Weapons Systems
Navy wins big in Dutch 2018 defense white paper
The Royal Netherlands Navy, with over EUR6 billion in funds set aside for its acquisition and maintenance programs, is the major winner of the Netherlands defense ministry’s 2018 white paper. Army and air force follow with little over two and one billion euros, respectively, while 1.7 billion is to
Turkey’s third MILGEM corvette ‘Burgazada’ starts trials
Turkish Navy’s third MILGEM corvette Burgazada (F-513) got underway from the Istanbul Naval Shipyard earlier this month to start her first sea trials. TCG Burgazada was launched on June 18, 2016, after starting construction in December 2014. According to the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Indu
Naval Group announces first French FTI frigate suppliers
French shipbuilder Naval Group recently announced the selection of first equipment suppliers for the five future intermediate-size frigates (FTI) to be built for the Marine Nationale. As part of the framework construction contract awarded to Naval Group by the French Defence Procurement Agency in Ap
Forward-deployed US destroyer USS Donald Cook starts US 6th Fleet patrol
The US Navy’s froward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) got underway from Spain, to start a patrol in the US 6th Fleet area of operations. The destroyer’s seventh patrol started on March 12, as the ship and crew departed Naval Station Rota. Donald Cook wi
Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland underway after Sea Ceptor refit
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland got underway for the first time since 2016 after undergoing a major refit. The frigate was delivered to the crew by shipbuilder Babcock in October 2017 and is now starting trials and training evolutions before returning to operations. The 24-year-old fri
DIMDEX: Leonardo unveils new OTO Marlin 40 naval turret
Italian-based defense contractor Leonardo has unveiled its new OTO Marlin 40 naval turret at the 2018 edition of Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference (DIMDEX) in Qatar. The new OTO Marlin 40 is a system designed for fast, lightweight vessels and suited for anti-missile defense
USS Iwo Jima arrives in Israel for exercise Juniper Cobra 2018
US Navy’s Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) arrived off the coast of Israel on March 6 to take part in exercise Juniper Cobra 2018. Although Iwo Jima and the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will not participate directly in the ballistic missile defense portion of
US Navy destroyer exits the Black Sea
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) departed the Black Sea on March 3, after conducting maritime security operations. The US Navy vessel entered the Black Sea in February 2018, joining sister ship USS Ross. Carney’s crew visited Varna for a scheduled port visit to st
Pakistan contracts Turkey’s STM for modernization of second Agosta 90B submarine
Turkish defense contractor STM announced it has been awarded a contract to modernize a second Pakistan Navy Agosta 90B submarine. The contract signing ceremony took place March 1 at the premises of Pakistan defense ministry’s procurement agency. The contract for the modernization of the first submar
Turkey starts construction of third Reis-class submarine
Turkey’s Gölcük shipyard hosted a keel laying ceremony on February 25 to officially mark the start of construction works on the Turkish Navy’s third Reis-class (Type 214) submarine. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım joined the ceremony and performed the ceremonial first weld. The third submarin
USS Virginia wraps up six-month deployment to Europe
The lead ship of the US Navy’s Virginia-class fast attack submarines returned to her New London homeport in Connecticut following a six-month deployment to Europe. USS Virginia (SSN 774) was welcomed to the base on February 22 . During the deployment, Virginia steamed approximately 27,500 nautical m
Germany’s third F125 frigate ‘Sachsen Anhalt’ begins builder’s trials
Future FGS Sachsen Anhalt, the German Navy’s third F125 class frigate, set sail for first time on February 22 for a series of in-port trials. During the next two weeks, shipbuilders and navy officials will test the ship’s technical systems and equipment, including its propulsion system, maneuvering
German minehunter FGS Bad Bevensen joining SNMCMG1
German Navy’s Frankenthal-class mine hunter FGS Bad Bevensen is scheduled to depart its Kiel homeport on February 25 to join the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SNMCMG1). The minehunter will spend the next five months operating in the North and Baltic Seas. FGS Bad Bevensen will be unde
Dutch submarine HNLMS Walrus concludes Portsmouth visit
Royal Dutch Navy submarine HNLMS Walrus paid a weekend visit to Portsmouth, UK, becoming the first submarine in two years to visit the Royal Navy base. Walrus is on the return leg of her operational sea training which she is undergoing after completing a dry-dock maintenance in 2017. Prior to enteri