DefenceTalkAustralia’s decision to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under a newly announced alliance with the United States and Britain has highlighted regional concerns over China’s growing maritime might in the Pacific. Justifying ditching an earlier deal with France for conventional submarines, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was “not a change of mind, it’s a change […]

DefenceTalkLeaders of the U.S., French and British navies on Thursday signed a trilateral agreement to continue enhancing their collaboration. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, French Navy Adm. Pierre Vandier and Tony Radakin, First Sea Lord of Britain’s Royal Navy met in Toulon, France, Thursday to sign the agreement, the U.S. Navy said in […]

Beijing: China, Russia and Iran will hold joint naval drills starting Friday in the Gulf of Oman, Beijing and Tehran said, at a time of heightened tensions since the US withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran. Set to take place from December 27 to 30, the military exercises aim to “deepen exchange and […]

Following a U.S. Department of Defense announcement in September 2019, BAE Systems announced that the U.S. Navy has signed a $2.68 billion indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for the purchase of thousands of additional APKWS® Laser-Guided Rockets, the company’s combat-proven, low-cost precision munition. The contract demonstrates continuing demand for precision strike capabilities that empower and protect […]

China’s second aircraft carrier entered service on Tuesday, adding major firepower to its military ambitions as it faces tensions with self-ruled Taiwan as well as the US and regional neighbours around the disputed South China Sea. The commissioning of the warship, named the Shandong, puts China in a small club of nations with multiple aircraft […]

Damen Shipyards Group and its partner PT PAL have completed the installation of combat systems to the first of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence’s series of SIGMA 10514 Perusak Kawal Rudal (PKR) guided missile frigates, the KRI Raden Eddy Martadinata. The combat systems installation project’s successful conclusion was marked by a small handover ceremony on […]

The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded a nine-ship — eight with Virginia Payload Module (VPM) — Block V contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) Dec. 2. The contract includes an option for one additional submarine with VPM. The Block V contract is a $22.2-billion fixed-price incentive fee, multi-year procurement contract for fiscal years 2019 […]

Thirteen NATO countries are taking part in simulated air and missile defence drills off the United Kingdom’s southern coast from Thursday (31 October 2019). The 6-day Naval Electro Magnetic Operations – or “NEMO” – trials will test how allied navies can defend themselves against anti-ship cruise and hypersonic missiles using state-of-the-art electronic defences. “NEMO 19 […]

Russia has sent about 10 submarines into the North Atlantic in the largest such operation since the end of the Cold War, the Norwegian military said on 29 October. Since last week, the Russian submarines – based on the Kola Peninsula in Russia’s far north – have been dispatched for manoeuvres in the Atlantic Ocean, […]

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) got underway today for sea trials from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) division following a 15-month pierside maintenance period. “I am proud of the crew’s efforts to get USS Gerald R. Ford back out to sea,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “The Navy has […]