Vessels
German NH90 wraps up mission demonstrations ahead of first deliveries
The German Navy’s new NH90 Sea Lion helicopter performed mission demonstrations for its relevant roles earlier this month, ahead of first unit deliveries later this year. The demonstrations included SAR missions, checking navy reconnaissance capabilities, and dropping off commandos and special force
Royal Navy landing ship Albion ends two-month Baltic Sea mission
Royal Navy landing platform dock HMS Albion returned to her home port of HM Naval Base Devonport in Plymouth, after leading an international task group on two months of exercises in the Baltic Sea. This was Albion’s first Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group mission that demonstrated
French Navy receives sixth FREMM frigate Normandie
French shipbuilder Naval Group delivered the sixth FREMM frigate, future FS Normandie, to the Marine Nationale (French Navy) on July 16. The anti-submarine warfare specialized frigate was delivered after being launched in February 2018 and starting sea trials in March this year. Normandie is the las
Royal Navy’s Martlet missile debuts on Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland
The missile will defend against small boat attacks.
French yard launching “world’s largest Aluminium OPV” for Philippine Coast Guard
French shipbuilder OCEA is ready to launch the 84-meter offshore patrol vessel OPV 270 for the Philippines Coast Guard at its Les Sables d’Olonne site on July 17. The shipbuilder says the vessel is the “largest aluminium OPV built in the world”. It is built under a contract from late 2017, which inc
First UK P-8A Poseidon starts test flights
The UK’s first Poseidon MRA Mk1 (P-8A) maritime patrol aircraft has completed its first flight, marking another milestone ahead of delivery in early 2020. Following this first test flight, the aircraft will transfer from Boeing Commercial Airplanes to Boeing Defense, Space and Security to be fitted
UK sending destroyer Duncan to Persian Gulf amid Iran tensions
The UK is sending Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan to the Persian Gulf in the wake of an escalation of tensions in the region following the scrapping of the Iran nuclear deal and a spate of attacks on commercial tankers. HMS Duncan was operating in the Black Sea when the ship’s new tasking was announced
Dutch Navy modernizing support, hydrographic ships
The Netherlands defense ministry has awarded Dutch shipbuilder Damen a contract for the refit and upgrades of three Royal Netherlands Navy ships. As part of the midlife upkeep (MLU) contract, Damen Shipyards Den Helder will modernize support ship HNLMS Pelikaan, along with hydrographic survey vessel
Royal Navy frigate gears for return to fleet after two-year overhaul
Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster is preparing to welcome crew back on board, two years after starting her overhaul in 2017. Upgrades to the ship included the installation of the new Artisan 3D radar, improved navigational radar and the new-generation Sea Ceptor missile system which replaces the now-
Italian Navy Special Forces receive fast boat Angelo Cabrini
Italian Navy special forces – the Operational Raiders Group (Gruppo Operativo Incursori) – received the first of two high-speed multi-purpose vessels from Intermarine on July 8. Angelo Cabrini was delivered a little over a year after it was launched and will support missions of GOI, which is part of
France’s ECA Group contracted for Chilean submarine systems upgrades
The Chilean Navy has awarded French defense contractor ECA Group a contract to upgrade the steering consoles of Scorpène-class submarines. The contract is part of the country’s wider submarines modernization program which will also see two Type-209 boats receive some features of the Scorpene-class s
USS Ross returns from eighth forward-deployed patrol
US Navy destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) returned to its Spanish homeport at Naval Station Rota on July 7, completing its eighth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol. The Arleigh Burke-class ship departed for patrol on March 8 to carry out naval operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations. R
Another Australian company brought in as Type 26 frigate supplier
An Adelaide-based composite materials developer has become the latest Type 26 global combat ship supplier, the Australian defense minister announced during a visit to BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Scotland. Linda Reynolds, the Australian defense minister visited Govan to witness the build progress
Internal leak prompts HMS Queen Elizabeth to return to port earlier than expected
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth made a surprise return to Portsmouth on July 9, despite having been expected to spend another week at sea in preparation for a training deployment to the US coast. The carrier was forced to return to its homeport due to an internal water leak which was