Weapons Systems
US Navy conducts second SeaRAM live-fire test in Spain
The U.S. Navy has carried out a second live-fire test of the SeaRAM® anti-ship defense system installed on the USS Carney stationed in Rota, Spain. USS Carney thereby became the second Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer stationed in Rota, Spain to fire the missile system. On March 4, 2016,
FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to join Op Sophia in September
German Navy’s F123 Brandenburg-class frigate FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will depart her homeport in Willhelmshaven on August 16 to join the EU mission against human trafficking in the Mediterranean Sea. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is expected to join the EUNAVFOR Op Sophia at the beginning of September,
Finland Navy stages annual national shooting exercise
METU-16, the Finnish Navy’s annual firing exercise, will be held from August 22 to 26 and August 29 to September 2 in the Archipelago Sea and the Gulf of Finland, the navy has informed. Hämeenmaa-class minelayers, Katanpää-class Mine Hunter Coastal Vessels, Rauma- and Hamina-class fast attack missil
Spanish frigate Cristobal Colon returns from combat system trials
Spanish Navy’s F-100 AEGIS-equipped frigate Cristóbal Colón arrived at her home port in Ferrol, Spain on August 2 after a 45-day deployment to North American waters where the ship carried out weapon systems trials. Cristóbal Colón visited the U.S. Naval Base of Norfolk for combat system ship qualifi
U.K. MoD to grant first £1bn for first Successor submarine
UK’s Ministry of Defence is considering granting over £1 billion to Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems so they can start building the first of four Successor ballistic missile submarines. According to a report by The Financial Times, the Ministry might allocate approx. $1.3 billion of funds as early as Sep
Raytheon awarded funds to improve MK-31 RAM missile
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $36.6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract option for design agent and engineering support services for the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) upgraded MK-31 Guided Missile Weapon System improvement program. The MK-31 RAM Guided M
USS Carney helps rescue 97 migrants from the Mediterranean
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) aided in the rescue of 97 migrants adrift in the Mediterranean Sea on July 29. According to the Navy, Carney provided aid for the migrants until the SOS Mediterranee ship MS Aquarius arrived and took the migrants to safety.
USS Ross Visits Odessa, Ukraine
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) pulled into Odessa, Ukraine, July 23 for a scheduled port call as part of Sea Breeze 2016. While in port, Ross plans on hosting a reception as part of Sea Breeze 2016 and conducting a community relations project. “We are looking forward
Spanish Aegis-equipped frigate tests missiles off US East Coast
Spanish Navy’s Aegis-equipped frigate Cristóbal Colón (F-105), the most modern Spanish warship, recently fired SM-2 and Evolved SeaSparrow missiles off the U.S. East Coast during a test attended by the Spanish Navy Chief and the Minister of Defense. The ship is currently in the process of testing an
Royal Navy nuclear submarine collides with merchant vessel off Gibraltar
HMS Ambush, a nuclear-powered Astute-class submarine, collided with a merchant vessel off Gibraltar on July 20, the Royal Navy confirmed in a statement. According to the Navy, the submarine suffered some external damage but there is “absolutely no damage” to her nuclear plant and no member of the sh
Lithuanian minehunter LNS Skalvis joins NATO mine countermeasure group
LNS Skalvis (M53), a Lithuanian Navy minehunter arrived in Kiel, Germany, last weekend to join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1). The Lithuanian ship will take part in SNMCMG1 activities and exercises in the Baltic and the North Seas until December. Eight ships from Belgium,
German Navy’s first F125 frigate reaches new home
FGS Baden-Württemberg, the first of four German Navy F 125 frigates, was transferred from the Hamburg shipyard to her new port in the Wilhelmshaven navy base on July 18. Eight ships had streamers flying topmast high to welcome the latest “family member” entering the base with manned rails and ship h
Sea Breeze 2016 takes off in Ukraine
The U.S.-Ukraine co-hosted multinational maritime exercise Sea Breeze 2016 started in Odessa, Ukraine on July 18. First Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Rear Adm. Andrii Tarasov welcomed the United States and the participating nations at the opening ceremony. “We are delighted to host our mari
Britain decides to renew Trident programme
The British House of Commons has voted to renew the Trident nuclear programme which will replace the Royal Navy’s four Vanguard-class submarines with new ones. The parliament took the vote after five hours of debate on July 18. The decision to renew the programme was backed by 472 votes to 117. “We