Vessels
European Parliament gives nod for unified European border, Coast Guard
The European Parliament has backed the European Commission proposal to establish a European border and Coast Guard with the aim of protecting Europe’s external borders. “We welcome the endorsement of the proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard by the European Parliament today. If we want to m
US Navy tests next-gen command and control system DJC2 NGE at RIMPAC
U.S. Navy’s Shore and Expeditionary Integration Program Office (PMW 790) has developed the DJC2 NGE command and control system to support global operations with lower size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements. The system was developed in response to demands from forward deployed commanders and is n
Microtech bags $750 million US Navy C2 systems contract
MicroTech, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) information technology solutions provider, announced that it has been awarded a $750 million five-year contract to provide command-and-control systems and related support services to the Department of the Navy. The Space and Naval W
German ships save 701 migrants in the Mediterranean
Two new members of the Operation Sophia taskforce, German Navy ships Datteln und Werra, saved 701 migrants from the Mediterranean Sea on July 5. German Navy minehunter Datteln was the first to spot migrants 100 kilometers northwest of the Libyan capital Tripoli. Moments later, the tender Werra spott
Royal Navy destroyer returns from Middle East
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender is set to return home to Portsmouth on July 8 following her nine-month deployment to the Middle East where the ship worked with American and French Carrier strike groups as part of on-going operations against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. During her 263 days aw
HMAS Darwin sailors exercise Freedom of Entry
Proudly bearing the name “Darwin”, more than 200 officers and sailors from the Royal Australian Navy have marched through the City of Darwin, exercising their Freedom of Entry. The time honoured tradition coincides with the first port visit in Australia after a six month deployment to the Middle-Eas
US Coast Guard orders more over the horizon-IV cutter boats
The U.S. Coast Guard placed delivery orders for 11 over the horizon-IV cutter boats worth approximately $4.76 million with SAFE Boats International LLC of Bremerton, Washington, June 28. Two of the boats will go to the sixth NSC, Munro, which is in production with delivery planned for December. Eigh
US Navy carrier transits Gibraltar, leaves Mediterranean
U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transited the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Atlantic Ocean on July 2. The ship entered the 6th Fleet area of operations in December 2015 to support maritime security operations and theater security efforts in Europe and Afr
Russia to send its largest warship to fight ISIS
Russia is poised to send its sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, to the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea where the ship will take part in delivering airstrikes against ISIS strongholds in Syria. Admiral Kuznetsov is expected to head to the Mediterranean once it completes shipbuilders’
Minehunter gets ASW capability boost for English Channel exercises
A submarine hunting helicopter from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose has been supporting mine warfare training in the English Channel. The airborne anti-submarine Merlin from 824 Naval Air Squadron teamed up with its surface counter-part for a series exercises to familiarise HMS Hurworth, a Hunt-cla
Northrop Grumman gets $103 million for Navy counter IED systems production
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems a $103,423,433 contract modification for the counter IED program. Under the latest modification, Northrop Grumman is to start low-rate production of Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic W
Canadian frigate concludes SNMG 2 deployment
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Fredericton returned home in Halifax on July 5, following a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean and Black Seas on Operation Reassurance. The ship departed Halifax on January 5, 2016, and began Operation Reassuranceduties on January 8, 2016. It served with Sta
Royal Navy frigate ends six-month NATO deployment
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke is set to return home on July 7 from a six-month deployment working with a multi-national NATO task group in Northern Europe. The Portsmouth-based ship clocked up more than 22,500 nautical miles, in her 180 days away, working alongside NATO allies as part o
A glimpse of what goes into maintaining an amphibious assault ship
Navy ships as big as the U.S. Navy’s Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer need a lot of maintenance of damage control equipment that ensures the material integrity and survivability of the ship. One division aboard Boxer, known as equipment repair, or ER09, is dedicated to maintaining and re