Vessels
Leonardo inks OCEAN2020 grant agreement
Italian defense company Leonardo has signed a grant agreement for OCEAN2020, the first European Defence Fund’s initiative project aimed at boosting Europe’s defense research. The project – which will be funded by a grant totaling around EUR 35 million – will be led by Leonardo, which will coordinate
Navy wins big in Dutch 2018 defense white paper
The Royal Netherlands Navy, with over EUR6 billion in funds set aside for its acquisition and maintenance programs, is the major winner of the Netherlands defense ministry’s 2018 white paper. Army and air force follow with little over two and one billion euros, respectively, while 1.7 billion is to
UK welcomes third Tide-class tanker RFA Tidesurge
Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s third Tide-class tanker RFA Tidesurge arrived in Cornwall, England, on March 27 where it will undergo further outfitting and trials before entering service. Tidesurge arrived from South Korea where it was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. It is the third of f
US cruiser rescues fishermen during carrier strike group drills
US Navy’s guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) rescued three fishermen off the coast of Georgia while taking part in pre-deployment preparations. On March 27, USS Hue City was notified by the US Coast Guard and guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) that a small craft in their vicinit
Theodore Roosevelt CSG trains with Indian Navy in 7th Fleet area of operations
US Navy ships from the carrier strike group centered around aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt entered the US 7th Fleet area of operations and joined Indian Navy Talwar-class frigate INS Tarkash (F50) for at sea maneuvers on March 25. The guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), along with
US Navy’s Essex starts deployment preparations with marines
US Navy ships from Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 1 started integration drills with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in preparation for an upcoming deployment. PHIBRON 1 is comprised of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock s
Royal Navy decommissions HMS Ocean
Royal Navy’s former fleet flagship and helicopter carrier HMS Ocean was decommissioned on Tuesday in a ceremony attended by Her Majesty The Queen at the Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth. Queen Elizabeth, who is the ship’s lady sponsor, inspected the sailors and was later transported on an aircraft l
Turkey’s third MILGEM corvette ‘Burgazada’ starts trials
Turkish Navy’s third MILGEM corvette Burgazada (F-513) got underway from the Istanbul Naval Shipyard earlier this month to start her first sea trials. TCG Burgazada was launched on June 18, 2016, after starting construction in December 2014. According to the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Indu
German combat support ship concludes SNMG2 deployment
German Navy combat support ship EGV Frankfurt am Main has wrapped up its deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 and is now en route to its homeport. Frankfurt am Main is scheduled to enter Wilhelmshaven on March 29 after spending five and a half months underway. The ship deployed to SNMG2 in
Schiebel’s Camcopter UAS completes Australian Navy testing
The Royal Australian Navy has completed validation and verification trials of Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 unmanned air system (UAS), the UAS manufacturer has announced. According to Schiebel, the S-100 was equipped with a Wescam MX-10S payload showcasing its ability to deliver imagery to commanders.
French destroyer FS Jean de Vienne seizes further 530 kilos of heroine in Arabian Sea
French Navy destroyer FS Jean de Vienne intercepted 570 kilos of heroine from a dhow in the Arabian Sea, achieving its second successful drug interception on its deployment as part of the Combined Maritime Forces. The operation took place on March 25 in international waters of the Arabian Sea. Jean
US destroyer visits Hong Kong on Indo-Pacific deployment
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) is on a visit to Hong Kong as part of its Indo-Pacific deployment. The destroyer arrived in Hong Kong on March 27 for a port visit following a period of operations. Of the range of activities planned, Sterett will visit a nursery school and a
USS John C Stennis underway for carrier strike training
US Navy aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departed Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on March 24 for another round of trials ahead of its scheduled deployment. The carrier returned to sea after completing flight operations, damage control and seamanship training in January this year. John C. S
German P-3C Orion MPRA returns to Djibouti
A German P-3C Orion maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) and its crew have returned to Djibouti to rejoin the fight against piracy as part of the EU NAVFOR-led operation Atalanta. The P-3C, its crew and supporting staff deployed to the Horn of Africa area of operations on March 23 to w