Fujian  , China's third aircraft carrier, seen here as it departs for its maiden sea trial on 1 May 2024.  (VCG via Getty Images)    China has completed the maiden sea trials for its third aircraft carrier, which will be in service as CNS   Fujian  once it is commissioned. The vessel sailed off from the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai on 1 May and the trials were completed eight days later.   The trials focused on testing the “reliability and stability of the aircraft carrier's propulsion and electrical systems”...

The Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block IIA missile, pictured above launching from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, is jointly developed by the US and Japan. The MDA said the GPI joint development will be pursued in a construct similar to that used for the SM-3. (US MDA)  Japan and the US have firmed up their co-operation to jointly develop a Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI).  According to the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD), the two countries signed a partnership agreement on 15 May to promote collaboration on research and development of...

Two more Royal Navy Type 23 frigates, HMS  Westminster  (pictured) and HMS  Argyll  , will be retired from service.  (NAVYPIX/Richard Scott)    The Royal Navy's (RN's) Duke-class (Type 23) frigates HMS  Argyll  (F 231) and HMS  Westminster  (F 237) will be retired from service, the UK defence secretary has confirmed.     Speaking at the First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2024 in London on 14 May, defence secretary Grant Shapps said that  Argyll  has been...

Germany will pay for three US HIMARSs for Ukraine. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced during a visit to Washington, DC on 8–9 May that Berlin would pay for US High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARSs) for Ukraine. Germany will pay for three HIMARSs from US stocks.  During Pistorius's visit to Ottawa on 10 May, Canadian Minister of National Defence Bill Blair signed an agreement with his German counterpart to contribute CAD76 million (USD55.6 million) to the Immediate Action on Air Defence (IAAD) in...

The US Navy is trying to develop directed energy systems like HELIOS to counter low-end threats. (Lockheed Martin)  While underscoring effective US Navy (USN) surface-fleet operations in the Red Sea since October, Rear Admiral Fred Pyle, USN surface warfare director, acknowledged a need to not only replenish weapons stocks but also to find additional options to defend forces against low-end threats.  Speaking on 14 May during a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) event on Red Sea surface warfare operations, Rear Adm Pyle sai...

A keel-laying ceremony for the Italian Navy's new large oceanographic ship was held on 14 May. (Fincantieri)  Fincantieri held a keel-laying ceremony for the Italian Navy's new large oceanographic ship (Nave Idro-Oceanografica Maggiore: NIOM) in Riva Trigoso on 14 May, the shipbuilder confirmed the same day.    The vessel is being procured as part of the Italian Navy's hydro-oceanographic fleet renewal programme. It is intended to replace the navy's ageing 83 m research and survey ship   Ammiraglio Magnaghi  (A 5303) – which h...

The 7.5 m Scout S45 surveillance USV and a 15 m Cavalry A150 attack USV are pictured on display at DSA 2024. The A2000 surveillance and attack USV is seen in the background. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)  China's Poly Defence displayed models of a series of new combat and reconnaissance unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and diver support vessels at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.  The displayed vessels included the Scout S45 surveillance USV, the Cavalry A150 attack USV, the A2000 attack and surveillance USV, the SDV-1...

Guyana recently took delivery of Metal Shark 115 Defiant patrol boat. (Metal Shark)  Metal Shark is augmenting its footprint in the Caribbean with a recent boat-building contract with Jamaica, and a delivery of a patrol boat to Guyana.  The Louisiana-based shipyard will be building and maintaining 22 Metal Shark 36 Fearless speedboats for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), according to a recent contract between the yard and the JDF, Metal Shark confirmed on 2 May.  The Fearless vessels, acquired via direct purchase, will be operated by the JDF...

Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS  Iver Huitfeldt  (pictured in October 2021) was deployed to the Red Sea from February–April 2024.  (Michael Nitz)    Danish Defence Command has published a report on the technical issues experienced by Royal Danish Navy (RDN) frigate HDMS  Iver Huitfeldt  (F 361) during an engagement on 9 March 2024 in the Red Sea as part of the US-led multinational task force Operation ‘Prosperity Guardian'.   The 13-page report released on 2 May found that a previously unknown is...

Poly Technologies' UUV300CB LLUV was displayed at the DSA 2024 exhibition in Malaysia. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)  China's Poly Technologies has displayed a new multimission-capable large unmanned underwater vehicle (LUUV) at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur.  According to the company, the LUUV – named UUV300CB – can undertake missions including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and minelaying operations.    A Poly Technologies official told  Janes  that the UUV300CB is in developmen...

