Weapons Systems
Iwo Jima ESG ships enter European waters ahead of NATO drill Trident Juncture
Ships assigned to the US Navy’s Iwo Jima expeditionary strike group (IWOESG) have entered the US 6th Fleet area of operations as part of a deployment in support of NATO exercise Trident Juncture 18. The strike group will join the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group and US 6th Fleet flagship USS Mou
Brazil shortlists four bidders for Tamandare corvette project
The Brazilian Navy has shortlisted four teams to advance to the next phase of the tendering process for the construction of its new Tamandare-class corvettes. The shortlist was originally expected to be announced by August with a final decision on the winning consortium coming two months later. This
Finland hosting over 40 vessels for exercise Northern Coasts
Finland will be hosting a total of 4,000 personnel and over 40 vessels for this year’s edition of the Baltic Sea drill Northern Coasts 2018 (NOCO). This will be the third time Finland is hosting the German Navy-led international exercise. According to the Finnish defense ministry, NOCO18 will involv
USS Harry S Truman joining largest NATO exercise Trident Juncture
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) will be joining the largest NATO exercise which is set to take place in Norway later this month. This is likely the first time an aircraft carrier will be taking part in Trident Juncture – an exercise whose 2018 edition is often referred to as on
Type 23 frigate HMS Kent rejoins fleet after 18-month refit
Royal Navy frigate HMS Kent formally rejoined the fleet in a ceremony on October 5, after undergoing an 18-month keel-to-mast revamp. The Type 23 frigate’s most significant upgrades included a new command system and the Sea Ceptor missile system. Replacing the veteran Seawolf across the fleet, Sea C
Navantia bags Spain-based US destroyer maintenance contract extension
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia announced it has received a contract extension for the maintenance of four US Navy destroyers forward-deployed to the Spanish Navy base Rota. The original contract first entered into force in November 2013 and includes one-year extension options until November 2020. Acco
International SMARTEX exercise wraps up in the Mediterranean Sea
Ships and personnel from the US, Spain, Germany and France concluded the four-day Smart Defense Exercise (SMARTEX) on September 28. SMARTEX is a NATO initiative designed to enhance interoperability and training between participating countries. During the exercise, Spanish sailors embarked aboard the
Royal Navy buying Teledyne-built SEAL delivery vehicles
The US State Department has approved the sale of three SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDV) MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS) to the United Kingdom. The contract is worth an estimated $90 million and includes spares, handling and test equipment, and program support. According to the statement,
Russia’s second Lada-class submarine launched 13 years after construction start
Russian shipbuilder Admiralty Shipyards has launched the Russian Navy’s second Project 677 (Lada-class) submarine ‘Kronshtadt’. The launching ceremony took place in St. Petersburg, on Thursday, September 20 – 13 years after construction works first started on the submarine in 2005. The first submari
After short deployment pause, USS Harry S. Truman returns to US 6th Fleet operations
US Navy aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman has resumed operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations after returning to its Norfolk home in July for a month-long deployment pause. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) initially deployed to the European theater April 11, 2018, and returned
Veolia starts deconstructing Redoutable-class nuclear submarines
Naval Group has started deconstruction operations on French Navy’s five first-generation ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) in Cherbourg, France. The project was awarded by French defense procurement agency to Naval Group in 2016. Subsequently, Naval Group has entrusted Veolia with the contract rel
UK hands back WWI U-boat propeller to Germany
A World War One U-boat propeller was handed back to the German Navy on August 31 following a joint operation between the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Historic England and North Wales Police. The propeller was formally handed over onboard FGS Bonn, a German replenishment ship which is currently
Croatian Navy ship joins NATO operation Sea Guardian
The Croatian Navy has sent the first contingent of troops to participate in the NATO maritime security operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean Sea. A ceremony for the navy’s warship, RTOP-41 Vukovar, and her crew of 50, was held in Split on September 3, Croatian defense ministry said in a statem
German minehunter Homburg to join SNMCMG 1
The German Navy is sending its Frankenthal-class minehunter Homburg (M 1069) to participate in the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1). On Tuesday, September 4, the ship is scheduled to depart its Kiel homeport. Homburg, which belongs to the navy’s 3rd Minesweeping Squadron, will