DefenceTalkTaiwan’s largest-ever missile ship went into service Tuesday after a ceremony presided over by President Ma Ying-jeou as the island strives to modernize its military in response to a perceived threat from China. Ma praised the corvette’s “stealth and speed” at the ceremony involving hundreds of naval officers and said it “reflects the determination by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/taiwans-largest-missile-ship-goes-into-service-63707/

DefenceTalkThe second of two French Mistral warships whose delivery to Russia has been suspended due to violence in east Ukraine began its first open sea outing Monday, AFP journalists observed. The Sebastopol was eased from its Saint-Nazaire port in western France by tugboats just after 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) for a scheduled five-day test voyage […]https://www.defencetalk.com/frances-second-russia-warship-tested-sea-63522/

DefenceTalkMoscow has sent Paris an official inquiry for an explanation of why a Mistral helicopter carrier was not delivered to Russia according to an earlier signed agreement, a high-ranking official from the Russian Defense Ministry’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) said Tuesday. “The FSMTC has sent an inquiry to the DGA [Direction Generale de […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-sends-france-formal-inquiry-on-non-delivery-of-mistral-warship-61873/

DefenceTalkChina has launched its most advanced warship for export. Built by the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, the frigate, named Independent, is made for the Bangladeshi navy and is due to be delivered next year. This will become the Bangladeshi navy’s most advanced warship, and be a real boost to its coastal defence capability. 25 knots […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-builds-advanced-warship-for-bangladesh-61097/

DefenceTalkRussia on Friday warned France of “serious” consequences unless Paris delivers by the end of this month a Mistral-class assault warship whose handover has been delayed by concerns over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine crisis, a report said. “We are preparing for different scenarios. We are waiting until the end of the month, then we […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-gives-france-until-end-of-november-to-deliver-warship-report-61019/

DefenceTalkFrance suspended Wednesday the delivery of the first of two Mistral-class warships to Russia “until November” after fierce criticism from its allies given the crisis in Ukraine. Paris agreed in 2011 to build and sell the two advanced helicopter assault ships to Russia for a total of 1.2 billion euros ($1.6 billion), with the first […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-suspends-delivery-of-warship-to-russia-over-ukraine-60529/

DefenceTalkThe British warship on which Argentina formally surrendered the island of South Georgia during the 1982 Falklands War began its final journey on Wednesday before being scrapped. HMS Plymouth could not be saved despite years of attempts to find a permanent home for the frigate. The ship, which entered naval service in 1961, was decommissioned […]https://www.defencetalk.com/british-falklands-warship-towed-away-for-scrap-60405/

DefenceTalkFrance’s contract to sell a pair of Mistral aircraft carriers to Moscow has come under fire in recent months, as relations between the West and Russia have deteriorated over Ukraine. Last month, President Barack Obama said it would be preferable if France pushed the “pause button” on the deal. “I have expressed some concerns, and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-criticized-for-warships-contract-with-russia-60248/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea on Thursday fired shells into waters near a South Korean warship on patrol south of the disputed Yellow Sea border, prompting an evacuation of residents on a nearby island, officials said. Two shells fell near the South Korean ship, which was sailing near the frontline island of Yeonpyeong, the South’s defence ministry said. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-fires-shells-near-south-korean-warship-59692/

DefenceTalkUS officials voiced concern Thursday at the sale of French warships to Moscow as they mulled tougher sanctions on Russia for the political upheaval triggered by the Ukraine crisis. “We have regularly and consistently expressed our concerns about this sale even before we had the latest Russian actions and we will continue to do so,” […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-concerned-at-sale-of-french-warships-to-russia-59534/