Vessels
Bonhomme Richard ESG joins Valiant Shield drills
Ships assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHR ESG), with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, joined the U.S. military exercise Valiant Shield 2016, on September 15. Valiant Shield is a biennial exercise held between the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force in an effor
Veteran-owned company gets $57 million for U.S. Navy Sea Warrior Program
Millennium Corporation, a veteran-owned provider of IT professional services and technical solutions, has been awarded a contract for comprehensive systems engineering and logistics support of bussines systems for the U.S. Navy Sea Warrior Program (PMW 240). The five-year contract provides services
German Navy frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern joins operation Sophia
German Navy’s F123 frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern joined the European-led operation Sophia by taking over command of deployed German units from the German tender Werra in the Italian port of Augusta, Sicily, September 14. German soldiers and sailors participating in the Mediterranean Sea mission wil
Finnish Navy signs LOI for Squadron 2020 ice-going OPVs
Following a request for information (RFI) for its Squadron 2020 project to construct four ice-going offshore patrol vessels, the Finnish Navy has now signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the Rauma-based shipbuilding company Rauma Marine Constructions. If the LOI is realized, the company will build f
European Border and Coast Guard gets final green light
The European Union Council gave its final approval to the European Border and Coast Guard on September 14 and the EU now estimates the body will start its activities in mid-October. The main role of the European Border and Coast Guard is to help provide integrated border management at the external b
New security unit to protect Canadian Navy ships on deployment
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is developing a new capability called the Naval Security Team (NST) that will be tasked with protecting Canadian Navy ships and sailors while on deployment. According to the navy, NST will be composed primarily of naval reservists and will include a full-time command te
US Navy awards Huntington Ingalls $19 million to accelerate LX(R) design
The U.S. Navy has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries a $19.1 million contract modification to accelerate design work on the U.S. Navy’s amphibious warfare ship replacement, known as LX(R). In the original announcement on June 30, Ingalls was selected to perform the majority of the contract design
HMS Bulwark leads annual joint expeditionary force deployment
Royal Navy’s amphibious warship HMS Bulwark set sail on September 12 to lead a major exercise to the Adriatic and Arabian Seas. Plymouth-based HMS Bulwark has spent the last four weeks preparing for this autumn’s annual Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) (JEF) deployment with a combination of trai
Newest US Navy destroyer visits Norfolk
The U.S. Navy’s newest destroyer, future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) pulled into Naval Station Norfolk September 14 for another port visit on the 3-month journey to its new homeport in San Diego. Crewed by 147 sailors, Zumwalt is the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission destroyers design
General Dynamics to perform USS Gonzalez dry-docking overhaul
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded General Dynamics’ division NASSCO-Norfolk a $21 million contract to carry out extended dry-docking selected restricted availability on USS Gonzalez (DDG 66). This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair of the A
Pakistan to launch third Azmat-class corvette
Pakistan’s Karachi Shipyard announced it would launch the nation’s third Azmat-class (FAC) corvette on September 17. Construction of the 63 meter multi-mission, fast attack craft started in April 2015 while keel laying took place five months later on August 11. The ship displaces 560 tons and, accor
Australian Navy’s first Aegis destroyer starts builder’s sea trials
HMAS Hobart, the first of three Royal Australian Navy Aegis-equipped air warfare destroyers, has started builder’s sea trials leaving ASC’s Osborne, South Australia shipyard for the first time. A number of alongside dock trials in preparation for Hobart’s first departure to sea were carried out, inc
Indonesian first Sigma-class frigate completes sea trials
The first of two SIGMA 10514 PKR naval frigates for the Indonesian Navy has completed its sea trials, Dutch shipbuilder Damen has informed. The assessment phase began with seven days of basin trials to ensure that the propulsion and safety systems were fully operational before the vessel made the pa
German frigate to return from last operational deployment
German Navy frigate FGS Karlsruhe is scheduled to return from the Mediterranean Sea and her last operational deployment on September 16. The ship was first part of operation Sophia and later joined the NATO-led Again Sea patrol mission aimed at curbing people smuggling. Karlsruhe deployed half a yea