Vessels
GDEB awards HII $197m for work on first Columbia-class submarine
General Dynamics Electric Boat has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding division a $197 million contract modification for long-lead-time material and advance construction activities on the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. The advance procurement funds will
Australian tanker HMAS Success undergoes final refit
Royal Australian Navy tanker HMAS Success has completed her final external maintenance period (EMP) before she retires sometime next year. The tanker underwent the procedure alongside Fleet Base East following her South East Asia, Indo Pacific Endeavour 18 deployment and participation in exercise RI
Saab brings in Australia’s ASC for work on A26 submarine program
Swedish defense contractor Saab has into an agreement with Australian submarine specialist ASC for the provision of a range of services which include engineering services for the A26 submarine program. Saab is building two A26 submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy and is offering three export varian
Kearsarge amphibious group ships complete final pre-deployment exercise
Ships from US Navy’s Kearsarge amphibious ready group (ARG) have wrapped up the three-week composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). The ARG’s COMPTUEX focused on simultaneous missions and enhanced realism to test the capabilities of the Kearsarge ARG and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
Canada’s Cellula to proceed with development of long range UUV
The Canadian defense science and technology organization has awarded Cellula Robotics a contract to continue the development of the Solus-LR long range unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). The UUV will have a target range of 2000 km and is designed to stay submerged for multi-month missions. The contr
US Navy opens new SLBM office
A new US Navy facility that will play an important part in the US Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Program, was officially opened in a ceremony in Dahlgren on November 1. The facility features labs, offices, and equipment for more than 300 NSWCDD Strategic and Computing Systems Department
Belgium orders new research vessel to replace R/V Belgica
The Belgian Navy’s 34-year-old research vessel will be replaced by a larger and better-equipped successor, Belgium’s Science Policy Office (BELSPO) announced in a press conference on Tuesday. The announcement was made by Belgian secretary of state for science policy Zuhal Demir and defense minister
USS Texas completes submarine rescue exercise with URC
US Navy’s Undersea Rescue Command (URC) teamed up with Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) for a four-day submarine rescue exercise in late October at the Navy’s Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility (SEAFAC) off the coast of Ketchikan. “The exercise demonstrated the Na
Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group ships start first tactical drills
US Navy cruisers and destroyers assigned to the carrier strike group assembled around aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and other Norfolk-based units got underway from Naval Station Norfolk for the surface warfare advanced tactical training (SWATT) exercise on November 2. SWATT is the Su
Sikorsky gets $717m contract for Super Stallion, Sea Dragon upkeep
The US Navy has awarded Sikorsky a $717 million performance-based contract for supply and logistics support for the entire fleet of US Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon and Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters. The scope of the performance-based logistics contract includes repairs, overhauls, spares,
Future USS Sioux City skipping port visits to make it to commissioning site on time
The US Navy’s future littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) will have to skip two previously planed port visits to arrive to its commissioning site on time, the US Navy has said. LCS 11 is scheduled to arrive in Annapolis, Maryland, on November 11, seven days ahead of the ship’s commissioning
Canadian Coast Guard welcomes first of two emergency offshore towing vessels
The Canadian Coast Guard has welcomed the first of two emergency offshore towing vessels that will operate in the waters off the coast of British Columbia. The vessel is called Atlantic Eagle and is leased from Atlantic Towing Limited of Saint John, New Brunswick, under a three-year, CAD$67 million
Indian SSBN submarine INS Arihant completes first deterrence patrol
The Indian Navy’s first indigenously-developed nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant completed its first deterrence patrol, India’s prime minister announced on Monday. The SSBN’s feat was welcomed by the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi who congratulated all those involve
Turkish Navy commissions third MILGEM corvette TCG Burgazada
The Turkish Navy’s s third Ada-class corvette – TCG Burgazada – entered service in a ceremony on November 4. Burgazada was commissioned after entering water in June 2016 and starting sea trials in March this year. The 99-meter corvette is part of the Turkish MILGEM project. Milgem (which translates