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
Navantia Australia and BAE Systems have signed a contract for the maintenance of Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class air warfare destroyers. According to Navantia, the agreement for “platform system design and engineering assurance services” was signed at the Garden Island Naval Base on Tuesday, 15 M
US shipbuilder Bath Iron Works (BIW) marked the construction of future Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) at its shipyard in Bath, Maine, on May 17. The start of construction milestone signifies the first 100 tons of steel being cut. The ship, a Flight IIA: Technology Inser
The US Navy has shared a video of its Freedom variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) launching Longbow Hellfire missiles as part of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) developmental testing (DT) The live-fire missile exercise took place off the coast of Virginia on May 11 and sa
