Category: News

France buys more SAR helicopters

France has ordered two more H 160 helicopters from Airbus, as announced by the French procurement authority Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) on 20 May. They are to be delivered in a special, slightly militarised search-and-rescue version. Babcock will install an electro-optical system from the French company Safran for this purpose. With the Euroflir 410, the environment can be recorded and displayed to the pilots in any weather and at any time of day. Depending on the version, optical and laser sensors are integrated. The H 160 will also be equipped with a cable winch and a modular cabin that can be converted for various missions. Additional night vision devices and a...

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A king visits his navy

His Majesty Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands and Prince of Orange-Nassau, once again visited the navy in Den Helder. He took part in a meeting of the Admiralty Council, which was held on the Rotterdam, an amphibious transport ship, to mark the occasion. The Council is the highest decision-making and advisory body of the Navy and is chaired by Vice Admiral Rob Kramer, the Inspector of the Dutch Navy. Willem-Alexander then learnt about the work on the Poolster seamanship trainer. This "stone ship" can be used to practise all the tasks that occur on the deck of a ship, regardless of the presence of a real ship or a sea voyage. This includes...

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Back and forth

After an interruption of one month, the Canadian frigate Halifax is once again the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1). She has taken over this role from the Danish frigate Absalon, the type ship of her class, which was commissioned in 2007; the Halifax was previously the flagship. SNMG 1 currently consists of just these two ships and is under the command of Canadian Commodore Bradley Peats. Until 14 May, the two frigates took part in the Joint Warrior exercise off the Scottish coast. At the heart of this major manoeuvre, which will continue until 20 May, was the British carrier...

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Future Type 31s will no longer be nameless

The future British Type 31 frigates have been given names. Admiral Tony Radakin, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, announced on 19 May that the five planned ships will be named Inspiration Class. The units will be called Active, Bulldog, Campbeltown, Formidable and Venturer, reflecting the values and aspirations of the Royal Navy. Previously known as the General Purpose Frigate, the ships will be built by Babcock and are due to join the Navy in 2027. With a length of 139 metres, they will displace 5700 tonnes. They will replace the older Type 23s and, as with other...

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The third in the group

The F125 frigate armaments programme is the sad frontrunner in the current armaments report from the Ministry of Defence in terms of systems that have run out of control compared to the financial planning. Compared to the 25-billion-euro bill approved by the Bundestag, the project has become 1.117 billion euros more expensive. This corresponds to an increase of 51 per cent.

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