
China Launched 6 ASBM into the South China Sea
Details on the recent (July 1st) Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) launches in the South China Sea are beginning to surface.

Details on the recent (July 1st) Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) launches in the South China Sea are beginning to surface.

Today in Cherbourg, Naval Group launched the Suffren, during a ceremony attended by French President Emmanuel Macron. Suffren is the first of six new generation, Barracuda-type, nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) for the French Navy.

A new lightweight version of the Bal-E coastal defense system was unveiled at IMDS 2019. The Rubezh-ME is based on a more compact Kamaz 8×8 chassis and deploys the same KH-35 family of anti-ship missiles. IMDS is the naval defense exhibition which opened its doors today in St Pertersburg, Russia.

Dutch State Secretary Barbara Visser, Belgian defense minister Didier Reynders and French companies Naval Group and ECA Robotics signed the contract for 12 next generation MCM vessels and their equipment in Brussels, on July 5, 2019.

The U.S. Navy declared initial operational capability (IOC) of the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter June 28 clearing the way for fleet operations and training.

The French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort are back in Toulon naval base, following a four month-long mission to the Indo-Pacific region.

On July 3, 2019, the French Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) ‘Saphir’ reached the port of Cherbourg in Normandie for decommissioning. After 35 years of service, ‘Saphir’ will be the first of six Rubis-class SSNs to be retired from active duty at the end of July 2019. The Rubis-class will be replaced by the new Suffren-class / Barracuda type SSN with the first submarine set for launch on July 12th at Naval Group’ shipyard in Cherbourg.

The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) took delivery of the fourth Metropolitan Offshore Support & Assistance Vessel (BSAM) on July 4th. Ordered in 2016 for the French Navy, the BSAM Garonne is the final ship of a class designed and built by the Kership shipyard.

The Italian Navy (Marina Militare) published an updated version of its 2019-2034 Strategic Planning (Linee Di Indirizzo Strategico 2019-2034) which outlines the future composition of its fleet and assets.

According to local media, the Russian Navy started to experiment the use of UUVs and USVs from its Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate. UAVs are set to be tested from Russia’s latest generation of frigates as well.