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HMNZS Manawanui at sea for the first time under Royal New Zealand Navy Control, in the Hauraki Gulf. NZDF photo.

RNZN’s new dive ship heading for RIMPAC

29/07/2020 Brian Hartigan 677 Views 0 Comments RIMPAC

New Zealand will exercise key naval capabilities and enhancing interoperability during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2020 off Hawaii in August.

A 30mm airburst cartridge fired from a 30mm Bushmaster chain gun during a test, showcases the system’s ability to defeat man-type targets in defilade positions. Photo supplied by Northrop Grumman.

News Overseas Science & Technology USA

Northrop Grumman kitting Strykers with airburst 30mm

11/07/2020 Brian Hartigan 812 Views 0 Comments

Northrop Grumman has received a contract from the US Army to develop the next generation airburst cartridge for the 30mm XM813 Bushmaster chain gun.

HMA Ships Canberra, Hobart and Stuart depart Sydney on a COVID-19 affected training mission. Photo by Able Seaman Benjamin Ricketts.

Asia Australian News Royal Australian Navy USA

Aussie ships deploying to SE Asia and RIMPAC

05/07/2020 Brian Hartigan 10216 Views 0 Comments RIMPAC

The Australian Defence Force today begins a regional deployment to conduct exercises within Southeast Asia and Hawaii over the coming

StormBreaker glide bomb. Raytheon image.

News Overseas Science & Technology USA

StormBreaker glide bomb for Super Hornets

16/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 905 Views 0 Comments

Raytheon Missiles & Defense has completed the first guided release of a StormBreaker® smart weapon from an F/A-18 Super Hornet.

An F-35 set up for landing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. US Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Joely Santiago.

News Overseas Science & Technology USA

Two serious crashes at Eglin AFB in a week

20/05/202020/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 942 Views 0 Comments

An F-35A Joint Strike Fighter assigned to 58th Fighter Squadron crashed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, around 9:30pm local time yesterday, 19 May 2020.

An Afghan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano crew chief give signals to his pilot before takeoff at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The AAF has an approved strength of about 8000 aircrew, maintainers and support staff. AAF is based at three air wings and multiple detachments across Afghanistan. US Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Martin.

Middle East News USA

Raytheon expands Afghan Air Force pilot training

13/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 428 Views 0 Comments

The US Army Contracting Command has Raytheon Technologies to train Afghanistan Air Force pilots under a three-year contract valued up to $145 million.

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Parramatta (left) conducts officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres with amphibious assault ship USS America, guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and guided-missile destroyer USS Barry in the South China Sea. Photo by USS America crew member.

Asia Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy USA

HMAS Parramatta completes Asian/South China Sea tour

02/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 944 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Parramatta has returned to Australia after completing a three-month deployment of South and South East Asia and the South China Sea.

USS Theodore Roosevelt 'clean-crew' sailors re-board the aircraft carrier after completing their COVID-19 isolation period in Guam. Photo by US Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Jordan E Gilbert.

News Overseas Pacific USA

USS Theodore Roosevelt prepares to return to sea

30/04/202030/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 448 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Hundreds of sailors began the transition from isolation on Guam to the USS Theodore Roosevelt yesterday as the ship prepares to return to sea.

HMAS Adelaide conducts a replenishment-at-sea fuel transfer with Royal Canadian Navy supply ship MV Asterix during the sea phase of Exercise RIMPAC 18. Photo by Able Seaman Ronnie Baltoft.

News Overseas USA

RIMPAC 2020 will go ahead as ‘at-sea-only’ exercise

30/04/202030/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 1822 Views 0 Comments RIMPAC

The United States Navy will sponsor the 27th Rim of the Pacific exercise – RIMPAC 20 – from August 17 to 31 2020 despite the global COVID-19 crisis.

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill transit the Philippine Sea in February. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sean Lynch.

News Overseas Pacific USA

Sailor from USS Theodore Roosevelt dies of COVID-19

14/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 687 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

A sailor from the USS Theodore Roosevelt died of ‘COVID-related complications’ on Sunday in the intensive-care unit of US Naval Hospital Guam on 13 Feb.

Crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt listen to Vice Admiral William Merz, commander US 7th Fleet, answering questions during a visit to the ship on 7 April 2020. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier.

News Overseas Pacific USA

US NavSec falls on his sword after attacking USS Roosevelt captain

08/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 1510 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Acting Secretary of the US Navy Thomas Modly who sacked the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier has fallen on his sword.

USS Theodore Roosevelt exercises with US Air Force out of Kadena Air Base, Japan, on 20 March 2020. Photo from USS Theodore Roosevelt Facebook page.

News Overseas Pacific USA

Captain of USS Theodore Roosevelt relieved of duty

03/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 981 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

The commander of the US aircraft carrier knocked out of action by a COVID-19 outbreak after a visit to Vietnam has been relieved of duty.

USS Theodore Roosevelt in Da Nang (5 March 2020) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of US/Vietnam diplomatic relations. Photo from USS Theodore Roosevelt Facebook page.

News Overseas USA

US aircraft carrier knocked out by COVID-19

02/04/202004/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 753 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt has been knocked out of action by an outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the ship.

Two United States Marine Rotational Force – Darwin MV-22 Osprey take off during Exercise Koolendong at Mount Bundey Training Area. Photo by Private Nicole Dorrett.

ADF Australian MRF-D News Overseas USA

Marine Rotational Force – Darwin postponed

30/03/202021/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 742 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 2020 has been cancelled – or at best postponed – because of the ongoing restrictions associated with COVID-19.

The Coyote® Block 2 counter-drone weapon and KuRFS radar worked together to detect and engage a target in a recent test over the US Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. US Army photo.

News Overseas Science & Technology USA

Coyote® Block 2 counter-drone weapon cleared for sale

19/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 806 Views 0 Comments

The US has cleared Raytheon to sell its Coyote® Block 2 counter-drone weapon to approved allied nations as part of the Howler counter-drone system.

A US Marine Corps gate sentry demonstrates how sentries at entry control points will limit physical contact in the fight against COVID-19. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Taylor Smith.

News Overseas USA

US military bans all domestic travel

14/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 973 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

The US Department of Defence has issued a total domestic travel ban for all military personnel, their families and civilian employees.

An RAAF F-35A at RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo by Brian Hartigan.

Australian News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology USA

500th JSF delivered – 250,000 hrs flown

05/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 459 Views 0 Comments F-35 Lightning

Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office delivered the 500th F-35 this week – while the world F-35 fleet has surpassed 250,000 flight hours.

One of the first two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning Joint Strike Fighters flies overhead RAAF Base Williamtown on delivery day. Photo by Brian Hartigan.

Australian Europe News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology USA

Aus/UK open splinter F-35 Reprogramming Laboratory

25/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 767 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

Australia and the UK have officially opened an Australian and United Kingdom F-35 Reprogramming Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

Non-related Northrop Grumman satellite. Video screen-grab.

News Overseas Science & Technology USA

Northrop Grumman developing Space Force protected SATCOMs

25/02/202025/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 581 Views 0 Comments

Northrop Grumman has been selected by the US Space Force to develop a Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) rapid prototype payload for on-orbit demonstration.