Vessels
Russia deploys large task group off Syria ahead of potential new Syria attacks
Russia has reportedly amassed a large task group in Syrian waters as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad mulls an assault on rebel positions in the northern Idlib province. With over ten warships deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, this is Russia’s largest naval buildup since the country stated supporti
Phoenix International gets $29m for US Navy SRDRS operation, maintenance
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Phoenix International Holdings a $29.9 million contract modification to exercise options for the continued maintenance and operation of the Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System. Under the contract, Phoenix International will provide personnel
F-35Cs start operational testing aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
F-35C Joint Strike Fighters are conducting first flight ops aboard an aircraft carrier ever as part of their Operational Test-1 (OT-1) on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). OT-1 evaluates the full spectrum of the F-35C’s suitability for operation within a carrier air wing and mission effectiveness to
HMS Prince of Wales’ operations room comes online two months ahead of schedule
The second of two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers, the future HMS Prine of Wales, now has a functional operations room – two months earlier than it was intially expected. The operations room will allow the crew of HMS Prince of Wales to watch for threats, track the movements of the carrier’s F-35B
USS Harry S. Truman returns to sea, gets ready for dual carrier ops
After returning to Norfolk three months into what was regularly a seven-month deployment, nearly 6,500 sailors of the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group (HSTCSG) returned to sea again departing from Naval Station (NS) Norfolk, Virginia, on August 28. HSTCSG deployed April 11, 2018, and returned to
MAG Aerospace boosts naval UAV presence with Ausley acquisition
Virginia-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance specialist MAG Aerospace (MAG) has acquired Ausley Associates to boost its naval unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) services offering. MAG said the acquisition adds over 200 system engineering, program management, and logistics professionals t
USS Mason aids in rescue of seaplane passengers
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) aided in the transport of passengers from a damaged seaplane that was adrift at sea in the Western Atlantic Ocean August 25. Mason was on operations in the Atlantic with Carrier Strike Group 12, when the US Navy diverted the ship to rendezvous wi
Spain deploys Aegis frigate Cristóbal Colón to NATO’s SNMG2
Spanish Navy’s F-100 frigate Cristóbal Colón got underway from her homeport in Ferrol on August 25 to join NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 in the Mediterranean Sea. The Aegis-equipped frigate will first contribute to the maritime situational awareness picture and counter-terrorism operations in the
RAN frigate, oiler deploy for operations, drills
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Stuart and oiler HMAS Sirius got underway from Fleet Base West on August 22 for several months of operations. Despite sailing together for the Australian-hosted exercise Kakadu 2018 which will be held off Darwin, both ships will have a very different schedule of ev
US Navy’s ASTARS III completes first flight
The US Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) completed the first flight of the recently-delivered Airborne Systems Training and Research Support (ASTARS) III, August 21. The first flight objective validated the aircraft’s Naval subsystems ahead of its addition to the USNTPS’ class 155 syllabus which bega
USS Carney wraps up Black Sea tour
US Navy’s forward-deployed destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) exited the Black Sea, August 27, after 15 days of maritime security operations and theater security engagements. USS Carney was in the Black Sea at the same time as USNS Carson City (T-EPF 7), which became the first Spearhead-class expeditiona
India clears purchase of 24 ASW helicopters
India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the procurement of 24 new anti-submarine warfare capable, multi-role helicopters (MRHs) for the Indian Navy. According to earlier reports, the helicopters in question are Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, which are expected
Construction starts on Chilean Navy’s Antarctic icebreaking vessel
Chilean state-owned shipbuilder ASMAR has officially started construction on the new Antarctic icebreaking vessel for the Chilean Navy. The steel-cutting ceremony took place on August 16 and was attended by shipyard and navy officials. Dubbed Project “Antarctica I”, the new Polar-class vessel will r
Brazil’s new helicopter carrier arrives home
The Brazilian Navy’s new helicopter carrier PHM Atlântico (A 140) arrived at her homeport in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday after a 25-day voyage from Plymouth, UK. The former Royal Navy ship (ex-HMS Ocean) was refitted in Plymouth before the Brazilian crew underwent Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) ahe