The Nanchang, China’s first Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, was commissioned in the People’s Liberation Army Navy on Sunday morning in the port city of Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province. The 10,000 tonne-class destroyer officially debuted at the multinational naval parade in celebration of the Chinese navy’s 70th founding anniversary on April 23, 2019. Launched on […]

DefenceTalkThe U.S. government awarded Lockheed Martin an Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA) award for the production of the Multi-Mission Surface Combatant for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Lockheed Martin is being awarded a contract totaling $450 million to begin the detailed design and planning for construction of four Multi-Mission Surface Combatants (MMSC) that will be built […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-martin-begins-production-of-multi-mission-surface-combatant-for-saudi-arabia-71745/

DefenceTalkCanada has rejected an offer from a consortium of French and Italian shipbuilders to build 15 warships to renew its naval fleet, the group said Thursday. Naval Group and Fincatieri proposed building the new ships based on their Fremm frigate design, which is already in use by both the French and Italian navies. Their bid […]https://www.defencetalk.com/canada-rejects-fincantieri-naval-group-warships-offer-70982/

DefenceTalkIsrael mounted a battery of its Iron Dome anti-missile system on a warship Monday, as the vaunted rocket interceptor went operational at sea for the first time, senior officers said. Israel Air Force Brigadier General Zvika Haimovitch said the battery fitted to the corvette Lahav underwent a successful “live-fire test” and would be a valuable […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-mounts-iron-dome-battery-on-warship-military-70868/

DefenceTalkForeign-based US Navy ships are suffering a slew of problems that are raising risks and impacting military readiness, a government watchdog warned on Thursday in the wake of two deadly maritime mishaps. A review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that crews are being overworked and undertrained, just as vital maintenance is not being […]https://www.defencetalk.com/training-maintenance-issues-beset-overseas-us-navy-ships-70422/

DefenceTalkQatar announced on Wednesday a five-billion-euro order for seven warships from Italy in the midst of a nearly two-month diplomatic crisis with neighboring Saudi Arabia and its allies. “We have signed a contract on behalf of the Qatari navy to acquire seven warships from Italy for five billion euros ($5.9 billion),” Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/qatar-announces-5-billion-euro-order-for-warships-from-italy-70228/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy’s original $5.1 billion Unfunded Priorities List (UPL) released in February 2016 has grown into a massive $12 billion wish list. Curiously, the Navy says the new list is not a formal update of the original UPL. Rather, the service has provided a list of “executable” FY17 unfunded items, adding needs that have […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-funding-readiness-aircraft-weapons-ships-68972/

DefenceTalkThe Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command will send requests to 12 domestic and foreign companies to participate in tendering for a battle system for the Squadron 2020 vessels. Replies are expected by 13.2.2017. After this date an invitation to negotiate and an invitation to tender will be sent to selected suppliers during spring. The battle […]https://www.defencetalk.com/finland-issues-rfp-for-future-ships-combat-system-68692/

DefenceTalkThe Secretary of the Navy announced the results of the 2016 Force Structure Assessment (FSA), a year-long effort which began in January that was conducted to evaluate long-term defense security requirements for future naval forces today at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The 2016 FSA recommends a 355-ship fleet including 12 carriers, 104 large surface […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-secretary-of-the-navy-announces-need-for-355-ship-navy-68681/

DefenceTalkToday, NATO begins a new standing maritime security operation in the Mediterranean Sea named Operation Sea Guardian. Three NATO ships and two submarines – the Italian frigate ITS Aviere, the Bulgarian frigate BGS Verni, the Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik, the Greek submarine HS Papanikolis and the Spanish submarine ESPS Mistral – will conduct the first […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-operation-sea-guardian-kicks-off-in-the-mediterranean-68574/