Category: Headlines

The unmanned flying petrol station

Boeing's MQ-25 T1 drone has refuelled a US Navy fighter jet in flight for the first time. The F/A-18 Super Hornet first approached the renamed tanker to within a few metres to check whether it was in stable flight. The refuelling hose was then extended and the pilot managed to connect his jet to the docking device. After taking on the required amount of fuel, the aircraft separated and both aircraft returned safely to MidAmerica Airport in Macoutah, Illinois, where they had previously taken off. The manoeuvre is significant because it demonstrates that the MQ-25 is not only safe...

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Why the decision in favour of the P-8A Poseidon is the right one

The die is cast. The BMVg has decided in favour of the P-8A Poseidon from Boeing to replace the German Navy's ageing P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. A parliamentary referral is to take place before the summer break in order to avoid a looming capability gap at the last minute. The replacement procurement had become necessary after the ongoing extensive modernisation of the P-3C fleet was halted last year due to escalating costs. The aim of these measures was to extend the service life of the P-3C until the French-German Maritime Airborne Warfare System (MAWS, scheduled for 2035) comes on stream. With the right decision against modernisation, it was clear that...

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Unusual SAR mission in the Mediterranean

The crew of the RFA Fort Victoria proved to be a lifesaver for a turtle this evening (5 June). The animal had become entangled in a bundle of empty plastic bottles and the remains of a net and was in danger of dying. Without further ado, the commander decided to deploy the speedboat. The three Royal Navy sailors were visibly delighted with the successful operation, which enabled them to help an endangered animal. The Fort Victoria is currently in the Mediterranean as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group. Over the next few months, she will continue her journey through the Indian Ocean towards...

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Danger and opportunity - The Kiel Ammunition Clearance Week 2021

Munitions in the sea - Kiel Munition Clearance Week aims to promote the removal of contaminated sites in the sea Over 1.5 million tonnes of munitions are rusting away on the seabed. Their explosives endanger shipping, the environment and people. The issue is not only relevant for coastal regions: Carcinogenic substances from the munitions enter the food chain via fish. To visualise the quantity of mines and bombs, imagine a goods train full of ammunition. The wagons stretch from Paris to Moscow - that's 2500 kilometres! How and by what means can this quantity of contaminated sites be disposed of quickly, safely and...

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Keel laying for the The Helder

The beleaguered Dutch navy can hope for the arrival of another ship. At the Damen Shipyards shipyard in Romania, the Inspector of the Navy, Vice Admiral Rob Kramer, and the Director of the Defence Material Organisation (DMO), Vice Admiral Arie Jan de Waard, worked together on a part of the future Den Helder to mark the keel laying ceremony. They used welding torches to attach a historic coin from 1822, the year in which the naval arsenal in Den Helder was transferred to the Dutch Navy. Judging by the expressions on the faces of those involved, the operation was crowned with success. The first steel cut has already been...

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