DefenceTalkThe FREMM multi-mission frigate on order for the Royal Moroccan Navy is pursuing sea trials off the French coast in preparation for delivery later this year. In June, French naval shipbuilder DCNS successfully completed a third series of trials to test the performance of the ship’s combat system. The crew and DCNS specialists completed the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dcns-sea-trials-fremm-frigate-royal-moroccan-navy-48358/

DefenceTalkThe Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress July 9 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of 30 Mark V patrol boats and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of 30 Mark V patrol boats, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mark-v-patrol-boats-for-saudi-arabia-48355/

DefenceTalkThe X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first carrier-based arrested landing on board USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia July 10. “It isn’t very often you get a glimpse of the future. Today, those of us aboard USS George H.W. Bush got that chance as we witnessed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/x-47b-makes-first-arrested-landing-at-sea-48353/

DefenceTalkThe question of how the United States should respond to China’s military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, has emerged as a key issue in U.S. defense planning. The question is of particular importance to the U.S. Navy, because many U.S. military programs for countering improved Chinese military forces would fall within the Navy’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-naval-modernization-implications-for-us-navy-capabilities-2-48344/

DefenceTalkBy Rear Adm. Tom Moore, Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Carriers This year has been an exciting and rewarding year for aircraft carriers. In December 2012, we said good-bye to probably our most legendary aircraft carrier and held a formal inactivation ceremony for USS Enterprise (CVN 65). She is now at Huntington Ingalls-Newport News to begin […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cvn-78-a-true-leap-ahead-for-the-navy-and-naval-aviation-48342/

DefenceTalkTARANTO-GROTTAGLIE AIR BASE, Italy: Members of Special Purpose-Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response, or SP-MAGTF Crisis Response, visited Taranto-Grottaglie Air Base, Italy, June 28, to familiarize Italian naval aviation leaders with the MV-22 Osprey and to also celebrate the 100th anniversary of Italian naval aviation. SP-MAGTF Crisis Response is a rotational force of approximately 500 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/crisis-response-marines-familiarize-italian-naval-aviation-with-osprey-48312/

DefenceTalkPatrol Coastal (PC) ships USS Tempest (PC 2), USS Squall (PC 7) and USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) arrived pierside in Bahrain July 3, as part of a realignment that will see a total of eight PCs permanently stationed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). USS Hurricane (PC 3) and USS Monsoon (PC […]https://www.defencetalk.com/5th-fleet-pc-force-grows-to-eight-ships-48287/

DefenceTalkA Russian-built aircraft carrier refitted for the Indian navy has set sail for final sea trials prior to handover, a senior Russian defense industry official said Wednesday – five years after it was originally due to be delivered, and more than twice over budget. The Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov), which has been refitted at the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indian-carrier-sails-from-russia-for-final-sea-trials-48281/

DefenceTalkIn a matter of a few weeks, the U.S. Navy has begun a journey that could well revolutionize airborne operations at sea. On May 8, an unmanned aerial system (UAS) was successfully launched by catapult from the deck of the USS George H.W Bush. The UAS itself, the X-47B built by Northrop Grumman, was developed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-takes-first-steps-into-the-world-of-carrier-based-uas-48289/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy has deployed the MK18 Mod 2 Kingfish underwater unmanned vehicle for operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, following more than 30 sorties over 15 days of mock deployment testing in the Gulf of Mexico, the Navy announced June 20. Kingfish is an autonomous underwater unmanned vehicle (UUV) used by the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mk18-kingfish-uuv-deployed-to-5th-fleet-48261/