ESB Miguel Keith completes acceptance trials
The US Navy's newest Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB), Miguel Keith (ESB 5), has completed acceptance trials with the navy's Board of Inspection and Survey.
The week of trials took place off the coast of California following the vessel’s departure from the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co shipyard in San Diego.
According to the navy, all the ship’s major systems were successfully demonstrated and evaluated.
The navy’s ESBs are designed as highly flexible, modular platforms that are optimised to support a variety of maritime based missions including special operations forces and airborne mine counter measures support operations, along with humanitarian support and sustainment of traditional military missions.
Miguel Keith is the third platform of the ESB variant, and is scheduled for delivery in early fiscal 2020.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
NATO tests use of “undetectable, jam-proof” laser communication in maritime scenarios
As part of its effort to better prepare its capabilities for operations in contested and congested scenarios, NATO evaluated a Lithuanian ship-to-ship terminal designed to not be susceptible to enemy interference.
-
Future of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project is still unclear
The Canadian government remains tight-lipped on the timeline and funding required for the next steps of its Canadian Submarine Patrol Project, which should offer improved capabilities for the country’s navy.
-
Mitsubishi eyes future with Australia’s Mogami selection
With Australia’s selection of the Mogami-class for Project Sea 3000, Mitsubishi is investigating local production in the next decade as potential export opportunities emerge.
-
Thales’ new Sonar 76Nano could equip UK Royal Navy on anti-submarine warfare missions
The new sonar is designed to equip uncrewed underwater vessels, with the potential to be used by the Royal Navy for its Atlantic Bastion and Atlantic Net missions.