Americas
The Coast Guard received its newest Sentinel Class fast response cutter, the Coast Guard Cutter Frederick Hatch, from Bollinger Shipyards in Key West, Florida. The Frederick Hatch will be the third FRC stationed in Guam, and will arrive in Santa Rita during the summer. The Frederick Hatch, which will support a crew of 24, was placed in commission, special status, and will remain in Florida while the crew completes pre-commissioning trials and maintenance.
Ultra has announced a contract award to commence work on the key Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) system for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) programme, named the Towed Low Frequency Active Sonar (TLFAS). This subcontract moves the development of CSC’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability from the programme definition phase into the full manufacture and delivery of the vessels suite of sonars. The TLFAS system is designed and manufactured by Ultra in Nova Scotia. In the two years since having been originally awarded program definition studies for CSC, Ultra’s Canadian team has grown by over 150 employees, with another 80 roles expected to be made available in 2021.
Middle East & Africa
According to Reuters, Israel’s air force began a “surprise exercise” to improve combat readiness along the country’s northern border. The military said the “exercise simulates combat scenarios in the northern front, and will test all components in the (air force’s) core missions, including maintaining aerial superiority, protecting the country’s skies, as well as attacking and gathering intelligence.”
Europe
Airbus will showcase a wide range of cutting-edge technologies, capabilities and solutions from Airbus Defense and Space and Airbus Helicopters at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2021. The event is set to take place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from February 21 – 25 and is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Asia-Pacific
A second batch of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) MV-22 Ospreys arrived home at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan on February 14. The air station’s advanced capabilities and deep water port allow for aircraft to arrive via ship before receiving functional checks and flying to their final destination.
The Australian Financial Review revealed that the Royal Australian Navy will send a warship to join HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group and the Australian ship will rendezvous with the group in Singapore. The strike group will sail via the critical Malacca Strait and probably transit through the contested South China Sea. Australia will join American, Japanese and Dutch forces that have already announced their involvement. An American destroyer, The Sullivans, will be part of the carrier group while a squadron of US Marine Corps F-35 joint strike fighters will operate from HMS Queen Elizabeth during the deployment.
Today’s Video
Watch: JGSDF V-22 Ospreys arrive at MCAS Iwakuni
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZDmKybRl6Y
