Vessels
Electric Boat to procure repair parts for Virginia subs SSN 792 and 793
The U.S. Navy has awarded Electric Boat Corp. a $34.6 million contract modification to exercise options to procure on board repair parts for Virginia-class submarines, SSN 792 and 793. Under this modification, the U.S. Navy is procuring mechanical and electronic repair parts that will be stored on t
South Korea signs contract for six new frigates to be built by 2026
Initiating the first step in a process to construct six new Batch III frigates South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed an initial 16.6 billion KRW ($13.7M) with Hyundai Heavy Industries on December 27. The contract will see the shipbuilder start planing and design work
ITS Carabiniere starts ‘Italian industry showcase’ deployment
The Italian Navy’s Bergamini-class frigate ITS Carabiniere left the Italian port of La Spezia for an ‘Italian industry showcase’ deployment to Australia and Southeast Asia. ITS Carabiniere is a FREMM frigate built for the Italian Navy by Fincantieri within the framework of an Italo-French cooperatio
US Navy destroyer visits Puerto Princesa, Philippines
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain arrived in Puerto Princesa, the Philippines for a brief port call on December 24. During the visit, the McCain crew will participate in a series of community service projects and sporting events. The visit comes months after
Russia starts expansion of naval base in Syria?
Several days after the Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a document approving the expansion of the Russian naval base in Tartus, Syria, Russian commercial ships have been observed sailing to and from Syria over the weekend and on Monday. To remind, a Russian Ministry of Defense document publis
China’s sole aircraft carrier on blue water drills
China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, started blue water drills on Saturday, heading towards the West Pacific with a carrier task group. Chinese state media reported that this was the carrier’s first “distant seas” deployment. According to China’s Xinhua news agency, the Liaoning and other s
US Navy receives USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10)
The U.S. Navy received USS Gabrielle Giffords, littoral combat ship number ten, during a ceremony held at Austal’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard. The future USS Gabrielle Giffords is the fifth Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) delivered to the USN since 2009 and the fourth naval vessel deli
USS Sampson concludes OMSI
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) concluded its participation in the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) and returned to its homeport of Everett, Washington, on December 23. During the two-month underway, Sampson became the first U.S. warship to visit New Zealand in
Ballistic missile submarine USS Pennsylvania returns from patrol
The Blue crew of the U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) returned home concluding a 92-day strategic deterrent patrol. The submarine crew entered their homeport of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington, on December 23. “We are glad to have the USS Pennsylvan
US Navy attack submarine completes final deployment before its decommissioning
U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarine USS Buffalo returned to its homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam on December 23, completing her last deployment before decommissioning. During her final, seven-month deployment, Buffalo visited Singapore and participated in cooperative exercises with the
USS Wasp wraps up 6-month stint ahead of Japan deployment
After 12 years of idleness in port, U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) deployed this year for a busy 2016. After six months underway, the ship is now set to return to Norfolk on December 24. Once there, Wasp will undergo a planned maintenance availability that is expected to be fin
Germany upgrades minehunters, buys training simulators
Germany is modernizing the last three of ten Frankenthal 332A class minehunters with a new mine countermeasure system. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) announced December 21 that Atlas Elektronik, a joint company of ThyssenKrupp and
Lockheed to upgrade target sight systems on Cobra helicopters
The U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center has awarded Lockheed Martin a $150.9 million contract for the Target Sight System (TSS) on the AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. The TSS is a large-aperture midwave forward-looking infrared sensor with a laser designator/rangefinder turret. The system provides the
HMAS Dechaineux returns to Garden Island
Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarine HMAS Dechaineux returned to Fleet Base West after a two-month deployment to Tasmania and New Zealand. One of the highlights of Dechaineux’s deployment was being the Royal Australian Navy representative unit at the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th annivers