lincoln supports Inherent Resolve from Persian Gulf
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG) began air operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), Nov. 22. Close air support operations and defensive counter air support operations were carried out by Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW 7) as part of broader CENTCOM counter terrorism op
Philippines’ first Jose Rizal frigate starts trials
BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), the first of two multi-mission frigates built by South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries for the Philippine Navy, has started sea trials. Over the next several days, a technical crew from the shipyard will be onboard as the ship sails in waters off Ulsan, Busan and
US Navy’s Advanced Arresting Gear passes “most demanding test to date”
The US Navy’s new-design aircraft recovery system, Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), has completed its most demanding test event to date with 22 aircraft arrestments in just over 26 minutes at the Runway Arrested Landing Site (RALS) in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The two-day series of testing Oct. 23-24 eva
Senegal orders three offshore patrol vessels
The Ministry of Armed Forces of Senegal has awarded French shipbuilder Piriou a contract for the construction of three offshore patrol vessels for the Senegalese Navy. As soon as the contract is in force, which is planned for early 2020, Piriou will launch the program to build these 3 patrol vessels
Littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati arrives at new homeport for first time
US Navy’s Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) arrived at its new homeport in San Diego for the first time on November 20. The navy commissioned Cincinnati, on October 5, during a ceremony in Gulfport, Miss. The ship is the 12th LCS homeported in San Diego under the lead
USS Abraham Lincoln enters Persian Gulf after Strait of Hormuz transit
A task group of ships assembled around US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln entered the Persian Gulf on November 19, following a transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with one-fifth of the world’s energy supply transitin
Steel cut for first Saudi Navy MMSC combat ship
US shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine has started construction of the Royal Saudi Navy’s first Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) ship. The “cut steel” ceremony took place on October 24. Delivered by Lockheed Martin as prime contractor, the 4,000-metric-ton MMSCs were ordered in 2017 under
USS Wasp completes homeport shift from Japan
The US Navy’s Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrived at its new homeport of Naval Station Norfolk on November 18, completing a homeport shift after spending nearly two years forward deployed Japan. The ship had been assigned to Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo and operated in t
Six navies test submarine search and rescue skills off Australia
The six-nation submarine search and rescue exercise Pacific Reach 2019 has concluded off the coast of Western Australia. Held at Fleet Base West and in the Western Australian Exercise Area, the drill involved assets from Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United Sta