The US Navy has stopped its Constellation-class frigate programme (FFG-62) and terminated the construction of further units in addition to the two ships already under construction. Officially, considerable delays, cost increases and an unresolved degree of maturity of the design are cited as reasons. At the same time, the naval leadership emphasises that the decision is part of a fundamental strategic...
USA authorises sale of SM-6/SM-2 The US Department of State has approved a possible export of up to 173 "SM-6 Block I" and 577 "SM-2 Block IIIC" worth up to 3.5 billion US dollars to Germany as part of its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and, as provided for in the Arms Export Control Act, has...
Pirate attack on "Hellas Aphrodite" - another serious incident off the coast of Somalia. The Greek product tanker Hellas Aphrodite (30,000 tonnes, flagged Malta) was boarded by armed pirates around 560 nautical miles south-east of Eyl on 6 November. The 24 crew members saved themselves in the ship's citadel before the...
In a region where Europe's infrastructure network and security is vulnerable to Russian attack, the five-day NATO exercise "Playbook Merlin 25" focussed on anti-submarine warfare using advanced technologies and techniques. Submarine crews and surface forces were to be prepared for the realities of underwater operations from 10 to 14 November 2025...
Parliamentary pressure increases - Budget Committee creates room for manoeuvre: Bundestag prepares a possible F126 alternative solution with 7.8 billion. MEKO A-200 as a bridge to the delayed Lower Saxony class? The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag has made a far-reaching decision in its review meeting on the 2026 federal budget: The Federal Ministry of Defence can expect around 7.8...
The Israeli defence industry has developed ballistic missiles for the Dolphin submarines built in Germany. They are intended to make the submarines more defensive and increase their combat effectiveness. The Dolphin submarines were developed from the U-209 and U-212 classes and built by the Kiel-based company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, now part of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, in...
The German Navy's last and largest firing exercise, the Maritime Firing Exercise (MFE), took place off the coast of northern Norway in October 2025. The frigate "Sachsen" (class F124) led the German formation as the flagship and the frigate "Baden-Württemberg" (class F125) was the first ship to provide proof that the...
Well ahead of schedule The keel of the second of three new Class 424 fleet service boats was laid today at the NVL site in Wolgast, several months ahead of schedule. The traditional keel laying ceremony took place in the presence of State Secretary Jochen Schulte, Ministry of Economics, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Flotilla Admiral Andreas Czerwinski,...
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