Weapons Systems
USS Donald Cook starts European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) got underway from its forward-deployed homeport of Naval Station Rota, Spain, On November 19 to start its eighth patrol in the US 6th Fleet area of operations. Donald Cook deployed two days after sister ship USS Carney (
Royal Navy carrier meets Zumwalt destroyer in the Atlantic
Two days after leaving her construction site in Maine, US Navy’s stealth destroyer Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) met with Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) for a photo exercise in the Atlantic Ocean. Joining the two on November 11 were Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer US
USS Carney wraps up European patrol
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) completed a four-month patrol in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, returning to Naval Station Rota, Spain, November 17. Carney departed Rota July 27, 2018, and began its fifth Forward-Deployed Naval Force patrol in Europe and Africa. “From Va
Polish OPV ‘Slazak’ starts first sea trials
The Polish Navy’s 95-meter offshore patrol vessel ORP Slazak got underway from Gdynia to start her first sea trials, 17 years after construction on the ship got underway. The Polish Navy hopes to receive the vessel by March 2019 when acceptance trials are expected to be completed and the vessel hand
Marte ER anti-ship missile aces first firing
The MBDA-developed Marte ER anti-ship missile has successfully completed its first firing, the French company has said. The missile passed this major phase in its development in a trial that was carried out on November 9 in an Italian test range. According to MBDA, the Marte ER missile flew for more
Keel laid for third Italian Navy PPA ship
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri held a keel laying ceremony for the third Italian Navy multipurpose patrol ship at its Riva Trigoso shipyard on November 8. The third Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA) ship will also be the first in a “Light+” configuration. It is expected to be launched in 202
Royal Navy’s eighth Type 26 frigate to be named HMS London
The name of the UK capital will return to the Royal Navy fleet with the eighth Type 26 frigate, Royal Navy’s First Sea Lord has announced. The future HMS London joins the previously-named HMS Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast, and Birmingham while the fifth, sixth, and seventh ship are yet to be named. The
After Trident Juncture, USS Harry S Truman docks in Portugal
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, for a port visit on November 10, after completing its participation in NATO exercise Trident Juncture. The carrier dropped anchor in Portugal after over a month of operations in the North Atlantic and becoming the first US carr
MBDA gets contract to deliver new-generation MICA NG missile for French Navy, Air Force
The French defense procurement agency DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has contracted missile-maker MBDA to develop the next generation of the MICA missile. The Missile d’Interception et de Combat Aérien Nouvelle Génération program will develop the new air-to-air missile for the French Navy an
Update: Norwegian Navy working on securing frigate to land
Norway’s AEGIS frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad has spent the night on the rocks after sustaining a gashing hole in her hull following a collision with a commercial tanker on November 8. In their latest update, the Norwegian Navy said the frigate remained in place on the rocks in Hjeltefjorden where she
Norwegian frigate collides with tanker after Trident Juncture
Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad collided with an oil tanker in a fjord in Norway as it was returning from NATO exercise Trident Juncture. The incident occurred at 4:26 (local time) on November 8 in Hjeltefjorden, north of Sotra, Norwegian Armed Forces said. Eight sailors have suffer
Turkish Navy commissions third MILGEM corvette TCG Burgazada
The Turkish Navy’s s third Ada-class corvette – TCG Burgazada – entered service in a ceremony on November 4. Burgazada was commissioned after entering water in June 2016 and starting sea trials in March this year. The 99-meter corvette is part of the Turkish MILGEM project. Milgem (which translates
Trident Juncture: Norway uses commercial shipping to test “Total Defence Concept”
The Norwegian defense ministry is using commercial vessels to test a new concept of operations as part of the 31-nation NATO drill Trident Juncture which is taking place in Norway. Norwegian company Simon Møkster has disclosed that its offshore supply vessel Stril Mar is taking part in the exercise
NATO’s SNMCMG1 destroys 2 WWII mines during Trident Juncture
Ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) located and destroyed two mines from World War II while conducting training as a part of Trident Juncture 2018. While the group was practicing clearing sea routes for an amphibious assault, Norwegian minehunter HNoMS Maaloey detect