UK’s $1 billion AUKUS support request signals strong ongoing US collaboration
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
The Italian Navy's ITS Marceglia FREMM frigate has completed sea trials, Occar announced on 27 November.
Marceglia, the fourth Italian general purpose ship and the eighth Italian FREMM to be delivered, completed platform and combat system equipment tests five months after starting the trials in June.
The FREMM frigates are 144 meters in length with a displacement at full load of approximately 6,700 tons. The vessels are designed to reach a maximum speed of 27 knots and to provide accommodation for 200 people
including crew and staff.
Final official acceptance of ITS Marceglia is scheduled for the 16th of April 2019.
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
The USCG plans to award a contract this year for the construction of Homeland Security Cutters. The new vessels will replace the 60-plus-year-old fleet of Light Icebreaking Tugs.
The expansion of the Redstone facility in Alabama will enable Raytheon to increase production of Standard Missiles in the location by 50% and support Washington in refilling stockpiles after recent operations have depleted the Pentagon’s reserves.
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.