Vessels
US Navy, Marines teaming for Dawn Blitz off California
US sailors and marines from the Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade are set to take part in amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz 2017 off the coast of Southern California, October 20-30. Dawn Blitz 2017 is a scenario-driven exercise designed to train the Navy and Marine Corps
Austal nabs Cape-class sustainment contract
The Royal Australian Navy has awarded shipbuilder Austal a three-year contract for the sustainment of Cape-class patrol boats Cape Fourcruoy and Cape Inscription. The contract is worth AUD18 million and will employ eight directly and 20 indirectly in local contractors and Austal’s own facilities in
Leonardo opens new Australia site for Anzac frigate communications upgrade
Italian defense contractor Leonardo has opened a new office in Australia which will have a key role in Leonardo’s delivery as prime system integrator of the Anzac-class communications upgrade. Through its subsidiary Selex ES Australia Pty Ltd, Leonardo has been earlier chosen as the prime contractor
Metal Shark to build up to 50 patrol boats for US Navy
The US Navy has awarded shipbuilder Metal Shark a $29.8 million contract to build the first eleven of a new generation of patrol boats for the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The contract contains options which could see the shipbuilder build 50 boats for a price o
US aircraft carrier pulls into Hong Kong for port visit
US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) anchored in Hong Kong Harbor together with guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) on October 2. The ships arrived in Hong Kong for a regular port call during their regional patrol. “The sailors and airmen of Carrier Strike
New Zealand picks Saab communications system for future fleet tanker
The Royal New Zealand Navy has contracted Saab to deliver their TactiCall communications system for New Zealand’s future fleet tanker. The new Maritime Sustainment Capability vessel, HMNZS Aotearoa, will be fitted with the integrated communications system which interconnects communication technologi
Australian Navy aviation training vessel MV Sycamore hosts first helicopter trials
Shortly after arriving in Sydney from Vietnam, the Royal Australian Navy’s new aviation training vessel MV Sycamore hosted its first aircraft for flight trials. The Australian Navy’s future training helicopter EC-135 carried out first of class flight trials from MV Sycamore off the eastern seaboard.
USS Hopper deploys to Western Pacific and Middle East
US Navy destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) got underway from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on September 28 for an independent deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East. While deployed, the ship will conduct theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations with partner nations. Havin
Lockheed gets $400m for Trident II missile production
US defense contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems has been awarded a $418.6 million contract to manufacture additional Trident II (D5) missiles. The US defense department did not specify the exact quantity of missiles to be built and the contract has options which could drive its value up to over
HII bags US Navy C4ISR training support contract
The US Navy has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Technical Solutions division a $25 million contract to provide training services for tactical afloat shipboard, ashore and submarine command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. The
Dutch sailors train with Seychelles military personnel aboard HNLMS Rotterdam
Sailors from the Royal Netherlands Navy’s landing platform dock HNLMS Rotterdam carried out a local maritime capacity building (LMCB) exercise with Seychelles military personnel. The activity took place on September 25 and 26 and was part of the ship’s regular EU NAVFOR activities. The LMCB focused
US Navy helicopter rescues civilians after plane crash
An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter embarked on the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) rescued two civilians after their private plane crashed several miles off the coast of Dominica, September 28. The civilians, coming from French Guadelupe and Antigua, sustained minor injuries and were tra
Brazilian Navy’s first upgraded Super Lynx helicopter performs maiden flight
The Brazilian Navy’s first upgraded Super Lynx Mk21B helicopter has performed its maiden flight from the Yeovil facility in southwest England. The flight success was announced by aerospace and defense company Leonardo which is in charge of upgrading eight Mk21B helicopters under a US$160 million con
NATO’s underwater communication tool debuts at submarine rescue drill
Taking part in the submarine escape and rescue exercise Dynamic Monarch for the first time, NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) supported the exercise using a new digital underwater acoustic communications capability providing more effective command and control to escape a