Vessels
USS Gerald R. Ford receives second functional advanced elevator
The lead ship of a new class of US Navy aircraft carriers has received its second advanced weapons elevator (AWE), nearly one month after receiving the first one and some 20 months after entering service. USS Gerald R. Ford’s AWE Upper Stage #3 was turned over to the ship February 14, following test
Rolls-Royce to power Malta’s new OPV
Italian shipbuilder Cantiere Navale Vittoria has awarded Rolls-Royce a contract for the supply of a marine propulsion package for the new offshore patrol vessel being built for the Armed Forces of Malta. The 1800-ton, 74.8-meter, twin-screw vessel will get a pair of PROMAS controllable pitch propell
US European forces chief calls for more warships to respond to Russian threat
The US needs more surface vessels and anti-submarine warfare assets in Europe to counter evolving threats in the region.
Australian Navy orders new submarine rescue vehicle
The Royal Australian Navy has contracted the Australian branch of Phoenix International for the delivery of a new air transportable submarine rescue service capability. As announced by the Australian defense minister Christopher Pyne, the service will be based in Western Australia and support both t
Pacific Partnership 2019 kicks off
The annual disaster response preparedness exercise Pacific Partnership began March 4 as US Military Sealift Command (MSC) expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) got underway from Naval Base Guam to start the mission in Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership is the largest annual, mult
Israel’s Elbit to supply combat suites for Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessels
Italian shipbuilder Cantiere Navale Vittoria has awarded Israeli defense company Elbit Systems a contract to supply combat suites and perform systems integration for the three new Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessels. The three boats are built by Cantiere Navale Vittoria under a contract announced in
Royal Navy tanker Tidespring arrives at Cammell Laird for first docking
RFA Tidespring, the first of Royal Navy’s four 39,000 tonne Tide-class tankers, has moored at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead to start its inaugural docking period. This is the ship’s first overhaul since it entered service in November 2017 after arriving from South Korea in April. Its arrival to Birken
French aircraft carrier gets underway for first deployment since 2016
French Navy aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle got underway from its homeport in Toulon on Tuesday, March 5, to start Clemencau 2019 – its first operational deployment since 2016. The carrier got underway after completing carrier strike group and flight trials, following an 18-month mid-life over
HMS Prince of Wales loads first stores ahead of sea trials
The second of two Royal Navy aircraft carriers – HMS Prince of Wales – loaded first stores aboard in another step towards the ship’s maiden voyage. More than 62 tonnes of supplies – bandages, pots, pans, camp beds, pipe clamps, hoses, valves and firefighting equipment – have been moved on to the shi
Design contract for Australian Future Submarine signed
The Australian defense ministry and French shipbuilder Naval Group have reached another step in the Royal Australian Navy’s Future Submarine program with the signing of the design contract on March 5. The design contract was signed less than a month after the Strategic Partnering Agreement was signe
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon seizes sixth drugs cache in six months
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon has seized over 2,000 kg of hashish in her sixth drugs bust in three months. The Portsmouth-based warship seized the hashish just days after seizing 49 kilos of heroin. The suspect vessel was spotted by the warship’s Wildcat helicopter during a night-time so
France contracts Airbus-led group for work on fleet-wide data network
The French defense procurement agency DGA (Direction générale de l’armement) has awarded an Airbus-led group a contract for work on the French Navy’s fleet wide data network. In cooperation with Naval Group and Rohde & Schwarz, Airbus will maintain and adapt the existing IP network for the French na
Japan commissions second Asahi-class destroyer JS Shiranui
Japan’s second Asahi-class destroyer, the JS Shiranui, entered Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) service in a ceremony at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Nagasaki Shipyard on February 27. The lead ship in the class was commissioned a year before, on March 8, 2018. The 5,100-ton general-purpose
HNoMS Helge Ingstad salvage a success as frigate arrives at Haakonsvern naval base
The Royal Norwegian Navy’s sunken frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad arrived at the main navy base aboard submersible barge “Boa barge 33” on Sunday, marking the end of a successful salvage operation. The frigate was transported to the Haakonsvern navy base from the sea floor of Hjeltefjorden fjord where s