Weapons Systems
French Navy’s fifth FREMM frigate officially enters service
FS Bretagne, the French Navy’s fifth FREMM frigate, has officially entered service after completing its maiden deployment. The French Navy admits ships into active service only after they complete their first operational tasking. Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) configured FS Bretagne started constructi
US destroyer, NATO ships enter Black Sea after Dardanelles Strait transit
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook and ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) entered the Black Sea on February 19. Donald Cook entered the Black Sea after last visiting the region in January 2019, when it visited Batumi, Georgia and con
Dynamic Guard concludes off Norway
NATO-led exercise Dynamic Guard concluded off the coast on February 15. Ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG 1), commanded by U.S. Rear Adm. Edward Cashman, were joined by other ally units in the region for ten days of evolutions. The exercise is executed concurrently with Norwegian led
NAVDEX: MBDA unveils Mistral missile launcher module SPIMM
French defense contractor MDBA has unveiled a new shipborne module for the launching of Mistral missiles called SPIMM (Self-Protection Integrated Mistral Module). The air-defense module is based on the SIMBAD-RC system and designed to equip ships of all types, particularly those without a combat sys
In a first: Italian Navy uses new M-40 target drones in carrier protection exercise
The Italian Navy recently used the new Leonardo-developed M-40 target drones in an exercise involving the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and Durand de la Penne-class destroyer ITS Francesco Mimbelli. The exercise saw the aircraft carrier and its complement of AV8B+ fighter aircraft training alongside t
USS Porter in Spain for repairs after European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a scheduled training and maintenance availability (TRAV) on February 13. The maintenance is being conducted after the ship completed a patrol in the US 6th Fleet Area of Operations.
Germany issues RFI for new radars for Sachsen-class air defense frigates
Germany’s defense procurement agency BAAINBw is seeking to replace the current SMART-L radars aboard the German Navy’s Sachsen-class (F124) air-defense frigates, according to a request for information (RFI) issued on January 28. As stated in the RFI, the goal is to replace the Dutch-built radars cur
Sunken Norwegian frigate nearly ready for salvage as all torpedoes detonated
All torpedoes from the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad have been removed and detonated over a course of two days as navy and civilian crews finalize preparations for the lifting of the ship. The country’s defense ministry did not specify exactly how many Sting Ray torpedoes were det
Leonardo to deliver electronic warfare training technology to NATO
NATO’s Joint Electronic Warfare Core Staff (JEWCS) agency has awarded Leonardo a contract worth approximately €180 million to provide new electronic warfare training equipment. According to an announcement from Leonardo, equipment will cover air, land and maritime domains and also includes a capabil
Atlas pitches MCM toolbox for new Belgian, Dutch minehunters
German-based technology company Atlas is offering a set of mine countermeasures (MCM) systems for a new class of minehunters that are to be built for the Belgian and Dutch Navy. The current minehunters operated by Belgium and the Netherlands were integrated by Atlas Elektronik and are equipped with
NATO’s SNMG1 readies for exercise Dynamic Guard
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group ONE (SNMG1) are on a scheduled port visit in Bergen where thy are finalizing planning for Allied Maritime Command led exercise Dynamic Guard 19-1. Hosted by Norway, Dynamic Guard is a multi-national exercise, merged with Norwegian led exercise TG 19-1 and ai
India’s GSL to build Russian-designed P11356 frigates in transfer of technology agreement
The Indian defense ministry has signed a contract with M/S Goa Shipyard Limited for the construction of two additional Project 11356 frigates for the Indian Navy. The contract for the two locally-built frigates follows an agreement between India and Russia from October 2018 under which two Project 1
US destroyer exits Black Sea after drills in Georgia
US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) exited the Black Sea after nine days of operations in the region. The destroyer transited the Bosphorus Strait en route to the Mediterranean Sea on January 28 after a port visit to Batumi, Georgia, and training with the country’s coast guard
Boeing gets $2,4b to build Poseidon MPAs for US, UK, Norway
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Boeing a $2.45 billion contract modification to start construction on a number of Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft for the US Navy, the UK and Norway. Under the latest contract modification, Boeing is to deliver 10 P-8As to the US Navy, four for the