Weapons Systems
Ballistic missile submarine becomes first Royal Navy ship to be named after King George VI
The fourth Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarine became the first Royal Navy ship ever to be named after King George VI as its name was revealed on May 3. The unveiling of the name of George VI – father of the Queen and a former naval officer who was mentioned in dispatches for his actions a
USS Abraham Lincoln joins major Italian exercise Mare Aperto
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and ships from its carrier strike group (ABECSG) have joined Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi as part of exercise Mare Aperto, an Italian multilateral maritime warfare exercise designed to promote interoperability and proficiency. The
US, UK jointly test energy storage systems for laser weapons
The US Navy and the UK defense ministry have tested an energy storage system capable of providing high-power electrical pulses for future systems under an agreement called Advanced Electric Power and Propulsion Project Arrangement (AEP3). UK’s Defence Equipment & Support office and Dstl joined force
Germany finally accepts delivery of lead F125 frigate FGS Baden-Württemberg
Germany’s defense procurement agency BAAINBw officially received the lead F125 frigate from the shipbuilding consortium on April 30. Representatives of the ARGE F125 consortium handed the frigate in an official ceremony at the Wilhelmshaven naval base. FGS Baden-Württemberg, the first of a total of
Russia’s lead Gremyashchy-class corvette starts first trials
Two brand new Russian Navy ships got underway from the Severnaya Verf in St. Petersburg on April 21 to start their trials in the Baltic Sea. The second Project 22350 frigate Admiral Kasatonov got underway for another round of trials after making its at-sea debut in December 2018. For corvette Gremya
GDEB gets $269m for US, UK SSBN missile tube work
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) a $269.3 million contract for work on missile tubes for the ballistic missile submarines of the US and UK. The contract will see GDEB manufacture 42 missile tubes and missile tube outfitting material for the US Navy’s
Second batch of German K130 ships making headway with first keel laying
German shipbuilder Lürssen is set to host a keel-laying ceremony for the first of a second batch of Germany Navy K130 (Braunschweig-class) corvettes at its Peene shipyard in Volgast on April 25. The keel-laying for future FGS Köln comes two months after construction under the program got underway in
US destroyer Ross stops in Bulgaria on first Black Sea port visit
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, April 15 for the first port visit of its Black Sea tour. The ship transited the Bosphorus Strait to enter the Black Sea on April 14. The navy did not say how long the destroyer would stay in the region but the 1936 [&he
US, French aircraft carriers meet up in the Red Sea
Two groups of ships assembled around aircraft carriers from the navies of the US and France gathered in the Red Sea for a three-nation passing exercise (PASSEX) on April 15. France’s Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group, composed of Marine Nationale’s FS Charles De Gaulle (R 91), F70AA-class air d
Italian Navy receives eighth FREMM frigate Antonio Marceglia
The Italian Navy has taken delivery of FREMM frigate Antonio Marceglia from shipbuilder Fincantieri at its Muggiano, La Spezia, shipyard. The eighth frigate in its class overall and the fourth in multipurpose configuration was delivered on April 16. The future ITS Antonio Marceglia was delivered aft
USS Abraham Lincoln pulls into Palma de Mallorca for first port call in seven years
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) arrived in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on April 15, for its first port visit in seven years. The ship completed completed a mid-life overhaul in 2017 and has been working up for this deployment ever since. The visit marks the first liberty port cal
US, French, UK navies kick off mine warfare drill in Persian Gulf
Ships from the navies of the US, the UK and France have kicked off the mine countermeasures exercise Artemis Trident in the Persian Gulf. “Mine laying poses a risk to naval ships as well as merchant shipping vessels,” the US 5th Fleet said in an announcement. “As mines threaten maritime traffic indi
Bomb scare on Royal Navy nuclear submarine yard a hoax
The BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness shipyard was evacuated on April 10 after a bomb was reported to have been found on one of the Royal Navy nuclear submarines under construction at the yard. An estimated 1,700 staff are believed to have been evacuated in the process. “Following an extensive sweep of
Finland picks Saab over Lockheed, Atlas for Squadron 2020 combat systems
The Finnish defense ministry has selected Sweden’s Saab as the preferred bidder for the development and delivery of combat systems for the Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2020 vessels. Finland’s defense minister Jussi Niinistö announced on April 8 that Saab’s offer performed best in the comparison of quotat