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
-
![Israeli Navy looks to expand as war reshapes future force requirements]()
Israeli Navy looks to expand as war reshapes future force requirements
Israel’s navy is preparing for a larger and more technically diverse role, but its ambitions could be impacted by supply chain restrictions, accelerating demand for domestic naval production as well as autonomous maritime capabilities.
-
![Quantum sensing gathers pace as navies eye undersea advantage]()
Quantum sensing gathers pace as navies eye undersea advantage
As AI dominates defence conversations, industry increasingly points to quantum sensing as the technology set to change submarine and uncrewed underwater vehicle operations.
-
![Competitive P17B tender marks a shift in Indian Navy frigate procurement]()
Competitive P17B tender marks a shift in Indian Navy frigate procurement
The Indian Navy's P17B programme is expected to combine greater weapons capacity with a competitive domestic construction model, although key systems could remain dependent on international supply chains.
-
![How France’s SNLE 3G programme is reshaping the naval nuclear industrial base]()
How France’s SNLE 3G programme is reshaping the naval nuclear industrial base
Extending far beyond a four-submarine replacement programme, France’s ballistic missile submarine effort is a decades-long industrial initiative designed to preserve the country’s ability to build and sustain nuclear-powered strategic platforms.
-
![Quantum Systems enters maritime domain with Baltic-focused USV and UUV]()
Quantum Systems enters maritime domain with Baltic-focused USV and UUV
Quantum Systems has launched into the maritime domain with Seavex and Subvex, aiming to close a Baltic Sea ISR gap opened by infrastructure sabotage.
