Vessels
France pinpoints three La Fayette frigates for mid-life upgrades
The French defense ministry has pinpointed three Marine Nationale La Fayette-class frigates (FLF) that will be receiving mid-life upgrades. From 2021, the lead ship FS La Fayette, along with third and fourth ships in the class, FS Courbet and FS Aconit, will benefit from an upgraded ships’ platform
Australia deploying assets to Japan in support of North Korea sanctions
A frigate was expected to participate in the operation later this year.
Virginia-class submarine Delaware completes builder’s trials
The US Navy’s eighteenth Virginia-class submarine, Delaware (SSN 791), has returned to Newport News after completing the initial set of sea trials. The submarine, in the final stages of construction, spent three days at sea proving all of its systems, components and compartments. Delaware submerged
Australian Navy’s second Supply-class tanker launched in Spain
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has launched the second of two Royal Australian Navy auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ships at its shipyard in Ferrol, Spain. Future support tanker HMAS Stalwart was launched on August 31. The delivery into service of the Supply-class replenishment vessels from next y
Thailand hosts first US-ASEAN maritime exercise
This is the US Navy’s first exercise of its kind with ASEAN.
HMS Queen Elizabeth departs for final phase of trials with UK F-35B fighter jets
The trials, known as Westlant, will take place off the US East Coast.
Australian sub home after five months of drills
Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Farncomb returned home after completing a deployment that saw her take part in several international maneuvers in the past five months. Farncomb returned to Fleet Base West at Rockingham, Western Australia last week after participating in exercises Bersama Shield
40-ship maneuver Northern Coasts starting in Denmark
The two-week exercise will take place in Denmark and Germany.
NATO group wraps up deployment’s first drills in US waters
Maritime Express will also see cooperation between military vessels and the commercial shipping community.
US Marines test JLTVs aboard USS Kearsarge
Three different configurations of the Humvee successor were tested.
US clears sale of MK 54 torpedoes for South Korean P-8As
The US state department has approved a possible sale of 31 MK 54 lightweight torpedoes to the Republic of Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy is acquiring the torpedoes for its new Poseidon P-8A submarine hunter aircraft. The proposed sale, along with associated equipment and services, has an estimate
Royal Navy frigate deploys for major anti-submarine warfare drill off Canada
After the drill, the frigate will join HMS Queen Elizabeth on her F-35B trials.
Frequentis lands US Navy refueling drone mission control system contract
The MD-5 will be used to control the navy’s first aerial refueling drone.
Denmark buying low frequency sonars, sonobuoys for its MH-60R helicopters
The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of nine AN/AQS-22 airborne low frequency sonar (ALFS) systems and six hundred AN/SSQ-36/53/62 sonobuoys for its fleet of MH-60R helicopters. The possible sale has an estimated value of $200 million, according to the US Defense Sec