Today, Naviris, the 50/50 owned joint venture by Fincantieri and Naval Group, has signed a contract with OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation) for a feasibility study on the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the four Horizon type Air Defense Destroyers (designated frigates in the French and Italian navies).
Following the recent stop to the Aegis Ashore missile defense system deployment in Japan, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe’s party is looking at possible alternatives. Options include additional Aegis destroyers, armed mega floats and even offensive conventional strike capability. Yoshihiro Inaba has the details and explains why the third option would be a major change for Japan’s defense policy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the keel laying ceremony of several vessels for the Russian Navy, including the next generation Project 23900 amphibious assault ships. The ceremony took place on 20 July at Zaliv Shipyard in Kerch for the LHD (and remotely for the other vessels).
Thales yesterday announced the success of the first configuration conducted under real operational conditions with the complete system developed for the Franco-British MMCM (Maritime Mine Counter Measures) programme launched in 2010 and awarded to the Group in 2015.
The Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation and Thales signed a contract for the delivery of an NS100 radar, seven Scout Mk3 radars and an IFF system.
Bell Boeing delivered the first V-22 Osprey to Camp Kisarazu in Japan on July 10. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is the first operator of the V-22 outside of the U.S. military.
Rohde & Schwarz signed a contract with Austal Limited to deliver integrated communications systems for six Cape class patrol boats (CCPB) contracted by the Department of Defence for use by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Naval Group and its Australian subsidiary Naval Group Australia task themselves with the construction project of building 12 new future Attack-class submarines to replace the Collins-class attack submarines currently in service.
The Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet can now deploy its submarines to the Mediterranean. This is despite an international treaty which many thought would prevent it. The Montreux Convention, agreed in 1936, prohibits submarines from passing through the Bosporus Strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. There are exceptions in the treaty for special cases for Black Sea nations
The United States’ State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of France of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2 billion.
