Ships, submarines and aircraft from Japan, US and India have kicked off the 22nd edition of the now trilateral naval exercise Malabar. The exercise runs from June 7 through June 16. Malabar 2018 is the first time the exercise has been conducted off the coast of Guam, and the latest in a continuing s
Northrop Grumman Systems has received a contract to build the third E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning and attack aircraft for the government of Japan. According to a Pentagon announcement from June 5, Northrop received $153.2 million for the construction of the aircraft which is expected to be com
Exercise Malabar, the trilateral naval drill taking place off the coast of Guam, will feature a total of 12 warships – including aircraft and helicopter carriers – and two submarines. The lineup for the maneuvers could have been even more impressive had the Royal Australian Navy been allowed to join
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Melbourne departed her home port of Fleet Base East bound to start a seven month deployment to the South West Pacific and North East Asia. Melbourne’s deployment will include participation in the second iteration of Indo-Pacific Endeavour, exercise Kakadu in Austra
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
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
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
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
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
The Republic of Korea Navy has launched ROKS Marado, its improved Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship, at Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction shipyard in Busan. The ceremony took place Monday and was hosted by South Korean defense minister Song Young-moo. According to the Defense Acquisition Prog
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Dewey (DDG 105) and USS Sterett (DDG 104) returned to San Diego, May 11, following a three-month deployment to Indo-Pacific. The destroyers operated in the South and East China Sea, Philippine Sea, and western Pacific. During the deployment
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) wrapped up a seven-month deployment to the Middle East and Asia Pacific returning to San Diego on May 7. CVN 71 returned to San Diego together with guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) which is part of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG)
US and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) ships and submarines are teaming up for a five-day anti-submarine and maritime domain awareness exercise which will be taking place in the Andaman Sea from April 25. The exercise is called Guardian Sea and will involve cooperative evolutions designed to enhance mutual ca
