Weapons Systems
Damen-Saab duo unveils Walrus-replacement submarine design
Swedish submarine specialist Saab and its Dutch partner Damen have unveiled official images of their proposal for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Walrus-class submarine replacement program. Speaking to Dutch newspaper Telegraaf, the heads of two companies provided drawings and first details on the capa
Sea Venom/ANL missile demonstrates sea skimming skills in Panther helicopter launch
French missile manufacturer MBDA recently carried out a second development firing of its Sea Venom/ANL missile using a French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA – Direction Générale de l’Armement) Panther test helicopter for launch at Ile Du Levant in southeast France. The firing took place on April 18
Norway to host 70 vessels, 40,000 personnel for Trident Juncture 2018
The upcoming flagship NATO exercise Trident Juncture 2018 is expected to be one of the largest ever with 40,000 personnel, around 120 aircraft and as many as 70 ships converging this fall in Norway. Compared to the 2015 edition of the exercise which was said to be “the largest NATO exercise in a dec
UK, France launch joint cruise/anti-ship missile inquiry
The committees of the British House of Commons and the French National Assembly have decided to launch a joint inquiry into the development of a new generation of cruise and anti-ship missiles. Following the proposal of Dr. Julian Lewis, chairman of the House of Commons Defence Committee, and Jean-J
Royal Navy’s new anti-air Sea Ceptor missile system enters service
A new anti-air missile system designed to protect the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers as well as other ships in the fleet has been declared operational, the UK defense ministry has announced. Developed at a cost of about £850m (approx. US$1.1b), the Sea Ceptor is the Royal Navy’s new short-range
Royal Navy’s Dreadnought submarines facing £2.9b funding gap
The UK defense ministry’s program for the development of a new class of nuclear missile submarines and Trident nuclear program renewal is facing a £2.9b “affordability gap”, a review by spending watchdog National Audit Office (NAO) has found. This is in addition to the pressure faced by the defense
Watch a Russian Borei submarine launch a Bulava SLBM salvo
The Russian Navy has shared a video of its lead Borei-class submarine Yuriy Dolgorukiy firing a salvo of four RSM-56 Bulava submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). The test took place on May 22 and saw the Project 955 submarine launch the SLBMs towards the Kura testing range from a submerged p
Italian FFG(X) contender arrives in Norfolk
The Italian Navy’s FREMM frigate ITS Alpino (F594) has arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, for the first stop of her North American tour. The tour will help Fincantieri, and the Italian industry, showcase the FREMM frigate design Fincantieri is offering for the US Navy’s next frigate, dubbed FFG(X). Alpin
Multi-lateral anti-submarine warfare drill starts in Norway
A multi-lateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise in the Norwegian Sea got underway May 9 as navy assets from five ally countries gathered in Bodo, Norway, for the pre-sail conference. The exercise is hosted by Norway and led by the US Navy. ASW forces from Canada, France, Norway, the United Kin
Russian Navy to commission sixth Buyan-M corvette Vyshny Volochyok this month
The Russian Navy is scheduled to commission its sixth Project 21631 corvette ‘Vyshny Volochyok’ by the end of this month, the Russian defense ministry announced on Tuesday. Vyshny Volochyok is part of the Buyan-M class of corvettes, an upgraded version of the three Project 21630 (Buyan) vessels whic
Spain-based destroyer USS Ross concludes forward-deployed patrol
US Navy’s Spain-based Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) completed its sixth patrol in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, returning to its forward-deployed location at Naval Station Rota on May 7. Ross departed Rota Jan. 8, 2018, and in the course of its four-month patr
First unmanned minesweeping system delivered to Royal Navy
An autonomous minesweeper system that can safely clear sea lanes of mines has been handed over to the Royal Navy, UK Defence Minister Guto Bebb has announced. Following a period of successful trials, the demonstrator system could go on to be used by the navy in the future to defeat the threat of mod
Pella launches Russian Navy’s Project 22800 missile corvette
Russian shipbuilder Pella has launched the Project 22800 second serial missile corvette Shkval. The launching ceremony took place at Pella’s new shipbuilding complex on May 5, 2018. With a length of 67 meters and a width of 11 meters, the fast attack craft was designed to combat operations in the ne
HMS Duncan meets with other NATO ships in Aegean Sea
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan recently led a meeting of NATO vessels in the Aegean Sea. The destroyer is currently flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2. Duncan, in company with the Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik and Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria, met up with German frigate FGS Bayern a