The U.S., NATO allies and partner nations are participating in the 50th Baltic Operations (BALTOPS 50) exercise, currently underway through June 18 in and around the Baltic Sea. BALTOPS 2021 features air and maritime assets from 18 NATO allies and partner…
Commission Examines Assets that Honor the Confederacy, Will Suggest Name Changes
The Department of Defense’s Naming Commission — technically the Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense that Commemorate the Confederate States of America or Any Person Who Served Voluntarily with the Confederate States of America — has…
U.S. Navy Research Pilots Help Scientists Gather Data from the Air
U.S. Navy pilots and naval flight officers flying specialized aircraft are helping scientists collect data for airborne research. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Scientific Development Squadron One (VXS-1), based in Maryland at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, operates worldwide…
U.S. Coast Guard Establishes UxS Cross Functional Working Group
A report from the National Academies of Sciences has recommended the U.S. Coast Guard “take a more strategic and accelerated approach to exploit the capabilities of existing and future unmanned systems,” and the Coast Guard agrees. The report, “Leveraging Unmanned Systems…
Royal Navy draws from the past to name future frigates
The Royal Navy’s new Type 31 frigates will be an inspiration. According to First Sea Lord, Adm. Tony Radakin, who released the names of the first five ships, the frigates will be known as the Inspiration class. “Each of the names…
Indonesia Will Patrol Vast Maritime Domain with New Tank Boat
It’s a tank! It’s a boat! It’s “Tank Boat!” The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has ordered a prototype of a new kind of maritime weapons system, the X18 “Tank Boat,” from a consortium composed of Indonesian companies and a European partner. Patrolling…
Wave Piercing Design Being Adapted for Unmanned Vessel
Zycraft of Singapore is developing a high-speed unmanned surface vessel (HSUSV) capable of sustained speeds of 35 knots in Sea State 4 carrying a 1,100-pound payload (not including fuel). The HSUSV has both civil and military applications, from rapid rescue,…
Lockheed Martin Offering Greece New Frigates, Based on Freedom-Class LCS
The United States and Greece are actively discussing a potential acquisition of four Hellenic Navy Future Frigates (HF2s) from Lockheed Martin, based on the company’s for-export Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) and Freedom-class variant of the littoral combat ship (LCS). Saudi…
Formidable Armada Conducts Drills in East China Sea
U.S. and allied navies took part in the multi-national exercise Jeanne D’Arc (ARC) 21 in and around Japan, exercises that began May 11 and wrapped up May 16. The Sasebo, Japan-based USS New Orleans (LPD 18) joined with the Royal…
High Achievers: Test Squadrons, Pilots and Engineers Make Good Systems Work Even Better
Special aviation squadrons conduct developmental and operational testing, as well as scientific research. These squadrons have specialized aircraft along with test pilots, naval flight officers (NFOs), test engineers and other specialists. Qualified test pilots, aircrews and engineers make up a…
