US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) got underway from Yokosuka, Japan, for patrols and operations in the western Pacific Ocean. The carrier departed Japan May 29 together with the accompanying carrier strike group composed of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile dest
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
A US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and a Ticonderoga-class cruiser sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by China in a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) on May 27. USS Higgins (DDG-76) and USS Antietam (CG-54) sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands, which are control
US Navy Virginia-class submarine Indiana (SSN 789) has completed initial sea trials, submarine builder Huntington Ingalls Industries announced. The initial round of sea trials, known as alpha trials, provides an opportunity to test all systems and components. It includes submerging for the first tim
The US defense department has decided to withdraw its invitation for China to take part in the upcoming large-scale exercise Rim of the Pacific in Hawaii. This was announced by Pentagon spokesman Marine Lt. Col. Christopher Logan who said the decision was part of the US response to China’s actions i
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
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
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin on May 23 announced a successful test firing of two production representative Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) from a US Air Force B-1B bomber. In the event over the Sea Range at Point Mugu, California, a US Air Force B-1B from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, rel
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
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
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) arrived at US Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka to join the forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) in Japan. The arrival of Milius to the 7th Fleet on Tuesday, May 22, adds another upgraded Aegis Baseline 9 destroyer to the wa
Sailors aboard the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat got underway from the ship’s berth in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on May 18, to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. USS Constitution is sailing with Vietnam veterans onboard as a thank you for their years of service and sa
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
AWD Alliance, the alliance in charge of delivering Royal Australian Navy ‘s air warfare destroyers, is set to launch the third and final destroyer in the class in a ceremony on Saturday, May 19. NUSHIP Sydney, as the ship is to be named, will be launched at ASC’s Adelaide shipyard. Sydney is enterin
