The US Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Eight (HSC 28) used the Baltic Sea exercise BALTOPS to test the service’s new Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) and Airborne Mine Neutralization System – Archerfish (AMNS-AF) in the region. “You should not underestimate the significance of
Paolo Thaon di Revel, the first unit in a new class of Italian Navy multipurpose offshore patrol ships (abbreviated to PPA in Italian), was launched on Saturday, June 15. The launching ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia, in the presence of Italian defense minister E
The Norwegian and German defense procurement agencies have evaluated a thyssenkrupp Marine Systems proposal for the construction of six Type 212 CD (common design) submarines and are now expecting a contract with the shipbuilder to be signed in the first half of 2020. The governments of Norway and G
HMS Trent, the third of the Royal Navy’s second-batch River-class offshore patrol vessels has completed her sea trials in the Firth of Clyde. HMS Trent was put through her paces between Arran, Bute and Great Cumbrae – the same waters where her older sisters HMS Forth and Medway were tested by a mix
French shipbuilder Naval Group has concluded negotiations for the construction of two Gowind corvettes for the United Arab Emirates Navy. The deal is estimated to be worth around €750 million (US $850 million) and has options for an additional two units in the class. The contract signing was first r
50 surface ships, 36 aircraft, two submarines, and 8,600 personnel are to take part in exercises.
US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) met up with the task group assembled around French Navy aircraft carrier, FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91), for a series of exercises in the Andaman Sea on June 7. FS Charles de Gaulle was accompanied by French anti-submarine destroyer FS Latouche Trevill
German Navy Type 212 submarine U36 is set to return to its Eckernförde homeport on Friday after almost five months of operations. The U36 operated out of Norway where it strengthened bonds with the Royal Norwegian Navy, which will soon receive its own Type 212 CD submarines. “The decision to base U3
Once the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth starts operations in 2021, it will be made available to deploy as part of NATO’s Readiness Initiative. The UK prime minister announced on May 4 that the first of the UK’s Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, together with the F-35 fighte
A Russian SU-35 fighter jet intercepted a US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea on June 4. While the first and third interaction were deemed safe, the US Navy said the second interaction was determined to be unsafe due to the SU-35 conducting a high spee
The US Navy intends to start replacing its four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, with newer platforms in 2020, the US 6th Fleet has announced. The navy did not disclose which ships would be stationed in Spain to replace USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Ross (DDG
Marines from a number of European countries raided the coast of Denmark for the conclusion of first stage of the two-month Baltic Sea maneuver Baltic Protector. British Royal Marines and their Dutch counterparts waged a battle around the towns of Esbjerg and Varde in western Denmark, taking on Danis
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is deploying to the US east coast this summer where it will carry out the final round of flight trials with F-35 fighter jets. The carrier’s final spell of preparations ahead of the declaration of initial operational capability in 2020 will include a p
The Italian Navy-hosted mine countermeasure exercise MINEX 2019 concluded off the coast of Sicily on May 30 after 10 days of evolutions. In addition to Italian and Spanish MCM assets, the exercise was joined by NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group Two (SNMCMG2). The exercise was aimed at prac
