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This page is to feature daily news (in note form) on international navies, as they are published/posted on the Internet. Updates (dependent on availability of editor) every work-day in late morning. Dates listed usually reflect the time of event (media reporting sometimes may be considerably later). Please, note that these news are just a “snapshot in time”, with some of the items still requiring verification, or - as “developing stories” - updates.
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01 February
INDIA (multinational)
Hosted by the Indian navy, biennial exercise “Milan” has kicked off at Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar islands) … delegations of 14 Asia-Pacific Region nations (Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Philippines, Singapore, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam) participating … focus on search and rescue, terrorism, piracy, poaching … most activities ashore (seminars, discussions) … only few participants also sent ships or boats which will do some related small-scale exercises.
PIRACY
- Anti-Piracy Forces: German Navy frigate RHEINLAND-PFALZ sails from home port Wilhelmshaven for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO SNMG-1 in anti-piracy operation “Ocean Shield”.
- General: Four of the 25 suspected pirates detained on board Danish warship ABSALON since 07 January have been taken by the Seychelles after all for prosecution … search continues for other countries willing to prosecute the remainder 21 men still held on board the ABSALON.
02 February
IRAN
- US media: “SecDef Panetta believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June - before Iran enters a 'zone of immunity' to commence building a nuclear bomb”.
(rmks: with no outright denial from Panetta, looks like deliberate leak to increase pressure on Iran)
- According to an annual budget proposal by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presented to parliament, Iran plans to more than double military spending over the coming 12 months.
- Up to five ships carrying grain to Iran have been diverted to new destinations as European Union sanctions hold up payments.
PIRACY
- Anti-Piracy Forces: For the first time ever, India, China and Japan have begun coordinating their naval patrols / convoy escorts off the Horn of Africa.
- Anti-Piracy Forces: Russian and NATO navy officials had a meeting to discuss cooperation of their naval patrols in the Gulf of Aden … Russian destroyer ADMIRAL TRIBUTS and tanker PECHENGA, Turkish frigate GIRESUN, Spanish supply ship PATINO and US destroyer HALSEY conduct short joint exercise, incl. replenishment at sea.
RUSSIA
The ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV carrier task force has left the Mediterranean, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic … planning for some more tactical exercises including flight operations enroute home ports.
RUSSIA
- Rogozin: To fill a gap before all eight planned BOREJ class submarines are in service (by 2020), decommissioning of strategic nuclear submarines currently in service is being deferred … subs will get another upgrade to extend service life time from 25 years to up to 35 years … TYPHOON class submarines to be upgraded with their electronics and weapon systems replaced
(rmks: refit TYPHOON with Bulava missiles?)
- Rogozin: “By 2013, production capacity at Russian shipyards will allow us to build six submarines and an aircraft carrier every year.”
(rmks: careful here: wording applies to capabilities, not intentions)
UNITED KINGDOM
TYPE 45 destroyer DARING has passed the Suez Canal southbound
UNITED KINGDOM
TYPE 23 frigate LANCASTER has begun sea trials off the South Coast after a 16-month overhaul and upgrade.
03 February
RUSSIA
Pacific Fleet task group with destroyer ADMIRAL PANTELEYEV has ended a four-day visit to Manila (Phipippines).
(rmks: former anti-piracy task group returning home from deployment to the Gulf of Aden)
UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS
DENMARK (06 Feb)
During a ceremony scheduled at the Korsoer naval base, the Danish armed forces’ Materiel Command will formally hand over frigate IVER HUITFELDT, the first of three new ships, to the Danish navy. Two remaining ships to follow next year. IVER HUITFELDT to achieve full operational readiness by 2014.
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