Vessels
USS Nimitz completes blue water certification
U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) is cleared for flight operations after the ship and her carrier air wing completed the blue water certification as part of the composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). Blue water certification is one of the final qualifications a carrier and associa
Construction starts on new Russian Navy ice patrol ship
Russian shipbuilder Admiralty Shipyards started construction of a new ice-class patrol ship with an official ceremony in St. Petersburg on April 19. The first of two ordered Project 23550 vessels is named Ivan Papanin and will be used for patrols in the Arctic. The ceremony was attended by the Russi
BAE Systems gets £1.4B to build Royal Navy’s sixth Astute-class submarine
The UK Ministry of Defense has announced a new £1.4 billion contract for the construction of the Royal Navy’s sixth Astute-class submarine. Named HMS Agamemnon, the submarine is the sixth of overall seven boats to be built for the Royal Navy. The nuclear-powered submarines are being built by BAE Sys
German frigate and NATO flagship runs aground in Greece
German Navy frigate and current flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 – FGS Brandenburg – ran aground on Monday morning while departing the port of Piraeus, Greece. The frigate collided with a jetty and sustained considerable damage. According to German media, FGS Brandenburg damaged her rudd
Polish Navy contracts Saab for RBS15 Mk3 missile maintenance
Polish Naval Port Gdynia contracted Sweden’s Saab for the maintenance and logistic support of the Polish Navy’s RBS15 Mk3 surface-to-surface missile system. Saab received this contract after partnering with Polish defense company MESKO, a member of Polish Armament Group (PGZ), last year. The contrac
US Navy’s aircraft carrier is nowhere near the Korean Peninsula
Contrary to an official U.S. Navy statement from ten days ago, the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group was not headed to waters off North Korea, officials and U.S. Navy photos have revealed. The U.S. Pacific Command announced on Saturday, April 9, that the carrier strike group was being re
Australian, Chinese Navy frigates maneuver in South China Sea
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat took part in exercises with People’s Liberation Army – Navy Type 054A frigate Huangshan after concluding a visit to Zhanjiang port. Conducted in the South China Sea, the activities included surface target firing, a search and rescue exercise, communication
US Navy patrol ship Zephyr stops in Puerto Rico for repairs
The U.S. Navy’s Cyclone-class patrol coastal ship USS Zephyr (PC 8) recently concluded a port visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where it completed a mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR). While moored, sailors had the opportunity to visit El Yunque National Park, which is home to the only rainforest in
South Korea completes development of frigate land attack missile
South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that South Korea Navy frigates will soon be able to strike land targets with the development of a new ship-to-ground missile. The successfully tested missile is the result of seven years of work undertaken by the country’s Agen
US Coast Guard decommissions fourth Hamilton-class cutter
The U.S. Coast Guard is set to decommission its eighth high endurance cutter USCGC Morngethau during a ceremony at Base Honolulu, on Tuesday. The Hamilton-class cutter is being retired after nearly 50 years of service as part of the Coast Guard’s recapitalization efforts. USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC 722)
USS America completes its first amphibious assault drill
The U.S. Navy’s amphibious ready group assembled around the aviation-centered amphibious assault ship USS America completed a 12-day integrated training event with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) off the coast of Southern California. The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), the amph
U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon squadron concludes historic U.S. 6th Fleet deployment
A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft squadron completed a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations (AOO) as the last P-8A Poseidon returned to Naval Air Station Jacksonville on April 8, 2017. The “Pelicans” of Patrol Squadron 45 (VP-45), attached to Commander, Ta
Pacific Partnership on second mission stop in Malaysia
Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission Pacific Partnership 2017 (PP17) arrived in Kuching, Malaysia, April 14, aboard expeditionary fast transport USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4) . As the second and main mission stop in Malaysia, and the third mission stop overall, activities in
Raytheon gets $113M contract for Standard Missile work
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $113 million contract to perform work on the Standard Missile in use by the U.S. and other ally navies. Under the contract, Raytheon will be performing engineering and technical services on Standard Missile 2, 3, and 6 for fis