Vessels
Australian shipbuilder Austal opens new vessel sustainment office
Australian shipbuilder Austal has officially opened a new vessel sustainment office in Cairns to support the Cape-class fleet and the future Pacific Patrol Boats (PPB) that Austal is currently building. Following the opening ceremony on June 10, the sustainment facilities will employ nearly 30 peopl
Ukraine hosts 17 nations for Black Sea drill Sea Breeze
Defense forces from 17 countries are attending the multinational Black Sea exercise Sea Breeze which is taking place from July 10 to 22, in Ukraine. The exercise is co-hosted by the U.S. and Ukraine and will involve air, land, sea, and amphibious forces. The annual recurring multinational exercise i
Australian Navy frigate returning home from record Middle East deployment
Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Arunta is on her way home after completing the longest Middle Eastern deployment by an Australian Navy vessel since 1990. Arunta concluded her assignment to Joint Task Force 633 as part of operation Manitou and handed over responsibility to HMAS Newca
USS Ronald Reagan arrives in Australia for at-sea phase of exercise Talisman Sabre
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), joined other participants of exercise Talisman Sabre 2017 on July 8 ahead of the start of major at-sea portions of the drill. TS 17 is a joint exercise between the U.S. and Australia being held biennially off the coast of
MBDA in first test firing of Anglo-French anti-ship missile Sea Venom/ANL
Missile manufacturer MBDA announced it has completed the first test firing of the Anglo-French anti-ship missile Sea Venom/ANL at the Île du Levant test range in France. The missile is being developed to deliver an enhanced capability and replace existing and legacy systems such as the UK-developed
USS Sterett stretching deployment after Fitzgerald collision
The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet command is prolonging the deployment of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) after her sister ship USS Fitzgerald was damaged in a collision in June this year. USS Sterett is staying in the Western-Pacific until the end of August to provide
Saab to work on Swedish Navy Gävle-class corvette upgrades
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has contracted Saab for work on the modification and upgrades of the Swedish Navy’s two Gävle-class corvettes. The BSEK 1.249 (approx. US$148 million) contract will see Saab perform life extension services on HMS Gävle and HMS Sundsvall. Swedish ship
Sweden orders additional 18 CB90-class fast assault craft
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has ordered additional 18 CB90-class fast assault craft from Swedish boat builder Dockstavarvet under a SEK 400 million (approx. US$47.3m) contract. The new combat boats, referred to as Stridsbåt 90HSM (M standing for modernized), will be an improved
Anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose concludes in North Atlantic
NATO’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2017 concluded in the North Atlantic Ocean on July 6. Led by NATO’s Allied Maritime Command, the exercise gathered units from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States. Th
USS James E. Williams arrives in Reykavik, Iceland
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland July 5, for a scheduled port visit to enhance U.S.-Iceland relations as the two nations work together for a stable, secure and prosperous Europe. James E. Williams is in Reykjavik after part
Navies from India, Japan, and US to participate in Malabar 2017
Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the United States will participate in exercise Malabar 2017, July 7-17. Malabar 2017 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises that has grown in scope and complexity over the years to address the variety of shared threats to maritime
USS Gabrielle Giffords completes maiden voyage
The newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) arrived in San Diego July 5, after successfully completing her maiden voyage from Mobile, Alabama. Following construction and acceptance trials earlier this year at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Giffords sailed
USS Portland completes Builder’s Trials
The US Navy’s future amphibious transport dock, USS Portland (LPD 27), successfully completed Builder’s Trials on Jun. 30. The ship returned to the Huntington Ingalls Industries’ shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, following four days underway. “Builder’s Trials is the Navy’s first opportunity to a
USS John S. McCain participates in FTX-N
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) participated with four Royal Australian Navy ships, the Royal Australian Air Force, and United States Marine Corps during Field Training Exercise North (FTX-N). FTX-N is a precursor to Talisman Saber 17 (TS 17) while on pat