NOVEMBER 2020 news

Naval Forces, Defense Industry, Navy Technology, Maritime Security


The U.S. Department of Defense annouces on November 17 that General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $9,473,511,245 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-2117. The contract modification exercises an option for construction and test of the lead and second ships of the Columbia class SSBN 826 and SSBN 827, as well as associated design and engineering support. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

As part of a historic U.S. Missile Defense Agency demonstration and for the first time ever, an intercontinental ballistic missile target was intercepted and destroyed outside Earth's atmosphere by an advanced SM-3 Block IIA ballistic missile defense interceptor made by Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The interceptor was co-developed with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

According to information published on November 13, 2020, the British Royal Navy is responding to a request to assist disaster relief efforts in Honduras after Tropical Storm Eta swept through the Central American nation. RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) Argus has been in the Caribbean since April ready to assist British Overseas Territories and communities in the region in the event of a storm hitting.

According to a press release published on November 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp. a 171 million USD modification to the previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for the US Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System. This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of an additional 36 TH-73A training helicopters, with work expected to be completed in December 2022 in Philadelphia, PA.

According to a press release published on November 12, 2020, on 12th November 2020, the Pakistan Navy commissioned its new Corvette – a Damen OPV 1900 (Offshore Patrol Vessel) – named PNS Tabuk at the Port of Constanta, Romania. The ship is part of a two vessel order with Damen, signed by the Pakistan Ministry of Defence in 2017. Both ships are built at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. The first vessel, PNS Yarmook, joined the Pakistan Navy’s fleet in February this year.

According to news published by the U.S. Navy on November 11, 2020, U.S. Navy USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) conducted live-fire surface and air exercises in the Bay of Bengal as part of exercise MALABAR while USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), in the Philippine Sea, joined the Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338) during a live-fire surface engagement exercise.

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