Weapons Systems
Fincatieri launches Spartaco Schergat, Italy’s ninth FREMM frigate
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri launched the navy’s ninth FREMM frigate – the future ITS Spartaco Schergat – at its Riva Trigoso, Genoa, shipyard on January 26. Godmother of the ceremony was Mrs. Anna Rosa Aonzo Grillo, daughter of the Golden Medal for Military Value, Giuseppe Aonzo. After the launc
USS Porter visits Latvia on Baltic Sea tour
US Navy destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Riga, Latvia, on January 22 for a scheduled port visit. Porter is one of two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers operating in the Baltic currently, under the close watch of Russian Navy corvettes. “We would like to thank our Latvian hosts fo
German submarine U36 starting five-month training mission in Norway
The training deployment of U36 in Norway is part of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries which are jointly procuring six Type 212 CD (Common Design) submarines.
Canadian CH-148 returns from first operational deployment
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ville de Québec returned to Halifax on Monday, completing a six-month deployment with Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2). During the frigate’s deployment in European waters, an embarked CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter completed its first operational deployme
Royal Navy submarine nearly collided with ro-ro ferry in Irish Sea
An unidentified Royal Navy submarine nearly collided with ro-ro ferry Stena Superfast VII in a close quarters incident in the Irish Sea which is currently under investigation. The near-miss occurred on November 6 and the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) on January 21 decided to open a
Spain starting construction of new F-110 frigates in May
A new class of frigates for the Spanish Navy is starting construction this May, the country’s defense ministry confirmed on Monday. The five new frigates will be built by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia under a 4.3 billion euro ($4.9 billion) contract which was approved by the defense ministry in Decem
Royal Navy celebrating 50 years of nuclear deterrence missions
The Royal Navy announced it would be staging a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of nuclear deterrent patrols performed by Royal Navy submarines. Patrols carried out as part of operation Resolute are the longest operation ever carried out by the UK armed forces. Since April 1969 there ha
USS Donald Cook enters Black Sea on European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) entered the Black Sea after transiting the Dardanelles Strait on January 19. The destroyer will operate in the region for up to 21 days, as allowed by the Montreux Convention, conducting maritime security operations. Don
Sweden announces names of new A26 AIP submarines
The Swedish Navy’s two new A26 submarines will be named HSwMS Blekinge and HSwMS Skåne, Sweden’s defense ministry announced on January 16. The names of the two new submarines were approved by Swedish king Carl XVI Gustaf, according to the Swedish Navy ship naming tradition, the defense ministry said
Four-nation aircraft carrier drill underway in Persian Gulf
Frigates, destroyers and an aircraft carrier from four nations are currently underway in the Persian Gulf as part of the annual, multinational exercise Intrepid Sentinel 2019. The multilateral exercise is designed to increase capability and interoperability between the four nations. According to pho
Spanish Aegis frigate joins Carrier Strike Group 12 in Norfolk
The Spanish Navy’s Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez (F 104) arrived at Naval Station Norfolk on January 14 where it will become part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 and conduct joint training and exercises. Méndez Núñez, homeported in Ferrol, Spain, was commissioned in 2006. She join
US destroyer Gravely becomes NATO group flagship
US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) assumed the role of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) flagship in a change of command ceremony in Denmark on January 14. US Navy Rear Adm. Edward Cashman assumed command of SNMG1 from Royal Danish Navy Commodore Anders F
French Navy receives first F3-R upgraded Rafale
The French Navy officially received its first Rafale M fighter jet upgraded to the F3-R standard in a ceremony at the Landivisiau Naval Air Base. The first flight of F3-R from Landivisiau took place on December 17, the defense ministry said. The aircraft was delivered after the upgrade was approved
US destroyer Donald Cook resumes European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain resuming it’s eighth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, January 12. Donald Cook was in Naval Station Rota for a training and maintenance