The Italian Army's Grifo air-defence system being tested and qualified with CAMM-ER. (MBDA)  The Italian Army's Grifo (Griffon) air-defence system has been test-fired and qualified with the Common Anti-air Modular Missile Extended Range (CAMM-ER) missile, MBDA announced in a press release on 8 May. The company said it was the first time the Grifo's Command Post and Engagement Module (Posto Comando Modulo di Ingaggio: PCMI) integrated with the missile launcher and CAMM-ER missile was tested-fired and qualified.  The test was conducted against...

The Poly Technologies A2000 attack USV on display at DSA 2024. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)  Chinese defence company Poly Technologies showcased the A2000, a new next-generation combat unmanned surface vessel (USV), at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.  The A2000 attack USV has a length of 45 m, a displacement of 280 tonnes, and a top speed of 35 kt. It features twin diesel engines and two controllable pitch propellers.  It is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for...

An infographic of Aselsan's Marlin USV, which is on display at DSA 2024. (Janes)  Turkey's Aselsan has for the first time displayed its Marlin unmanned surface vessel (USV) in its full anti-submarine warfare (ASW) configuration.  In this configuration – on show at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May – the USV is integrated with the Mini-Düfas low-frequency active towed array and passive towed sonar system. Aselsan aims to operationalise the mini version of its Düfas towed active sonar for USVs, call...

PT PAL Multi-Role Support Ship model on display at DSA 2024. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)  Lumut Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (LUNAS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Indonesian state shipbuilder PT PAL at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.  The MOU seeks to “explore future collaborations in shipbuilding projects, fostering knowledge sharing and technological advancements within the region”, said Azhar Jumaat, CEO of LUNAS, in his welcome speech at the event.  “Through this collaboration,...

MBDA showcased the scale models of its Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions and VL MICA New Generation system at the DSA 2024 exhibition. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)    European missile maker MBDA has offered its Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS) self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) system and VL MICA New Generation (NG) SAM to the Malaysian Armed Forces, a spokesperson of MBDA told   Janes   at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.   “[MBDA has] proposed the sy...

A model of the Gibbs & Cox International-class light frigate displayed at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space exposition in April 2024. (Janes/Jeremiah Cushman)    Gibbs & Cox, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, has developed a platform to meet global demand for smaller frigates, William Cowardin Jr, vice-president for global ship design, Gibbs & Cox, told   Janes  in April during the Navy League Sea-Air-Space 2024 global maritime exposition in National Harbor, Maryland. What the company calls the International class began as an i...

BrahMos Aerospace showcased a scaled version of the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet armed with three BrahMos cruise missiles at the DSA 2024 exhibition. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  BrahMos Aerospace – a joint venture (JV) between India and Russia – has outlined its plans to export its supersonic cruise missiles to Southeast Asian countries at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.  Speaking with Janes at the show, a spokesperson for BrahMos Aerospace said the company has offered its cruise missiles to countrie...

The T-650 – pictured above from the DSA 2024 exhibition – is an electrically powered heavy-lift UAS capable of lifting 300 kg out to a range of 30 km (or a radius of 15 km) at 140 km/h. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  BAE Systems showcased its Herne extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV) and T-650 all-electric heavy-lift unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.  This is the first time Herne and T-650 systems are being showcased in Asia.    Mike Blake, business...

Victa integrated with Capewell's UMCADS. (SubSea Craft)  UK-based SubSea Craft has joined forces with Capewell Europe to explore the air deployability of its Victa diver delivery unit (DDU) prototype when integrated onboard the latter's newly developed Universal Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System (UMCADS).    Speaking to   Janes   on 1 May, Lee Ebsworth, SubSea Craft's chief commercial officer, said the partnership has mutual opportunities as the two companies work together to increase the evidence bank for Victa as a deploy...

A mock-up of the advanced weapon station on display at DSA 2024. (Janes/Rakend P)  Shrike Marine has secured an arrangement to trial an enhanced version of its advanced weapon station (AWS) with the Malaysian Army.    While speaking to   Janes  at the 18th Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, Shrike Marine disclosed that the trials are planned to start from the week beginning 13 May.   The enhanced version of the AWS was revealed for the fi...