Vessels
BAE Systems signs Royal Navy aircraft carrier mission systems support contract
UK defense contractor BAE Systems announced it would be providing essential mission system support to the Royal Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers as part of an updated integration services agreement. Through an addition to the Naval Combat Systems Integration Support Services (NCSIS
Dutch air-defense frigate HNLMS Evertsen becomes SNMG2 flagship
The Royal Netherlands Navy’s air defense and command frigate HNLMS Evertsen got underway from her homeport in Den Helder on January 5 to become the flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2). Evertsen will spend the next six months in the Mediterranean and Black Seas patrolling the region
USS Cole bombing organizer killed in precision strike in Yemen
An al Qaeda operative held responsible for the plotting of the deadly bombing of destroyer USS Cole in 2000 was killed in a precision airstrike, the US Central Command has confirmed. “Jamal al-Badawi was killed in a precision strike in Marib governate [Yemen] on January 1,” spokesman Capt. Bill Urba
After Russia, US destroyer USS McCampbell challenges China’s territorial claims with freedom of navigation operation
US Navy destroyer USS McCampbell carried out a South China Sea freedom of navigation operation on Monday, sailing within 12 miles of the Paracel Island chain. According to media reports, the Yokosuka-homeported destroyer sailed near three islands in the chain which is claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan b
USS Fort McHenry is the first US Navy ship to enter Black Sea since Kerch Strait incident
Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) entered the Black Sea on Sunday, becoming the first US Navy ship to do so since the Kerch Strait incident from November 2018 when Russia fired on, and seized, three Ukrainian Navy ships near the the Kerch Strait. USS Fort McHenry, with
US Navy’s third Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyer to be named Ted Stevens (DDG 128)
The US Navy’s third Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyer will be named in honor of US senator Ted Stevens, who represented Alaska from 1968 to 2009, US Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has announced. “Senator Stevens was a staunch supporter of a strong Navy and Marine Corps team who served our
Spain’s Aegis-equipped FFG(X) contender en route to US for deployment with USS Abraham Lincoln
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez got underway from her Ferrol homeport on Thursday to start what will eventually be a year-long deployment with the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The Aegis-equipped Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate (also referred to as F100) will spend the next two
Royal Navy OPV deploys to Channel in response to migrant crossing uptick
The United Kingdom has deployed a Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel to the English Channel as part of the country’s response to the recent increase in migrant crossings. HMS Mersey will support Border Force and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in their efforts to patrol the stretch of water, keep
Kratos secures Royal Saudi Navy training contract
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced it has been awarded a follow on task order (TO) to provide training-related products and services in a variety of disciplines to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), the Naval Force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Awarded by the Naval Air Warfare Center
Pentagon notifies Congress of two-carrier buy, contract expected by end of January
The US Department of Defense has officially notified the Congress of its intention to buy two aircraft carriers at once in a move that is expected to bring some $4 billion in savings. In a letter on December 31, the Pentagon formally informed the Congress about the block buy of two Ford-class aircra
US Navy announces South Dakota (SSN 790) commissioning date
The newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, USS South Dakota (SSN 790), will be commissioned at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, Feb. 2, 2019, the US Navy has announced. South Dakota is the seventeenth Virginia-class submarine to join the fleet. SSN 790 is entering servic
BAE Systems gets $78m for USS Shoup refit
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded BAE Systems a $78.8 million contract for the maintenance and modernization of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86). The value of the competitively awarded contract could reach $87.6 million if all options are exercised. “The Sho
USS Porter arrives in Aksaz, Turkey for port visit, exercises
US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Aksaz, Turkey for a port visit on January 1. Following the port visit, the Arleigh Burke-class ship is scheduled to take part in a joint exercise with the Turkish Navy and Air Force in the Mediterranean Sea. Porter got underway from Spa
Brazilian Navy receives third CSAR H225M helicopter
The Brazilian Navy received its third and final H225M helicopter in the combat search and rescue (CSAR) configuration from Airbus’ Brazilian subsidiary Helibras. Delivered on December 27 at the Helibras facility in Itajubá, the helicopter is the last CSAR configured H225M and the tenth of overall 16