Vessels
Poland cuts steel for second Kormoran II-class minehunter
Poland’s Remontowa Shipbuilding held a steel-cutting ceremony for the second Kormoran II-class minehunter for the Polish Navy at its Gdansk site on September 18. The steel-cutting ceremony comes ten months after the lead ship in the class – ORP ‘Kormoran – entered service. The first of the additiona
US Navy unveils new combat diver navigation module
The US Naval Surface Warfare Centre – Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), teamed with JFD to develop an advanced combat diver navigation module called Shadow NAV. According to JFD, the device brings a hands-free underwater navigation capability to the military market for the first time. Military combat
After short deployment pause, USS Harry S. Truman returns to US 6th Fleet operations
US Navy aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman has resumed operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations after returning to its Norfolk home in July for a month-long deployment pause. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) initially deployed to the European theater April 11, 2018, and returned
US Cyclone-class patrol ships test Griffin missiles in Middle East
US Navy Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships from the US 5th Fleet’s Combined Task Force (CTF) 55 honed artillery skills during a Griffin Missile System (GMS) fleet firing exercise which took place between September 16 and 18 in the Middle East. Coastal patrol ships USS Firebolt (PC 10), USS Monsoon (
Rolls-Royce opens F-35B LiftFan production site in UK
A facility for the manufacturing of LiftFan systems for F-35B jets has been ceremonially opened by UK defense minister Stuart Andrew at Rolls-Royce in Bristol today. Production at the site has been building up since 2009, with the official opening now marking the fact that the facility is heading to
US Navy contracts VT Halter Marine to design, build new barracks ships
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded VT Halter Marine a $77.9 million contract to design and build a new class of barracks ships – dubbed Auxiliary Personnel Lighter – Small (APL(S)). As these craft are similar to accommodation barges used in the commercial oil and gas industry, APL(S) was d
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon deploys to Persian Gulf
Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon got underway from her Portsmouth homeport on September 17 after a short, unspecified, delay. Dragon is now headed for the Persian Gulf where it is expected to spend several months an operational deployment. The destroyer is scheduled to work alongside coalition and regio
Russian IL-20 MPA shot down during Israeli attack on Syria
A Russian IL-20 maritime patrol aircraft disappeared from radar over Syria on Monday as Israeli jets carried out an attack on Syria’s Latakia province. Most recent reports say that the defense ministry acknowledged the loss of the aircraft to friendly fire. According to Interfax, the Il-20 was shot
HMS Queen Elizabeth enters Norfolk
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, after evading Hurricane Florence which hit the East Coast of the USA. The ‘WESTLANT 18’ Task Group, which includes the carrier’s escort, HMS Monmouth, was forced to take evasive action to avoid the damaging winds which hav
US Navy contracts Sonardyne for underwater tracking system deliveries
The US Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Carderock Division, has awarded Houston-based Sonardyne Inc. a contract to deliver its underwater target tracking technology for use at the South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility (SFOMF). Located in Maryland, Carderock Division is the US Navy’s research,
South Korea cleared to buy six P-8A maritime patrol aircraft under $2.1b contract
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of six P-8A patrol aircraft to the Republic of Korea under an estimated $2.1 billion contract. South Korea’s decision to pick Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon as its new maritime patrol aircraft was made known in June this year. The P-8A would replace th
HII lays keel for ninth US Coast Guard NSC
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel of National Security Cutter Stone (WMSL 758) in a ceremony on September 14. Stone is the ninth Legend-class cutter built at Ingalls for the US Coast Guard. Laura Cavallo, the great niece of the namesake, will serve a
Canada’s first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel enters water
Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding launched the Canadian Navy’s first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, in a ceremony on September 15. At 103 meters and 6,615 tons, the future HMCS Harry DeWolf is the largest Royal Canadian Navy ship built in Canada in 50 years, accordi
US-only drill Valiant Shield begins off Guam
A US military exercise which will be joined by 15 surface ships and more than 160 aircraft kicked off on September 16 around the Marianas Island Range Complex and on Guam. Participants will include the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and approximately 15,000 personnel from the US Navy, A