The Russian Navy has received a new Delta IV ballistic missile submarine ‘Podmoskovye’ after the boat spent 18 years undergoing refit and modernization at the Zvezdochka shipyard. The Project 667BDRM Delfin-class (NATO classification: Delta IV) submarine had its missile compartment removed and is no
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain arrived in Puerto Princesa, the Philippines for a brief port call on December 24. During the visit, the McCain crew will participate in a series of community service projects and sporting events. The visit comes months after
Russian Navy’s Sava-class guided missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov is ready for a return to the fleet after spending five years in the port for repairs, Russian shipbuilder Zvezdochka announced September 26. The Project 1164 cruiser left the shipyard December 24 after completing a series of at sea tri
China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, started blue water drills on Saturday, heading towards the West Pacific with a carrier task group. Chinese state media reported that this was the carrier’s first “distant seas” deployment. According to China’s Xinhua news agency, the Liaoning and other s
The U.S. Navy received USS Gabrielle Giffords, littoral combat ship number ten, during a ceremony held at Austal’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard. The future USS Gabrielle Giffords is the fifth Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) delivered to the USN since 2009 and the fourth naval vessel deli
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) concluded its participation in the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) and returned to its homeport of Everett, Washington, on December 23. During the two-month underway, Sampson became the first U.S. warship to visit New Zealand in
The Blue crew of the U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) returned home concluding a 92-day strategic deterrent patrol. The submarine crew entered their homeport of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington, on December 23. “We are glad to have the USS Pennsylvan
After 12 years of idleness in port, U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) deployed this year for a busy 2016. After six months underway, the ship is now set to return to Norfolk on December 24. Once there, Wasp will undergo a planned maintenance availability that is expected to be fin
Germany is modernizing the last three of ten Frankenthal 332A class minehunters with a new mine countermeasure system. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) announced December 21 that Atlas Elektronik, a joint company of ThyssenKrupp and
The U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center has awarded Lockheed Martin a $150.9 million contract for the Target Sight System (TSS) on the AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. The TSS is a large-aperture midwave forward-looking infrared sensor with a laser designator/rangefinder turret. The system provides the
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $146.7 million contract modification to increase the design support requirements for the Columbia-class submarine. The new class of submarines, formerly known as the Ohio Replacement, are replacing the U.S. Navy’s curren
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations after departing its homeport earlier his month. Cole, assigned to Commander Task Force 65, entered Europe on December 21 to conduct a regularly-scheduled deployment in support of
A junior U.S. Navy officer embarked on a Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy ship as part of the newly created Combined Edge junior officer exchange program, December 21-23. Combined Edge was formed to improve combined warfighting integration between the U.S. and ROK navies by allowing U.S. Navy officers t
The South Korean defense procurement agency announced December 21 that it has ordered two new frigates to be built for its navy. The frigates were ordered three months ahead of the schedule with the aim of safeguarding and boosting local shipbuilding industry, the agency said. South Korea’s Defense
