Vessels
Bomb scare on Royal Navy nuclear submarine yard a hoax
The BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness shipyard was evacuated on April 10 after a bomb was reported to have been found on one of the Royal Navy nuclear submarines under construction at the yard. An estimated 1,700 staff are believed to have been evacuated in the process. “Following an extensive sweep of
Northrop Grumman gets $3.1B to build 24 E-2D Hawkeye early warning aircraft
The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems a multi-year contract for the purchase of 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The $3.1 billion contract is in support of full rate production for fiscal years 2019-2023. This is the second MYP contract awarded to the compa
US Navy censures commanding, junior officers involved in deadly USS Fitzgerald collision
US Navy Secretary (SECNAV) Richard V. Spencer is to issue a secretarial letter of censure to former USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) commanding officer Cmdr. Bryce Benson and former crew member Lt. Natalie Combs, for their role in the deadly collision off Japan in June 2018. The destroyer collided with Filip
German air-defense frigate Hessen deploying to Aegean
German Navy F124 frigate FGS Hessen is scheduled to depart its Wilhelmshaven homeport on April 11 to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2). The air-defense frigate will replace another German vessel currently deployed to the mission in the Aegean Sea. Combat support ship Bonn deployed to
Australia designates eighth P-8A maritime patrol aircraft
The Royal Australian Air Force has received its eighth Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, Australia’s defense minister announced on April 9. The aircraft number eight had been identified as RAAF’s long-term fatigue management aircraft and had been fitted with a raft of diagnostic equipment, acc
Massive search underway after Japanese F-35A goes missing over the Pacific
An international search is underway in the Pacific Ocean for a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A fighter jet, which disappeared from radar at around 7:30pm local time on April 9. The F-35A lost radar contact approximately 85 miles east of Misawa Air Base. Media reports quoting Japanese mili
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower starts flight deck certification
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) got underway from Naval Station Norfolk on April 8 for its flight deck certification and for first flight ops since the summer of 2017. The ship recently completed a planned incremental availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard as part of the m
Finland picks Saab over Lockheed, Atlas for Squadron 2020 combat systems
The Finnish defense ministry has selected Sweden’s Saab as the preferred bidder for the development and delivery of combat systems for the Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2020 vessels. Finland’s defense minister Jussi Niinistö announced on April 8 that Saab’s offer performed best in the comparison of quotat
Poland buying Leonardo’s AW101 helicopters for anti-submarine warfare tasks
The Polish government has signed an EUR 90 million offset agreement with Leonardo MW which will precede a contract for the delivery of AW101 helicopters for the Polish Navy’s anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue operations. While the helicopters will be delivered from the Leonardo MW Yeovil
Royal Navy aviators, jets poised for first overseas deployment in a decade
Royal Navy pilots flying UK F-35B jets in Cyprus will mark the first time in over a decade UK naval aviators are operating overseas. Two months of training in the eastern Mediterranean is lined up for the men and women of the Lightning Force in preparation for their first spell of training aboard HM
US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Europe
US Navy aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and ships from its carrier strike group (CSG) arrived in the US 6th Fleet area of operations on April 8, seven days after getting underway from Norfolk. The strike group, which includes the aircraft carrier, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte
US Navy’s AN/AQS-20C towed minehunting sonar completes developmental testing
The US Navy recently completed developmental testing of the AN/AQS-20C (Q-20C) towed minehunting sonar, bringing the mine countermeasure system a step closer to joining the fleet. The Q-20C has advanced acoustic and electro-optic sensing capabilities that will detect, localize and classify bottom, c
Video shows US Navy hovercraft evacuating US personnel from Libya
US personnel stationed in Tripoli were evacuated from the city in the wake of the advance of Libyan National Army forces, led by General Khalifa Hifter, towards the Libyan capital. LNA forces started their push on April 5. The UN-backed government says that 21 people have already been killed in figh
MTU to deliver diesel generator rectifiers for Australian Attack-class submarines
France’s Naval Group and Germany’s MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH have signed the first major equipment subcontract for the Australian Attack-class submarine program. The contract will see MTU Friedrichshafen design the diesel generator rectifier (DGR) for the submarines to turn mechanized energy into ele