Vessels
Italian-hosted mine warfare drill wraps up off Sicily
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
US Navy destroyer conducts air defense drill with Portugal
The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) has completed a series of tactical air defense and fighter control exercises with Portuguese Navy and Air Force counterparts. The exercises were conducted off the coast of Portugal on May 27, 2019. The drill began with Ross
France’s FS Charles de Gaulle in Singapore for deployment’s furthest port visit
French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle has arrived in Singapore where the French defense minister will be taking part in the Shangri-La Dialogue from May 31 to June 2. Singapore’ Changi Naval Base is the farthest port call of the aircraft carrier’s deployment as part of operation Clemencau 201
Royal Navy-led task group assembles in the Baltic
A nine-ship task group has gathered off the Danish coast to start operations as part of a UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force. The group will work together in the first act of the two-month-long Operation Baltic Protector, designed to demonstrate the resolve of the UK, its allies and nations in the reg
France accelerates joint light helicopter program
France is speeding up its helicopter program that will see one platform replace five legacy helicopters across the three branches of the country’s armed forces. In an announcement on May 27, French defense minister Florence Parly announced that the launch of the Joint Light Helicopter (Hélicoptère I
New Italian aircraft carrier launched 15 months after construction start
The Italian Navy’s new landing helicopter dock (LHD) Trieste was launched in a ceremony at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia shipyard on May 25. The multirole and multipurpose amphibious vessel was launched in the presence of Italian president Sergio Mattarella and the Italian Navy chief Adm. Va
Baglietto to build combat boats for Italian Navy LHD Trieste
The landing helicopter dock is scheduled to be launched this month.
Israel’s first Sa’ar 6 corvette INS Magen officially named in Germany
INS Magen, the first of four Israeli Navy Sa’ar 6 corvettes, has been officially named in Germany. The ceremony took place at the thyssenkrupp Marine Systems yard in Kiel on May 23. The ship was named by Eti Sharvit, wife of Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit, Chief of the Israeli Navy, in presence of high-le
Belgian, Dutch minehunter contract officially awarded
The Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, composed of Naval Group and ECA Group, officially received a contract for the construction of twelve mine-hunting vessels for the navies of the Netherlands and Belgium. As revealed, the 12 ships will be equipped with some 100 drones, clustered in ten mission
HMS Queen Elizabeth afloat after first docking period, ready for final round of trials
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is afloat again after completing its first docking and maintenance period at Babcock’s Rosyth site. After the planned six-week work package was successfully delivered, the aircraft carrier departed Rosyth through the specially designed roller-fender sy
Baltic Sea mine warfare drill Open Spirit concludes in Lithuania
The Lithuanian-led historical ordnance disposal operation Open Spirit 2019 concluded on May 16 after two weeks of maneuvers. Open Spirit is an international maritime operation led on a rotating basis by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The Lithuanian Navy led the operation in 2019 in coordination with
Canada, France achieve supersonic firsts during missile defense drill off Scotland
The 9-nation live-fire integrated air and missile defense exercise Formidable Shield 2019 concluded at the UK defense ministry’s Hebrides Range off Scotland on May 19. The US-led drill helped allies hone interoperability in defending against missiles but it also saw Canadian and French Navy ships ac
HMS Albion deploys for Baltic Sea task group deployment
Royal Navy amphibious transport dock HMS Albion has deployed to the Baltic Sea where it will lead a multinational task group as part of a UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). All three service branches of the UK armed forces will take part in the first JEF maritime deployment, which started as HM
UK approves Type 26 frigate engine contract for GE’s Rugby site
The UK defense ministry has approved an engine order for the second batch of Royal Navy Type 26 frigates, securing the immediate future of the General Electric’s Rugby site. The contract is important because GE had previously announced the site’s closure with its work being moved to Nancy in France