THE BEST naval news since 1995
On September 22, 2021, during a ceremony at the Rota naval base in Spain, Wing Vice-Admiral Xavier Baudouard, Commander of the Naval Action Force, handed over command of the European maritime force EUROMARFOR to the Admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río, Admiral Commander of the Spanish Fleet (ALFLOT). EUROMARFOR, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2020, is a non-permanent naval force…
Read More
June 7, 2021 – Spain is the latest country to accede to IMO’s treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling – the Hong Kong Convention. The Convention covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of ships, and preparation for ship recycling in order to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships. Under…
Read More
May 24, 2021 – The 50th Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise, the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region, takes place in the Baltic Sea from June 6-18. This milestone exercise demonstrates a steadfast commitment to NATO and continues to change to meet evolving regional security requirements. Air and maritime assets from NATO allies and partner nations are involved in the…
Read More
May 25, 2021 (Google Translation) – On Saturday May 15, 2021, after two days of operational break in compliance with the health constraints due to COVID-19, the crew of the Air Defense Frigate (FDA) Forbin left the Scottish port of Fairlie to reach the area of FORMIDABLE SHIELD 21 sea demonstration and exercise, west of the Hebrides. Forbin joined the…
Read More
May 18, 2021 – BAE Systems, Inc. has won a U.S. Navy competition to serve as the design agent for the mechanical portion of the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). The contract calls for BAE Systems to provide design, development, test, product improvement, and sustaining support for current and legacy VLS systems. BAE Systems will also continue to design…
Read More
May 15, 2021 – Europe’s biggest and most complex air and missile exercise gets underway on Saturday (15 May 2021) with ships and aircraft from across NATO defending against a variety of missiles. Exercise “At-Sea-Demo/Formidable Shield” is held primarily at the Hebrides range off Scotland, and also at the Andoya training site off Norway, involving 15 ships and dozens of…
Read More
April 14, 2021 – Legend-class national security cutter (NSC) USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) and Sentinel-class fast response cutters USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) and USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142), completed a stop for fuel at Naval Station Rota, April 14, 2021. After a two-week transit across the Atlantic Ocean, the cutters arrived in-port to resupply, before continuing to conduct operations…
Read More
April 12, 2021 – Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in its new homeport, Naval Station Rota, Spain, as the U.S. Navy’s newest Forward Deployed Naval Forces- Europe destroyer, April 11, 2021. Prior to arriving in Rota, Arleigh Burke operated with USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), Virginia-class attack submarine USS Vermont (SSN 792), and P-8A maritime patrol…
Read More
January 23, 2021 (Google Translation) – Navantia has been selected in the bidding process carried out by the United States Government for the repair and maintenance of the Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyers (DDGs) and other US Navy ships deployed at the Rota Naval Base (Cádiz). The new contract, which is valid until January 2028, is for a maximum amount of €…
Read More
November 20, 2020 (Google Translation) – The mine hunter “Duero” (M-35) returns to Cartagena after participating in the Permanent Group of Measures Against Mines Nº2 of NATO. This morning, the mine hunter “Duero” (M-35) has returned to its base in the Cartagena Arsenal, from where it set sail on September 20 to join the Permanent Group of Measures Against Mines…
Read More