Vessels
Sea Kings embark HMS Ocean in preparation for aircraft carrier arrival
Royal Navy’s Sea King Mk7 airborne surveillance and control helicopters have joined HMS Ocean in the Gulf to practise in preparation for Merlin helicopters that will succeed the Sea Kings as the carrier’s ‘flying eyes’. After years over the sands of Afghanistan – where their radars proved vital in t
Australian frigate in boarding exercise with US Coast Guard in Bahrain
Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Arunta visited Bahrain for her first port visit after starting operations in the Middle East. The visit provided an opportunity for Arunta’s boarding parties to hone their skills for future patrols and train with the United States Coast Guard and agen
US Navy contracts ManTech for test and evaluation support
The U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division has contracted ManTech International Corporation for test and evaluation (T&E) support to its weapons and combat systems. According to the company, the cost-plus-fixed-fee task order has a 12-month base period of performance and four 12-month o
BAE lands $75M contract for USS San Antonio maintenance, modernization work
The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair a $75.1 million contract for USS San Antonio (LPD 17) fiscal 2017 docking phased maintenance availability (DMPA). According to the U.S. Department of Defense, this availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization, and rep
Aircraft carrier first to leave as Russia reduces forces in Syria
Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and its carrier strike group are among the first units to withdraw from Syria as Russia reduces the number of forces deployed. Russia’s chief of general staff of the armed forces, General Valery Gerasimov made the announcement stating that the order came fr
Former Royal Navy minehunter joins NATO’s group under Estonian flag
A former lead ship in a class of Royal Navy’s mine hunting vessels has joined NATO’s standing mine countermeasures group as an Estonian Navy vessel. Estonian minehunter EML Admiral Cowan (M313) was formerly known as HMS Sandown and served the Royal Navy from 1989 to 2005. Sandown and two more vessel
German tanker Spessart joins NATO’s SNMG1
German Navy’s Rhön-class tanker FGS Spessart will join NATO’s standing maritime group 1 (SNMG1) this month. The 130-meter ship is scheduled to depart its homeport in the naval base Kiel on January 11. The ship is expected to join other SNMG1 units on January 13 in Oslo, Norway. A change of flagship
U.S. Navy receives 50th P-8A Poseidon
The U.S. Navy accepted its 50th P-8A Poseidon (P-8A) maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida on January 5. The Navy’s Poseidon is replacing the legacy P-3 Orion and will improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warf
USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group gets underway
U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its carrier strike group left their homeport in San Diego on January 5 to begin their deployment to the western Pacific. USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, and embarked Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 1 deployed with Ticonderoga
US Navy deploys new early warning aircraft to Japan
U.S. Navy’s newest E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning and control aircraft will join the forward deployed naval forces in Japan, the service announced Thursday. The E-2Ds from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 will become part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 at the Marine Corps Air Stat
New Russian Navy video reflects on carrier’s Mediterranean ‘adventure’
The Russian Ministry of Defense has recently shared a new video of the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia’s lone aircraft carrier, operating in the Mediterranean Sea. The video, shared on YouTube, has no description but it is evident that it reflects on the carrier’s air wing operations off the coast of Syri
Royal Navy’s HMS Clyde on two-month break in South Africa
Royal Navy’s River-class patrol vessel HMS Clyde in late December arrived to South Africa on what is scheduled to be a two months long port visit. Clyde reached Simon’s Town on December 23 and will stay there until February 20, 2017. Simon’s town is the home of the South African Navy; it is located
Boston Ship Repair bags USNS Comfort overhaul contract
The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command has awarded Boston Ship Repair a $17.2 million contract for a 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry docking of USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). Work on the Military Sealift Command-operated hospital ship will include servicing of gener
Spanish frigate deploys to Australia for AWD support
Spanish Navy’s Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Cristóbal Colón is scheduled to embark on a long-term deployment to Australia on January 9. Under an agreement between the two navies, the Aegis-equipped frigate will spend 120 days in Australia where it will help train future Australian Hobart-class dest