Vessels
USS Ronald Reagan, JS Kirisame wrap up Philippine Sea cooperative deployment
Ships from the US Navy’s Ronald Reagan carrier strike group and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JSMDF) Murasame-class destroyer JS Kirisame (DD 104) on October 28 concluded seven days of maritime operations during a cooperative deployment in the Philippine Sea. Ronald Reagan strike group unit
US-Japanese exercise Keen Sword gets underway in Japan
The US and Japan started their biennial exercise Keen Sword at military installations throughout Japan and surrounding waters on October 29. This year’s edition of the exercise will be joined by two Royal Canadian Navy ships for the first time ever. The biennial exercise is the latest in a series of
Fairbanks to deliver diesel engines for US Navy’s first Flight II LPD
Engine manufacturer Fairbanks Morse announced it has been awarded a contract to build and deliver the four main propulsion diesel engines (MPDE) that will power the US Navy’s first Flight II San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship LPD 30. The US Navy awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ I
Corvette HMBS Bahamas returns home after Dutch overhaul
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force corvette HMBS Bahamas (P-60) has returned home after undergoing upgrades at Damen’s Maaskant Shipyard in Stellendam, the Netherlands. Bahama returned to Coral Harbour Base on October 27 after getting underway from the Netherlands on October 4. The 24-day journey took
HMS Montrose first Royal Navy frigate to forward-deploy to Middle East
Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose became the first Royal Navy frigate to forward-deploy to the Persian Gulf as she got underway from Plymouth for a three-year deployment to the Middle East. While the Devonport-based warship will not return home for more than three years, her ship’s company will rotate in
Royal Australian Navy commissions second AWD destroyer ‘Brisbane’
The Royal Australian Navy commissioned its second air-warfare destroyer in a ceremony held at the Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney on October 27. While being the second in her class, HMAS Brisbane (III) is the third Royal Australian Navy ship to bear the name. Her motto, ‘Aim At Higher Things’, en
SM-3 Block IIA intercepts medium-range ballistic missile target in latest test
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has shared photo and video footage of the latest Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile test which saw the SM-3 intercept a medium-range ballistic missile target. The test was conducted by MDA and the US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG-113)
ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise concludes in Zhanjiang, China
The Chinese People’s Liberation Navy and navies of ASEAN member states have completed the at-sea phase of the inaugural ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise. The exercise spanned five days from October 22 to 27 and concluded with a field training exercise in Zhanjiang, China. Co-organised by the Republic o
Australian frigate HMAS Ballarat starts nine-month Middle East mission
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat got underway from her homeport Fleet Base West at Garden Island on October 28 to start her Middle East deployment. The 190 sailors and officer on board will spend the next nine months conducting maritime security operations as part of the Australian defens
Indal agrees to pay $3.5m after selling defective systems to US Navy
Defense contractor Indal Technologies Inc. (is to pay $3.5 million after it sold defective helicopter landing systems designed for US Navy destroyers. According to a Department of Justice announcement from October 15, the company has agreed to pay the amount to resolve allegations that it knowingly
Second large-scale naval drill in Baltic Sea kicks off
Over 40 vessels from NATO and ally countries gathered in Turku, Finland, to kick off a second major exercise in the Baltic Sea on October 25. The exercise is called Northern Coasts and is organized by Germany and hosted by a different Baltic Sea nation each year. It will run concurrent with Trident
US, Peruvian Navy conclude Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative
The Peruvian and US Navy have concluded almost three months of diesel-electric submarine operations which saw a Peruvian Navy submarine train and operate with a range of US Navy assets. Exactly 89 days of joint operations with the Peruvian submarine BAP Arica (SS-36) officially concluded in a closin
Thales to upgrade Royal Navy Martlet missile as part of £90m contract
The UK defense ministry has awarded Thales UK a £93 million contract to upgrade the Royal Navy’s new Martlet missile which will be carried by Wildcat helicopters. The Martlet upgrade is part of a broader effort called Future Air Defence Availability Project which will see Thales UK in Belfast work t
USNS Grasp shifts homeport to support Pacific area of operations
US Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51) became the newest ship to join the Pacific area of operations, after concluding a homeport shift from Virginia to San Diego. Grasp arrived in San Diego, Calif., on Tuesday, following an 18-day trip from its former home in Litt