Vessels
F-35B in first hot ordnance reload action in Indo-Pacific
F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp used the GAU-22 cannon against a simulated target and executed the first shipboard hot reload of ordnance in the Indo-Pacific region while underway in the Solomon Sea. The aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor S
Guided missile submarine USS Michigan starts 17-month overhaul
The converted Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) docked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility in July to begin a 17-month extended refit period which will end in 2020. Work during this availability includes battery replacement, structural repa
Russian Navy nuclear test site explosion kills two, injures six
An explosion at a Russian military range in Nyonoksa in the northwestern Arkhangelsk region on August 8 killed two and injured another six servicemembers, defense officials have confirmed. The Arctic missile test site is used by the Russian Navy to test intercontinental ballistic missiles. Following
Rheinmetall, MBDA teaming up to develop, test lasers aboard German K130 corvettes
German defense contractor Rheinmetall has joined forces with missile maker MBDA to develop, integrate and test a laser demonstrator for the German Navy’s K130 corvette. Laser effector systems are currently being developed for shipboard and naval use by the navies of the US and the UK, for example, a
US Navy destroyer Porter enters Black Sea
US Navy’s Spain-based Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) is entering the Black Sea for exercises and engagements with regional allies. The US Navy said the Aegis destroyer started its north-bound transit to the Black Sea on August 8. Porter’s arrival in the Black Sea wi
US clears sale of MH-60R helicopters to South Korea
The US state department has approved the sale of twelve MH-60R multi-mission helicopters to the Republic of Korea. The country earlier seemed poised to acquire 12 Leonardo AW159 Wildcat anti-submarine helicopters but South Korea’s defense procurement agency (DAPA) announced earlier this year it woul
New Royal Navy OPV monitors Russian counterpart in English Channel
The lead ship of a new class of Royal Navy patrol ships is escorting one of the Russian Navy’s recently-commissioned Project 22160 patrol ships as it transits the English Channel. The second-batch River-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) HMS Forth had just returned to UK waters from her first foreig
Egyptian, French Navies train in the Med
French and Egyptian Navy ships rendezvoused in the Mediterranean Sea for a series of exercises aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two sides. French Cassard-class anti-air frigate Jean Bart and Egyptian frigate Damietta conducted drills in Egyptian Navy’s Northern Mediterranean Fleet area
Mexico launches final Oaxaca-class OPV
The Mexican Navy Yard ASTIMAR 1 in Tampico has launched the final of eight Oaxaca-class patrol ships to be built for the Armada de México. Launched on July 20, the vessel was named Tabasco, with hull number P-168. The Mexican Navy noted that in comparison with its predecessors, Tabasco features impr
JMSDF, US amphibious ships team up for drill off Australia
US Navy’s Japan-based amphibious ships met up with their Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) counterparts for training off Australia. US Navy transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) trained with Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH 18
US aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan arrives in Philippines
The US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived in Manila, the Philippines, for a port call on August 7. The carrier arrived together with ships from its carrier strike group, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS Antietam (CG 54). T
Raytheon delivers first next generation jammer for US Navy Growlers
US defense contractor Raytheon has delivered the first next generation jammer mid-band engineering and manufacturing development pod to the US Navy to begin ground and aircraft integration testing. Raytheon will deliver 15 EMD pods for mission systems testing and qualification as well as 14 aeromech
Royal Navy joining Persian Gulf maritime mission with US Navy
The UK has confirmed its navy ships would join US assets on a new international maritime security mission in the Persian Gulf. The mission will see the Royal Navy working alongside the US Navy to assure the security of merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The push to organize an international m
Australian flagship HMAS Canberra returns from six-month Asia deployment
Royal Australian Navy landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra returned home last week, completing a six-month deployment to Asia. The 230-meter LHD sailed almost 22,000 nautical miles during the deployment, visiting Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia as part of the