Vessels
Peruvian Navy begins Type 209/1200 submarine modernization
Peruvian naval shipyard SIMA has started the modernization of the Peruvian Navy’s four Type 209/1200 submarines. The first boat to undergo the upgrades is the BAP Chipana which was recently lifted out of the water onto a dry dock for the maintenance. The Syncrolift system the company used for the pr
Russia advances Syrian naval base plans
Russian president Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft bill to the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly which would see Russia develop a fully functional naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus. The port is already in use by Russian warships which have been making port calls there since 1977.
US Marines unmanned resupply helicopter aces final flight demonstration
The US Marine Corps’ unmanned helicopter has completed a successful final flight demonstration at Marine Corps Base Quantico, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced. The unmanned helicopter enhances autonomy options for the Marine Corps and was developed as part of the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/
CEC sensor-netting system ready for Australian Navy air warfare destroyers
US defense contractor Raytheon announced it has completed design, development and testing of its Cooperative Engagement Capability system which will provide the Australian Navy’s new Hobart-class destroyers with enhanced air warfare capabilities. The systems are yet to be certified by the US Navy, h
Los Angeles-class submarine USS Asheville completes homeport change to Guam
US Navy submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) completed her homeport shift from Pearl Harbor arriving at Naval Base Guam on December 14. Asheville replaced USS Chicago (SSN 721) as Guam’s fourth forward-deployed Los Angeles-class attack submarine. Chicago shifted homeport to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in Sep
US Marines start combat rehearsal off Djibouti aboard French assault ship
Members of the US Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5) on December 13 started a bilateral amphibious combat rehearsal in international waters off the coast of Djibouti, Africa. They will be teaming up with the French Task Group 473.1 which is composed of
US destroyer concludes Malta visit
The crew of US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) concluded the first port call of their forward-deployed patrol, departing Valletta, Malta, on December 12. USS Carney also became the first US Navy ship to moor in Valletta since 2014. “We are thankful for the hos
India’s first Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari entering service
The Indian Navy is set to commission its first Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari in a ceremony in Mumbai on December 14. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will have the honor of officially inducting the submarine into service in a ceremony attended by state and navy leaders. INS Kalvari was bui
Australian government announces $20m contract for destroyer sustainment
The Australian government on December 13 announced a AU$20 million contract for the upkeep of Royal Australian Navy air warfare destroyers. The contract, awarded to BAE Systems and Raytheon Australia, will see the creation of 50 new jobs at Raytheon’s Macquarie Park facility in Sydney. Today’s annou
USS John S. McCain offloaded in Yokosuka for repairs
Heavily-damaged US Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, for repairs on December 13 after starting the final leg of its journey from Subic Bay on November 28. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer was damaged in a collision with merchant vessel Alnic MC on
USS Rushmore concludes amphibious portion of Steel Knight
US Navy dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) joined the 1st Marine Division (MARDIV) for the at-sea amphibious portion of exercise Steel Knight which concluded on December 11. Steel Knight is a scenario-driven exercise designed to enhance the command and control, interoperability, and fundamental
US Coast Guard announces fast response cutter names
The US Coast Guard has announced the names of another batch of Sentinel-class fast response cutters to be built by Bollinger Shipyards. The service said each vessel is being named for a deceased leader, trailblazer or hero of the Coast Guard and its predecessor services of the US Revenue Cutter Serv
Mothballed Oliver Hazard Perry frigates will not be reactivated, US Navy decides
The US Navy has decided not to reactivate old Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, according to an USNI News report which cites an internal service memo. The main driver for the decision is likely the cost of bringing the ships – the last of which was decommissioned in 2015 – out of mothballs. Accord
USS Jacksonville enters Bremerton for inactivation, dismantling
US Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) has reached her new homeport of Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton where she is to be decommissioned and inactivated. The submarine arrived in Bremerton on December 11, completing her homeport change from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Jac