NAVAL NEWS APRIL 2021

Navy Forces Naval Maritime Defense Security Industry


According to information published by South China Morning Post on April 2021, the release of a new state media video of China’s Shandong aircraft carrier suggests the giant vessel might soon be heading out on the high seas as it continues its preparations to become combat-ready, according to a military insider.

According to information published by the United States Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on April 9, 2021, an Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 P-8A Poseidon successfully completed an airworthiness test of a pod-mounted radio frequency countermeasure (RFCM) prototype at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Atlantic Test Ranges, March 12, 2021.

According to a press release published by Babcock International on April 9, 2021, the company and BAE Systems, have been awarded a five year contract extension by the Ministry of Defence to continue in-service support to the Royal Navy’s 4.5 Mk8 Medium Calibre Gun (MCG).

According to information published by the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) on April 9, 2021, KRI Clurit-641 and KRI Kujang 642 successfully test-fired a C-705 missile and hit the target, an ex-KRI Balikpapan ship, at a distance of approximately 70 km. The Indonesian Navy organises exercises Pra Armada Jaya including missile shooting.

According to information published by U.S. Department of Defense on April 8, 2021, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility’s San Diego Detachment completed a Planned Incremental Availability for aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).

According to a press release published by HENSOLDT UK on April 8, 2021, the firm is pleased to announce the supply of Kelvin Hughes Mk11 X Band SharpEye navigation radars to two Polish NavyKormoran II-class minehunters. ORP Albatros and ORP Mewa were built by Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland.

According to information published by US Navy on April 8, 2021, the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) conducted bi-lateral maritime exercise Neon Defender (ND) 21 at sea in the Persian Gulf and on land in the Kingdom of Bahrain, April 3-7.

According to information published iXblue Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) on April 9, 2021, the firm have been selected to provide critical navigation capabilities to the Polish Navy’s new-build Kormoran II class mine countermeasure vessels (MCMV). iXblue partner, THESTA, will be responsible for integrating and delivering the INS to PGZ Stocznia Wojenna, a member of the PGZ Group, the leading contractor of naval navigation, communications and combat systems in Poland.

According to a contract published by the United States Department of Defense on April 7, 2021, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding Division, Newport News, Virginia, is awarded an $8,780,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to the previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-4316 to continue performance of the repair, maintenance, and upgrade efforts on the USS Helena (SSN 725) Los-Angeles-class dry-docking selected restricted availability.

According to information published by NATO on April 8, 2021, Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) have conducted three days of training off the coast of Latvia and Estonia between 29-31 March 2021.

According to information published by Global Times on April 8, 2021, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently commissioned two new mine countermeasure vessels, or MCMV, and deployed them in a recent all-day exercise. Analysts said that minesweeping capacity is important for the PLA in the Taiwan Straits.

According to information published by US Navy on April 8, 2021, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit April 7 (local time) through international waters in accordance with international law. The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

According to information published by Leidos on April 8, 2021, the company announced that it has completed delivery of a cutting-edge autonomous vessel to the U.S. Navy, known as Seahawk. The Office of Naval Research awarded Leidos the cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to build the vessel, with an approximate value of $35.5 million, in December 2017. Work was principally performed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

According to a tweet published by French Army on April 8, 2021, the FREMM multi-mission Auvergne conducted a joint air-sea exercise with the Lebanese armed forces. After a series of tactical evolutions at sea, two Super-Tucano conducted cannon fire on a target set up by FREMM Auvergne.

According to information published by US Navy on March 6, April, the keel of the future USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. (DDG 124) was ceremoniously laid at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard.

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