The XLX-C work-class remote-operated vehicle is a new acquisition to enhance the salvage capability of SALMO. It is operated and maintained by a team of SALMO staff and builds on SALMO's long history of operating ROVs. (UK DE&S)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has completed the first operation with a newly acquired Forum Energy Technologies (FET) deep-water remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Janes has learnt.  Procured last year to meet an urgent capability requirement (UCR), the XLX-C ROV was used by the MoD's Salvage and Marine Operations (...

The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic has received all eight of its EL/M-2084 radars, with FOC expected by the end of 2024. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The Czech Republic's EL/M-2084 Multi-Mission radars (MMRs) from Elta Systems will reach full operating capability (FOC) by the end of 2024, Janes learnt.  A spokesperson from the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic told Janes that all eight radars are now in the country after the final system was delivered in December 2023, with FOC expected before the end of the 2024.  In December 2019 the armed f...

Shahid Mahdavi  , seen here when it was officially commissioned in March 2023, was used to launch ballistic missiles.   (IRNA)  Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched ballistic missiles from a ship for the first time, the force announced on 13 February.  Iranian news agencies reported that the launch was a collaboration between the IRGC's naval and aerospace forces and involved missiles from the Fateh family.    A video released by the IRGC shows two missiles elevated on launchers in containers on the deck...

The La Fayette modernisation programme will extend the frigates' service lives out to around 2030. (Naval Group)  Naval Group has officially concluded the French Navy's La Fayette-class frigate (Frégates de type La Fayette: FLF) modernisation programme following redelivery of the third and final refurbished frigate to the fleet.    Announcing the milestone on 12 February Naval Group said that FS   Aconit   (F 713) was redelivered to the French Navy after completing a six-month refit followed by a series of dockside and sea tria...

A Pentagon report recommends the US Navy replace its Air and Missile Defense Radar testing model. (Raytheon)  The US Navy (USN) should replace the testing model of its Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), designated the AN/SPY-6(V)1, according to the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) FY 2023 Annual Report, released on 2 February.  The operational assessment (OA) being done on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 used for testing “was not intended to determine operational effectiveness and suitability of the delivered AMDR due to th...

The Aliaca is a light tactical fixed-wing UAS that can be used for a wide range of intelligence, surveillance, and inspection missions or operations, in a maritime, coastal, or land environment. (Charles Wassilieff/Marine Nationale/Défense)  The French Navy is set to receive a second batch of Aliaca Evo fixed-wing electric unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) from Airbus Group subsidiary Survey Copter.  Under a contract awarded by French defence procurement agency Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), Survey Copter will supply 15 UASs to the Fr...

The Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex conducted a successful ballistic missile defence test. (US Army)  The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and US Navy (USN) successfully demonstrated that the Aegis Weapon System can track and discriminate a medium-range ballistic missile target with countermeasures during a complex target scene, the MDA confirmed on 8 February.  The MDA also confirmed the successful execution of Flight Test Other-23 (FTX-23) or Stellar Sisyphus, a two-part developmental test of sensor tracking and communications link ca...

Turkey's Ministry of National Defence, SSB, and Roketsan signed contracts on 3 February for the serial production of Tayfun, Sungur (displayed at DIMDEX 2022), Karaok, and TRLG-230 missiles. (Janes/Shaurav Gairola)  Turkey's Ministry of National Defence announced on its website on 3 February that it, the Defence Industry Agency (SSB), and Turkish missile house Roketsan signed contracts earlier the same day for the serial production of Tayfun, Sungur, Karaok, and Artillery Rocket Laser Guided-230 (TRLG-230) missiles for the Turkish Land Forces...

Aircraft carrier USS   Gerald R Ford  has reported success with launching and recovery systems, but a Pentagon report says more testing is needed.  (Janes/Michael Fabey)  US Navy (USN) aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) has proven the effectiveness of its flight operations and other vital systems during recent deployments and testing, but some of these systems still present reliability issues, according to the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) FY 2023 Annual Report released on 2 February....

A Royal Malaysian Navy G2000 Mk II fast interceptor craft, seen here at the vessel's induction ceremony in Sandakan on 2 February 2024. (Royal Malaysian Navy)  Malaysia will deploy all four of its newly received G2000 Mk II fast interceptor craft (FIC) at its Sandakan Naval Base in East Malaysia, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has confirmed.  “All four vessels will operate with the Eastern Command's Naval Area 2 in Sandakan to enhance the area's security especially in eastern Sabah, and act as force multipliers to the navy,” reads a statemen...

