Spanish Navy frigate Reina Sofia saved 121 migrants on July 12 and another 120 just the day after. The migrant rubber boats were spotted by the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia air assets, the Luxemburg aircraft SW3 Merlin III and the Spanish VIGMA D-4. According to EUNVAFOR, two pregnant women were am
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, July 12 after finishing its fourth forward-deployed patrol in support of ballistic missile defense of Europe. Donald Cook began its fourth patrol March 14, and participated in sev
French defense and security contractor ECA Group was recently awarded a new export contract for the delivery of three mine counter measure unmanned systems to an undisclosed customer. This contract, around €10 million, includes the supply of three Inspector Mk2 unmanned surface vehicles (USV). These
Royal Navy’s 700X Naval Air Squadron have taken delivery of their first Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) mini unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The navy explained this move with the fact that these systems presented a cheap but able “eye in the sky” capability, meaning they may have utility in the Royal
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia signed a new contract with the Australian Capabilty and Sustainement Group (CASG) to provide platform design services for Australian Navy vessels. This contract will allow Navantia’s Australian division to provide engineering and technical assistance for the Australian a
Royal Navy’s River-class offshore patrol vessel (RCOPV) HMS Tyne has spent 4 days in North Shields (7-11 Jul) supporting the Mouth of the Tyne Festival on her Namesake river. The Portsmouth-based ship completed a maintenance period in her home port and finished engineering trials prior to transiting
The keel laying ceremony of the Logistic Support Ship (LSS) was held today at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Sestri Levante, Genoa). Construction works continue on the first unit of the renewal plan of the Italian Navy’s fleet, which has been commissioned to Fincantieri. The vessel will be
With a flash of fire and a thunderous roar, HMS Daring lit her 10th birthday candle in spectacular style with the test firing of a Sea Viper missile. The Type 45 destroyer has become the first ship of her class to complete a second test firing of the Aster 30 missile, proving her world-beating air [
The Duke of Cambridge as Commodore-in-Chief Submarines presented 14 newly qualified submariners with their Dolphins during his first visit to HMS Artful. All fourteen had to meet the demanding standards of absolute professionalism to be awarded their Dolphins on-board the Royal Navy’s newest attack
The captain and first officer of an ocean going tug boat have been found guilty of drug trafficking following the biggest ever UK seizure of class A drugs. The cocaine, with an estimated potential street value of £512 million once adulterated, was found hidden on board the Tanzanian flagged MV Hamal
Lynx Defender returned home to Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton following a nine-month deployment to the Middle East. During their 263 days away from the UK, 239 Lynx Flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron home base Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, Somerset has been deployed in HMS Defe
Amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) pulled into Augusta Bay, Sicily for a scheduled port visit July 11. The stop offers Whidbey Island the opportunity to resupply, and is the first foreign port visit for the ship’s Sailors and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary
United States president Barack Obama on July 10 paid a visit to Spain and U.S. Naval Station Rota on his return home from the NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland. Obama spoke to more than 2,000 American and Spanish service members and their families during his visit. The president visited USS Ross (DDG 71
HMS Dragon, a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer, is ready for new missions again as she completed a year-long overhaul. A ceremony to officially mark the ship’s return to the front line took place in Portsmouth on Friday 8 July. The destroyer has been out of action for a year undergoing modifications car
