Vessels
US, ROK Navy hone mine countermeasures skills during Foal Eagle 2016
The U.S. and the Republic of Korea (ROK) navies engaged in a mine countermeasures exercise, held March 28 – April 1, as part of exercise Foal Eagle 2016. During the exercise, U.S. and ROK Sailors, including explosive ordnance disposal divers, worked together to practice clearing shipping routes and
Philippine armed forces host Balikatan 2016
The Philippine armed forces are hosting this year’s Balikatan which is set to run from April 4 – 16 in the province of Antique, Philippines. Balikatan is an annual multi-layered exercise between the Philippines and the U.S. Pacific Command which spans humanitarian and civic assistance events, and jo
John F. Kennedy’s arresting gear system completes first aircraft arrestment
The company that is set to equip the U.S. Navy’s next aircraft carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), with an arresting gear system on April 1 said its system completed the first aircraft arrestment. According to General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system c
Philippine Navy acquires two anti-submarine helicopters
The Philippine Department of Defense has signed a contract with Finmeccanica to deliver two AgustaWestland AW159 helicopters to the Philippines Navy. Finmecanica’s UK division of is scheduled to deliver the helicopters in 2018 from the Yeovil plant in the United Kingdom. Valued at over €100m, the or
US Navy awards Austal, Lockheed LCS contracts
The U.S. Navy has awarded Austal and Lockheed Martin $564 million contracts each for the construction of further littoral combat ships (LCS). Under the contract, Lockheed will be building ship number 25 while Austal is to deliver LCS 26 as the prime contractor. Lockheed Martin builds the Freedom-var
Britain mulls Omani naval port development
Britain is intending to form a joint venture company between the British defence contractor Babcock International and the Oman Drydock Company that would develop the Omani Duqm Port to support naval vessels. During a visit to Oman, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the multi-million pound undert
US Navy funds DDG 124 destroyer construction
The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics a $644.3 million contract modification for the planning and construction of Harvey C. Barnum (DDG 124) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. This modification fully funds this ship, which was awarded as part of a multi-year competition for DDG 51 class destroyers
Qatar Emiri Navy signs MoU with Nakilat for simulator training centre
Qatar Emiri Navy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatari LNG shipping company Nakilat for the establishment of a national naval centre for simulator training. The signed MoU will also allow the Navy forces to train on board Nakilat’s fleet of vessels, the shipping company informed t
Goa Shipyard delivers second patrol vessel to Indian Coast Guard
Defence shipbuilder Goa Shipyard Limited has delivered ICGS Shoor, the second improved 105-meter patrol ship, to the Indian Coast Guard. Launched on March 21, 2015, the vessel was delivered ahead of schedule during a March 23 ceremony held at GSL. According to GSL, the new class of six OPV ships wil
HMAS Darwin concludes first Middle East patrol
Royal Australian Navy’s Adelaide-class guided missile frigate HMAS Darwin has completed its first patrol in the Middle East region, arriving into the Port of Muscat, Oman. The 23-day patrol within the Combined Maritime Forces will be the ship’s longest single stretch at sea during this deployment. D
France receives first multi-mission ship d’Entrecasteaux
The French Navy on March 25 received its first new multi-mission ship built by Kership, a joint venture between DCNS and Piriou. d’Entrecasteaux, as it was named by the French Navy, is the first of three B2M ships which were expected to be delivered in 2015 and 2016. France will operate the 65-metre
Canadian Navy starts experimental ship crewing/deployment program
The Royal Canadian Navy has picked HMCS Montréal for ‘X-ship’ – a program designed to advance innovative naval concepts in all areas of warship deployment, crewing and sustainment. For the next five years, Montréal will have this additional role along with its regular naval requirements. Lieutenant-
British warship shadows Russian naval ships in UK waters
A Royal Navy warship has located and escorted a Russian naval task group which was sailing in British waters, through the English Channel and up the East Coast of the UK, the Royal Navy said. HMS Somerset, a Type 23 Frigate, along with her Merlin helicopter was used to detect and monitor the movemen
US Navy to christen destroyer Ralph Johnson
The U.S. Navy is set to christen the newest Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyer Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) during an April 2 ceremony at Ingalls Shipbuilding facilities in Pascagoula, Mississippi. U.S. Navy’s 64th destroyer Ralph Johnson is the 30th destroyer Huntington Ingalls Industries has built