US Navy destroyer USS Decatur had a close encounter with a Chinese destroyer during a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea on Sunday. The unidentified Chinese destroyer came as close as 45 ft to USS Decatur in what was described as an “unsafe and unprofessional maneuver” by US Paci
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat has returned to port with a rescued solo round-the-world yachtsman. Ballarat’s MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopter recovered Irish national, Gregor McGuckin, from a French scientific research station on Amsterdam Island after he was transported there by Fren
US Navy destroyer USS Decatur (DDG-73) challenged China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea with a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the vicinity of the disputed Spratly Islands. On Sunday, September 30, Decatur came within 12 miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in a region claimed by
The biennial Five Power Defence Arrangements exercise Bersama Lima is starting in the South Cina Sea on Tuesday. Involving ships, aircraft and personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK, the exercise will include live fire and command post exercises over a two-week period.
The new flagship of US 7th Fleet’s amphibious forces carried out a live-fire exercise in the South China Sea on September 27. Joined by the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the USS Wasp amphibious ready group (ARG) conducted an integrated Defense of the Amphibious Task Force (DATF) dri
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll on Wednesday joined a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force task group led by helicopter carrier JS Kaga for maneuvers in the Indian Ocean. Prior to drills with the Royal Navy, JS Kaga’s group was part of the first known Japanese anti-submarine warfare drill in the
Philippine Coast Guard has become Philippines’ first operator of the H145 helicopter after ordering one unit for its operations. The new 4-tonne-class twin-engine helicopter is equipped with high-frequency radios, emergency flotation gear, fast roping, cargo sling, search light, and electro-optical
The Indonesian Navy has recently deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with an aerial magnetic range to determine a ship’s magnetic signature. According to UAV manufacturer ECA Group, this is the first time a navy has used a drone to assess a vessel’s vulnerability to underwater mines and other
New Zealand’s Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana made a port call in Sandakan, Malaysia, marking the begin of the Southeast Asian leg of the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) five-month engagement across the Asia-Pacific region. “Te Mana’s visits to Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam reflect the import
A total of three new ships were launched at two separate shipyards for the Indonesian Navy on September 24 and 25. Shipbuilder PT. Karimun Anugrah Sejati launched two 45-meter cadet training ships – V-06 and V-07 – on September 24 in Batam. Another Batam-based shipbuilder, Batamec Shipyard, launched
Australia is taking further steps to improve regional maritime security with an AUD5 million upgrade of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island. Wharf and shore-based infrastructure upgrades are to be undertaken by Fletcher Morobe Constructions Limited as part of the Australian
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has cut first steel for the second Philippine Navy frigate at its Pohang site on Monday. The steel cutting ceremony for the second of two frigates on order took place five months after the South Korean shipbuilder started construction on the fi
A Japanese Oyashio-class submarine joined a number of other JMSDF units for an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill in the South China Sea last week. This is reportedly the first time that Japan’s defense ministry has confirmed the participation of a submarine in a drill in the disputed South China Se
Royal Australian Navy’s second Hobart-class air warfare destroyer NUSHIP Brisbane has arrived at her home base of Fleet Base East, Garden Island Sydney, for the first time. The newbuilding will be commissioned into the navy fleet on October 27, 2018, according to the country’s defense minister. Wond
