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NAVAL NEWS December 2021
Navy Forces Naval Maritime Defense Security Industry |
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The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) – whose ships and sailors have supported Royal Navy operations since 1905 with fuel, food, spare parts, ammunition and other supplies – is looking into the possibility of crewless aircraft performing some of the more routine, lighter duties.
Two advanced missile destroyers have rejoined the Iranian Navy after undergoing a complete overhaul process performed at home, Iranian Press TV reports. The vessels, named Gorz (Mace) and Khanjar (Dagger), were welcomed back into the Navy’s fleet during a special ceremony held in the southern Iranian port city of Bushehr on Tuesday, December 21.
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of France of Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.321 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on December 21.
According to a press release published by Saab on December 21, 2021, the firm has signed a contract with the Norwegian Defence Material Agency, to provide a complete communication system, TactiCall ICS, onboard three different ships classes for the Royal Norwegian Navy.
According to information published by the U.S. DoD on December 20, 2021, the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group conducted a bilateral training exercise with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to test and refine warfighting principles.
According to a press release published by Fincantieri on December 20, 2021, the consortium – Raggruppamento Temporaneo di Impresa (RTI) – led by Fincantieri has signed with OCCAR a contract for the construction of a second Logistic Support Ship (LSS) for the Italian Navy, which also includes the option for a third ship.
On December 18, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of Denmark on cooperation in the development and strengthening of Ukraine's maritime potential. The signing took place during the official visit of the Minister of Defense of Denmark Trine Bramsen to Ukraine. In particular, a project for the construction of multi-purpose vessels is planned within the framework of the Memorandum. Production will be fully localized in Ukraine, and more than 50% of orders will be fulfilled by Ukrainian companies.
According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on December 20, 2021, the Navy completed an Unmanned Carrier Aviation Demonstration (UCAD) of its MQ-25 unmanned air system prototype aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), laying the groundwork for future carrier-based UAS operations.
According to a report published by the UK Parliament on December 16, 2021, the first Dreadnought-class submarine will enter service in the early 2030s with the Royal Navy.
According to information published by the Royal Navy on December 16, 2021, eight months after emerging from a major refit in her home base of Devonport – and four and a half years after her last deployment – Royal Navy's Type 23 frigate HMS Portland has passed her sternest test to date.
According to information published by the Royal Malaysian Navy on December 18, 2021, the Navy received the fourth Keris-class littoral mission ship KD Rencong built by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.
DARPA has awarded Phase 2 contracts to continue the Manta Ray program that began in 2020. The effort seeks to demonstrate innovative technologies allowing payload-capable autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to operate on long-duration, long-range missions in ocean environments. The two prime contractors, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation and Martin Defense Group, are each developing unique full-scale demonstration vehicles.
According to information published by Japan's MoD on December 20, 2021, the PLA Navy's aircraft carrier Liaoning, the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang, Type 054A frigate Rizhao and one Type 901 fast combat support ship transit near the Japanese Okinawa Islands.
The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) (Forsvarets Materiel- og Indkøbsstyrelse, FMI) has recently signed a framework agreement for the acquisition of six autonomous underwater drones of the type Light Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (LAUV) from the Portuguese company OCEANSCAN.
According to a press release published by Saab on December 20, 2021, the company has signed a contract for multi-role Sea Giraffe AMB naval radars antenna kits, for the upgrade of the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax Class frigates. The contract also includes associated equipment and spare parts with an order value of over SEK 300 million.
According to information published by Deutsche Welle on December 16, 2021, the government of former Chancellor Angela Merkel approved the export of Meko A-200 frigates to Egypt before leaving office.
According to information published by Tass on December 20, 2021, the Admiralty Wharves Shipyard has started the first stage of the shipbuilders sea trials of the Project 677 submarine Kronstadt.
According to information published by the Indian government on December 19, 2021, Mormugao, Indian Navy's second indigenous stealth destroyer of the P15B class, planned to be commissioned in mid-2022, proceeded on her maiden sea sortie.
According to information published by the RTBF on December 19, 2021, future Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates (ASWF) will be equipped with only two VLS Mk 41, one per ship or two VLSs on a single ship, the Belgian Minister of Defense Ludivine Dedonder said.
According to a video published on the Twitter account of TheNihilist911 on December 19, 2021, the Chinese navy aircraft carrier group led by the Liaoning aircraft carrier is deployed to the Pacific Ocean to conduct high seas training exercises.
