Vessels
USS America on holiday visit to Singapore
US Navy amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit pulled into Singapore for a scheduled port visit on December 22. “The America team is honored to visit Singapore,” said commanding officer Joseph Olson. “Our visit is an opportunity for the ship to re
US destroyer USS James E. Williams wraps up seven-month mission
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) concluded a seven-month deployment to the US 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation, returning to its Naval Station Norfolk homeport on December 23. The ship departed May 23, to support anti-submarine exercises and operations in the Nor
Germany returns lead F125 frigate to builder, report
The German defense procurement agency BAAINBw has reportedly returned FGS Baden-Württemberg, the lead ship of German Navy’s new class of F125 frigates, to the Blohm+Voss shipyard. According to a report in the German Kieler Nachrichten, BAAINBw has requested Blohm+Voss – which is part of the ARGE F12
Britain’s second aircraft carrier afloat for the first time
UK Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been floated and moved to her fitting-out berth at Rosyth, the navy informed. In an overnight operation, sluices were opened and water gradually filled the dry dock, specially enlarged for the 65,000-tonne warship and her older sister HMS
Fincantieri sets up company in Qatar
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has established a subsidiary in Qatar which will be “the focal point” of all the services and after sales activities on the naval vessels of the group in the country. The new company, Fincantieri Services Middle East in Doha, is licensed by the Qatar Financial Centre.
Saab buys boat builder Dockstavarvet
Swedish defense major Saab announced it has acquired combat boat producer N. Sundin Dockstavarvet AB and the repair shipyard Muskövarvet AB, strengthening its presence in the naval sector. Saab said the acquisition of the companies would become effective on December 29, 2017. Dockstavarvet, based ou
Brazil issues request for proposals for Tamandaré-class corvettes
The Brazilian Navy on Tuesday issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the construction of new Tamandaré-class corvettes. The RFP was announced at the Brazilian Naval Academy by defense minister Raul Jungmann and navy chief Admiral Eduardo Bacellar Leal Ferreira. Brazil is planning to invest US$1.6
GA-EMS to develop permanent-magnet propulsion motor for US Navy LDUUV
The US Office of Naval Research has awarded General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems a contract to design and deliver an advanced permanent-magnet propulsion motor to be used on the US Navy’s large displacement unmanned undersea vehicles (LDUUVs). Over the next 18 to 20 months, GA-EMS will design, bu
US Navy contracts BAE Systems for USS Anzio cruiser modernization
The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $45.3 million contract to modernize the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68). The Anzio will undergo six months of work at the company’s shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, the ship’s homeport. The contract includes options that, if exercised, w
Swedish AIS maker to deliver AIS receivers for US Navy submarines
US defense contractor Lockheed Martin has selected a Swedish Automatic Identification System (AIS) manufacturer to deliver its AIS systems for US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines. After an initial order in 2014, Sweden’s True Heading on December 20 announced an expanded contract for the delivery of
DCMA Boeing St. Louis delivers EA-18G Growler to US Navy’s VX-31 test squadron
The US Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Three One, known as VX-31, on December 14 received an EA-18G Growler aircraft from the Defense Contract Management Agency Boeing St. Louis, the agency’s EA-18G to be delivered. The event signified an important milestone in the Growler program. After mor
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll tests Sea Ceptor missile against multiple targets
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll recently carried out a test firing of the Sea Ceptor missile to verify the weapon system upgrade. The first firings of Sea Ceptor were conducted from HMS Argyll at the Hebrides range off the coast of Scotland and involved firing the system to assess its perfor
HMS Ocean returns from final deployment as commissioned Royal Navy ship
Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Ocean returned home to naval base Devonport on December 19, concluding her final deployment as a commissioned Royal Navy ship. The ship was scheduled to enter Devonport on December 20, welcomed by families and friends, but a forecast of thick fog brought her final o
GDEB awards HII $468m for Columbia-class work
General Dynamics Electric Boat has awarded Newport News Shipbuilding a contract worth up to $468 million to begin work on integrated product and process development for the US Navy’s new Columbia-class submarines. Newport News Shipbuilding is a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries. The navy a