Kronstadt  , the second Lada-class SSK on order for the Russian Federation Navy, is pictured during its commissioning ceremony at Admiralty Shipyards on 31 January.  ( United Shipbuilding Corporation)  The Russian Federation Navy (RFN) formally commissioned Kronstadt, the second Project 677 Lada (Sankt Petersburg)-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK), in a ceremony at Admiralty Shipyards in St Petersburg on 31 January.  Speaking at the ceremony, which was announced by Admiralty Shipyards the same day, RFN Commander-in-Chief Admi...

The keel-laying ceremony of the first Swordfish frigate was held on 31 January. (PGZ)  A keel-laying ceremony for Poland's first Project 106 Miecznik (Swordfish)-class frigate was held at the Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa: PGZ) Naval Shipyard in Gdynia on 31 January, PGZ has confirmed.    The future ORP   Wicher   (274) is the first of three multi-purpose frigates in the class being built by PGZ Naval Shipyard in co-operation with strategic partners Babcock (as the platform design provider and technology part...

The Constellation-class frigate design is derived from the Italian Navy's Bergamini-class FREMM frigates. (US Navy)  Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias has announced that the country is interested in the joint production of a modified version of the Constellation-class frigates being built for the US Navy (USN). Dendias' comments were made following a meeting with the defence minister of the Republic of Cyprus on 29 January.  “On 16 January we received a letter from the US Navy accepting in principle our interest in the co-desig...

Taiwan showcased the Sky Bow III surface-to-air missile system during a media event at Hualien Air Force Base in August 2022. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)  Taiwan has initiated deployment of its Sky Bow III surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems – known locally as Tien Kung III – at existing MIM-23 Hawk and Sky Bow II air-defence system sites, a Republic of China Army (RoCA) officer told Janes on 29 January.  The move follows a budgetary report submitted by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) to the Legislative Yuan in October 2023, w...

The NDMA has ordered NASAMS from Kongsberg to replace systems donated to Ukraine, with deliveries to the Norwegian Armed Forces expected in 2026–27. (Forsvaret)  The Norwegian government has ordered new National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMSs) from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to replace systems donated to Ukraine, the company announced in a press release on 31 January. Kongsberg valued the contract with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) at approximately NOK1.4 billion (USD133 million),  with deliveries expe...

Naval Group's XLUUV demonstrator, which completed sea trials in late 2023, will be a key component of the UCUV project. (Naval Group)  Naval Group has been awarded a contract by French defence procurement agency Directorate General of Armament (DGA) for the development of an unmanned combat underwater vehicle (UCUV) demonstrator.  Under a framework agreement announced by both parties on 29 January 2024 but formalised on 28 December 2023, Naval Group will design, produce, and test a 10 m-long UCUV prototype.  The agreement follows a nine-mont...

The UK MoD has cancelled earlier plans to fit an LDEW demonstrator to a Type 23 frigate. (Thales)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has dropped plans to trial a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) demonstrator from a Royal Navy (RN) Type 23 frigate.  Revealing the decision in a 30 January parliamentary answer, Minister of State for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge said the move was intended to free up money for the UK's wider Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) programme. Thales had been under contract to develop the maritime LDEW demonstrator....

Iver Huitfeldt  sets sail from Korsør on 29 January. The frigate is Denmark's contribution to strengthening maritime security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.  (Rune Dyrholm/The Armed Forces)  The Royal Danish Navy (RDN) has despatched its air-defence frigate Iver Huitfeldt (F 361) to the Red Sea where it will participate in the US-led multinational task force Operation ‘Prosperity Guardian'.  Iver Huitfeldt set sail from Korsør bound for the Mediterranean on 29 January, the Danish Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the sam...

North Korea's Hwasal-2 cruise missile. (Janes)  North Korea has carried out a test-firing of its Hwasal-2 cruise missile.  The test was carried out by a Korean People's Army (KPA) unit and the weapon was fired into the Yellow Sea (West Sea) on 30 January, according to a statement published by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) the next day.  “The drills validated the [North Korean armed forces'] readiness for rapid counter-attack and enhanced its strategic strike capabilities and did not have any detrimental effect on the...

Personnel from the Royal Australian Navy test an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) in Western Australia in 2021. Australia will collaborate with Japan to develop communication technologies that can enhance the interoperability of UUVs used by both countries. (Commonwealth of Australia)  Japan and Australia plan to initially focus on enhancing underwater communication technologies under a recently signed bilateral agreement to co-develop robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) for undersea warfare.  A spokesperson for Australia's Department of D...