Vessels
Photo: Italian FREMM frigate Carlo Margottini on maiden Suez Canal transit
The Italian Navy’s FREMM frigate ITS Carlo Margottini, in service since February 2014, recently achieved another first en route to her Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea deployment. Having sailed from her homeport in La Spezia on February 20, ITS Carlo Margottini transited the Suez Canal for the the first
US Navy contracts Kratos for delivery of 30 BQM-177A subsonic aerial target drones
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems a $24.3 contract modification for the low rate initial production of the subsonic aerial target BQM-177A and technical data. Kratos is to deliver a total of 30 BQM-177A targets, 30 radar altimeters, technical manuals, traini
France, US conclude Bois Belleau 100 amphibious cooperation
US sailors and marines have concluded two months of cooperation with their French counterparts aboard the French Navy amphibious assault ship BPC Tonnerre. Approximately 150 US personnel spent the last two months working together with the French task group composed of BPC Tonnerre and Horizon-class
HMS Queen Elizabeth wraps up rotary wing trials
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth entered Portsmouth on February 27, wrapping up her first of class rotary wing trials in the Atlantic. A team of 56 aircrew, analysts and engineers from the Air Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC) at MOD Boscombe Down have been onboard the aircraft carrie
Australian HMAS Cairns base to woo larger ships after upgrade
Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Cairns will soon be able to welcome larger naval ships, including amphibious assault ships and aircraft carriers, as it is set to benefit from a planned upgrade to the Port of Cairns. The AUD$120 million upgrade to the Port of Cairns is closer thanks to the finalisati
Australian landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra tests Nulka upgrades
Royal Australian Navy’s amphibious ship HMAS Canberra tested its anti-ship missile defense off the south coast of New South Wales as part of exercise Ocean Explorer. Upgrades to the Nulka anti-ship missile decoy system have been tested with the use of civilian aircraft including an underslung Nulka
Royal Navy opens new survival training facility
Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton recently opened a new facility which will provide survival training in the event of a helicopter incident or accident over the water. The Royal Navy School of Maritime SERE (survive, evade, resist, escape) and underwater escape training unit (UETU) was opened
Plasan to provide armoring for UK Type 26 frigates
Israel-based ballistic protection company Plasan will be delivering armoring solutions for the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates, the company announced on Thursday. Plasan received the armoring contract from BAE Systems, the main contractor for the Type 26 program. The frigates are to be built at BA
French Navy starts annual Jeanne D’Arc mission
Two French Navy ships, joined by UK marines and sailors and their Wildcat helicopters, got underway from Toulon naval base on February 26 to start a five-month deployment to Asia-Pacific. The Jeanne D’Arc mission is an annual deployment undertaken by French Navy ships over a five-month period. Last
First River-class OPV HMS Forth arrives home
The Royal Navy’s first Batch-2 River-class offshore patrol vessel HMS Forth arrived in her new homeport at Portsmouth Naval Base on February 26. She is the first of five vessels in the class, designed for counter-piracy, anti-smuggling, fishery protection, border patrol, counter terrorism and mariti
Multinational carrier strike group welcomes US Navy secretary for underway visit
A three-nation carrier strike group assembled around aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) welcomed the US Navy secretary for a visit during final deployment preparations. Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), Richard V. Spencer, landed aboard the USS Harry S. Truman Feb. 25, during the group’s co
French ECA Group presents mid-sized mine warfare AUV ‘A18-M’
French autonomous systems developer ECA Group recently unveiled and demonstrated its new mid-sized mine counter measure autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the A18-M. A live demonstration of the company’s new AUV family member took place off Toulon, Southern France, on February 16. According to the
South African Navy picks Damen for Project Biro inshore patrol vessel build
South African defense procurement agency Armscor has awarded Damen a contract for the construction of three inshore patrol vessels as part of the South African Navy’s Project Biro. South African Navy Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) will build three 62-meter vessels after being selected as a preferr
US Navy to name LCS 30 after Australian WWII cruiser HMAS Canberra
The US Navy’s next littoral combat ship, the Independence-variant LCS 30, will be named USS Canberra, US president Donald Trump announced in a White House news conference with Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday, February 23. The LCS will be the only US Navy vessel named for a city