Vessels
US, Thailand kick off exercise CARAT
The US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard joined Royal Thai Navy and Marine Corps to kick off the 25th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). The opening ceremony was held at Sattahip Naval Base on May 29. CARAT is the US Navy’s oldest and longest continually-running regional exer
Attack submarine USS Pittsburgh starts decommissioning process after Arctic transit
The US Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720) arrived at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on May 28 to start her inactivation and decommissioning process. Under the command of Cmdr. Jason Deichler, the submarine departed Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecti
Australian frigate seizes AU$ 1 billion of drugs on Middle East deployment
The crew of Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat seized over AU$1 billion worth of drugs during her nine months of operations in the Middle East. The frigate achieved this by seizing over 12.9 tonnes of hashish, 1.4 tonnes of heroin and a small amount of methyl amphetamines, with a combined w
CAE secures work on design phase of Canadian Surface Combatant program
Montreal-based CAE announced it has received a contract from Lockheed Martin to begin work on the design phase of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) ship program. During the design phase over the next several years, CAE will support combat systems training needs analysis and
USS Nimitz officially wraps up 15-month overhaul
The lead ship of the US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carriers marked the end of its 15-month docking planned incremental availability as it concluded at-sea training on May 28. USS Nimitz (CVN 68) crew finished the maintenance availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, and are now look
Lockheed withdraws its LCS from US Navy’s FFG(X) frigate competition
Lockheed Martin will not be pitching an upgraded version of its Freedom-class littoral combat ship for the US Navy’s next-generation guided-missile frigate FFG(X) competition. This was first reported by USNI News, who further said the company informed the navy about its decision on May 23. Lockheed
France’s FS Charles de Gaulle in Singapore for deployment’s furthest port visit
French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle has arrived in Singapore where the French defense minister will be taking part in the Shangri-La Dialogue from May 31 to June 2. Singapore’ Changi Naval Base is the farthest port call of the aircraft carrier’s deployment as part of operation Clemencau 201
Royal Navy-led task group assembles in the Baltic
A nine-ship task group has gathered off the Danish coast to start operations as part of a UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force. The group will work together in the first act of the two-month-long Operation Baltic Protector, designed to demonstrate the resolve of the UK, its allies and nations in the reg
USS Theodore Roosevelt completes Alaska drill as navy readies for more Arctic ops
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and some ships from Carrier Strike Group Nine (CSG-9) wrapped up their participation Alaska’s largest biannual joint-military training exercise on may 24. US Navy assets were joined by US Air Force, US Army, and Marine Corps service members fo
GeoSpectrum introduces submarine clone AUV
Canada’s GeoSpectrum Technologies (GTI) has unveiled a new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that enables true to life and cost effective training experience of detecting and tracking submarines. Dubbed the Multipurpose Autonomous Sub-Surface Training Target (MASTT), the system imitates submarines
France accelerates joint light helicopter program
France is speeding up its helicopter program that will see one platform replace five legacy helicopters across the three branches of the country’s armed forces. In an announcement on May 27, French defense minister Florence Parly announced that the launch of the Joint Light Helicopter (Hélicoptère I
US Navy announces hospital ship’s mission stops in South America
US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is beginning another deployment to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean mid-June to deliver medical assistance in response to the humanitarian crisis created by the ongoing political and economic instability in Venezuela. During its five-mont
US Coast Guard receives 34th fast response cutter
The US Coast Guard received its 34th fast response cutter (FRC), William Hart, from shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards on May 23. The cutter was handed over in Florida and will be the third of three FRCs stationed in Honolulu. William Hart, the cutter’s namesake, received the Gold Lifesaving Medal for
Taiwan starts construction of new missile corvettes, minelayers
Taiwan has kicked off construction of three Tuo Chiang-class missile corvettes and four next-generation minelayers in a ceremony attended by the country’s president Tsai Ing-wen on May 24. The three catamaran corvettes are being built by Lung Teh Shipbuilding and will displace 680 tons at a length o