13 nations, more than 13 000 men, participate in Joint Warrior military exercise

More than 13,000 personnel from 13 nations take part in Joint Warrior, the largest European military exercise of the year, which begins today. 49 ships from various navies as well as 40 aircraft are involved in this exercise which goal is to put NATO’s Response Force Task Group to the test through a series of manoeuvres across the east and west coast of Scotland over the next three weeks.

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Babcock fits forward island on HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier

The island is a crucial component of the ship, containing the main bridge and around 100 vital mission systems compartments. The event was witnessed by the Secretary of State for Defence, Phillip Hammond, MP. The circa 600 tonne forward island – which arrived at Babcock’s Rosyth facility (where the carriers are being assembled) from BAE Systems in Portsmouth on 11 February – was lifted into position on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s flight deck by the massive Goliath crane, which had a special 78 tonne lifting frame attached for the purpose. 

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Focus - Naval Technology: Models of Royal Navy future Carrier & RFA Tanker simulate Replenishment At Sea

Two highly-accurate one-tonne scale models of HMS Queen Elizabeth and future tanker RFA Tidespring have been tested in Europe’s largest indoor water tank in Gosport to determine how the two ships can sail safely in company. Key to any future operations by the carrier – the largest warship ever to sail under the White Ensign – will be sustaining her thousands of miles from home.

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Type 45 Destroyers to be tested for Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence (TBMD) missions

The UK Missile Defence Centre (MDC) in collaboration with its industry partners, has announced a programme to explore the potential of the Royal Navy’s Destroyers to conduct Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence (TBMD) missions. It follows on from successful satellite tracking experiments using BAE Systems’ Cowes based Sampson radar, which is fitted to the Type 45 Class.

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HMS Ambush attack submarine (SSN) officially welcomed into the Royal Navy

HMS Ambush, the Royal Navy’s most advanced attack submarine was commissioned into the Royal Navy to become “Her Majesty’s Ship” during a ceremony overseen by the submarine’s crew, Naval Base, workers and around 500 invited guests. MS Ambush has officially joined the Royal Navy fleet following a ceremony. The nuclear-powered submarine arrived at her home port of HM Naval Base Clyde in September last year where she has been undergoing sea trials before entering operational service later this year.

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HMS Ambush SSN officially joins the Royal Navy fleet following a ceremony

HMS Ambush has officially joined the Royal Navy fleet following a ceremony. The nuclear-powered submarine arrived at her home port of HM Naval Base Clyde in September last year where she has been undergoing sea trials before entering operational service later this year.

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Rolls-Royce installs world’s most powerful gas turbine into HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has this week successfully completed the installation of the first MT30 gas turbine into the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard in Scotland.

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Q&A with BAE Systems on Type 26 Frigate Design Update at Euronaval 2012

During Euronaval 2012 in October last year, BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships showcased a Type 26 “Global Combat Ship” frigate model with a slightly modified design compared to the big design update unveiled during DSA 2012 in April last year. We asked a few questions to BAE Systems on the reasons behind the latest changes to the design.

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General Dynamics Wins $2Bn for the US' Ohio Replacement and UK's Successor Programs

Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $1,848,606,051 cost-plus-fixed-fee with special incentives contract for design work and products for the new class of ballistic missile submarines. This contract includes foreign military sales to the United Kingdom (U.K.) (8 percent).

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Royal Navy to refit HMS Ocean landing platform helicopter (LPH) as part of a £65m Contract

HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy’s largest warship which played a starring role during the London 2012 Olympics, will receive a £65M upgrade, the MoD announced today. Her upgrade will be carried out at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth and will be the largest upkeep programme of its kind to be carried out at the docks in more than 20 years.

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UK Ministry of Defence awards BAE Systems contract for Audacious, the 4th SSN in the Astute class

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded us a contract worth £1.2bn for Audacious, the fourth submarine in the Astute class. The full contract covers the design, build, test and commissioning programme. First steel was cut in 2007 and Audacious is at an advanced stage of construction at BAE Systems’ site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

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Royal Navy heralds Thales 2087 and Flash sonars as “the most potent of any navy”

The Royal Navy has described how the combination of a Type 23 frigate fitted with Thales UK’s Sonar 2087 and a Merlin helicopter equipped with the Thales FLASH dipping sonar has delivered an outstanding anti-submarine warfare capability.

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Babcock to develop tactical weapons handling and launch for UK's future SSBN

Babcock has been awarded a contract for the system definition (SD) of the tactical weapons handling and launch system (WHLS) and submerged signal ejector (SSE) for the UK's future strategic nuclear deterrent, the Vanguard replacement submarine.

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Corsican Lion Amphibious Exercise

"Corsican Lion" is a Franco-British amphibious exercise in the Mediterranean starting October 18 and ending October 26, 2012. This exercise is an implementation of the Franco-British defense treaty signed November 2, 2010 (Treaty of Lancaster House). It is a large scale naval, aerial and amphibious maneuver involving 5,000 men and 13 warships near the Island of Corsica.

 Corsican Lion Amphibious Exercise Facts and Pictures

Biggest section of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH rolled out for assembly

Workers at BAE Systems moved on sunday the biggest section of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, the first of two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy, out of the company’s shipbuilding hall at Govan for the first time.

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