Malaysia's MMEA to Equip New Patrol Vessels with Six Thales España's Fulmar UAV

KUALA LUMPUR, -- Thales' España's Fulmar UAV system. The platform has been selected for the MMEA's six new patrol vessels on order from Malaysian shipbuilder Destination Marine Services. (photo : Thales Group)

Thales España has won a contract to supply six Fulmar unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) units to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

An official confirmed to IHS Jane's on 21 March that the UAVs will be operated from its six new 44 m coastal patrol vessels. These ships were ordered under a MYR380 million (USD93.3 million) contract signed with local shipbuilder Destination Marine Services (DMS) in 2015. The MMEA has always intended for these patrol vessels to embark a UAV capability.

A Thales España spokesperson IHS Jane's spoke to on 17 March declined to give further details on the contract, but acknowledged that the UAV has been going through a series of tests. The system is due for delivery by the end of 2016.

The Fulmar UAV has a 3 m wingspan and a length of 1.2 m, and is made from carbon fibre materials. Designed primarily to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles, it has an endurance of up to 12 hours, can be flown at altitudes of up to 4,000 m (13,123 ft), has a cruising speed of 100 kph, and can carry a payload of up to 8 kg. 

The UAS is fitted also with a heavy fuel motor that is understood to help reduce generated noise and enables it to fly at low level (thus reducing risk to the system). It can be operated via a ground control system (GCS) that supports the operation of up to three UAVs in tandem and allows control of the UAVs to switch from one ground station to another, enabling simultaneous use in land and sea environments.

TheThales' España's Fulmar UAV in flight test.

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USS America Returns to Sea

PACIFIC OCEAN - USS America (LHA 6) returned to sea March 21 after completing a 10-month post-shakedown availability maintenance period during which the crew and contractors made improvements to the ship's design.

With PSA now in the rear-view mirror, America is now conducting sea trials to test the ship's systems and sea-worthiness off the coast of Southern California.

The ship's crew faced several potential challenges when getting underway after the long maintenance period such as a successful start-up of the ship's engines, a safe sea and anchor detail, and efficient restricted maneuvering evolution. As it turned out, all major systems worked flawlessly, and the crew executed a safe and successful day one underway.

"Our biggest concern was doing everything safely and making sure no one got hurt," said Chief Boatswain's Mate Christopher Tunal, first division leading chief petty officer. "We did a very good job of getting people underway on various ships throughout the fleet, so every new Sailor on board had at least two or three underways under their belt. By doing that, we were able to bring America the experience we needed to get her underway."

Many of the crew members said they were excited to be finished with the availability and anxious to test the ship's capabilities.

"I'm excited because ships are meant to be at sea and Sailors are meant to be on ships," said Ensign Timothy Rose, conning officer during the first sea and anchor detail. "Really, getting underway allows us to fully do our jobs and show what we are made of."

For a good many of the newest crew members who checked aboard during PSA, this underway represents the first time they were doing their jobs underway.

"This is my first underway in my new rate and I'm excited to learn more about my job," said Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class Shawn Magill. "Now that we're underway, and our equipment is up and running, I get to see new aspects of my job."

The completion of America's PSA period marks a key milestone in the ship's history. With this major work complete on schedule, America is now ready to continue her mission as an aviation-centric amphibious assault ship; a true force multiplier to the Expeditionary Strike Group, the Navy and the United States.

America's Commanding Officer, Capt. Wayne Baze, said, "I could not be prouder of this fine ship and the wonderful Sailors and Marines who continue to give her life. It is good to be at sea again where America belongs."

The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) is underway off the coast of San Diego preparing for final contract trials.The USS America (LHA-6), is the first of the America-class Amphibious Assault Ships for the U.S. Navy. She is as large as the aircraft carriers of many other nations, and can fulfill similar missions when configured with 20 F-35B strike fighters supported by helicopters and V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

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Three former Australian landing craft arrive in Philippines

CANBERRA, -- Dutch heavy lift company BigLift Shipping has shared photos of one of its vessels loading three former Royal Australian Navy, Balikpapan class, heavy landing craft bound for the Philippines.

The company said that two vessels were loaded in Darwin and one in Cairns. All three were offloaded in Cebu, Philippines.

The three vessels, HMAS Balikpapan, HMAS Wewak and HMAS Betano, were retired by Australia in December 2012 while the remaining three ships of the class Brunei, Labuan and Tarakan were decommissioned in November 2014.

IHS Janes’s on October 27, 2025 reported that the Philippine and Australian governments were finalizing the sale of the three ships. Financial aspects of the acquisition were not disclosed at that time.

Australia previously gifted two landing craft to the Philippine Navy. Ex-HMA Ships Tarakan and Brunei, were re commissioned into the Republic of Philippines Navy as BRP Ivatan (AT298) and BRP Batak (AT299).

Three former #Australian Navy, Balikpapan classheavy landing crafts bound for the Philippines.

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US Navy’s largest destroyer heads out to sea for trials

BATH, Maine, -- The nation’s largest and most expensive destroyer headed out to sea today for final builder trials before being presented to the Navy for inspection.

Engineers and technicians at Bath Iron Works are going to focus on propulsion, mobility and safety aboard the future USS Zumwalt to ensure everything is shipshape before the next trials, in which the Navy will perform a pre-delivery inspection.

Rear Adm. Peter Fanta, director of surface warfare, said he likes what he has heard from the ship’s commanding officer during the first trials in December.

“He was extremely impressed with the stability of the ship, particularly in hard turns, particularly in its seakeeping ability,” he told The Associated Press.

The 600-foot ship is unlike anything ever built for the Navy. It features an angular shape to deflect enemy radar, a wave-piercing “tumblehome” hull, electric propulsion and new guns. Automation allows it to operate with a smaller crew than existing destroyers.

But those innovations come at a high cost. The Zumwalt, the first of three ships in the class, will cost at least $4.4 billion.

The price ballooned to the point some in the Navy tried to kill the program. Instead, the program originally envisioned for 32 ships was truncated.

The ship, which will be based in San Diego, stands to play a role in the Obama administration’s “rebalance” of resources to Asia and the Pacific, where China is flexing its military muscle in the South China Sea. But Fanta said he’ll want a full assessment of capabilities before determining exactly how the ship will be used.

More than 200 Bath Iron Works employees and Navy personnel are participating in the builder trials with an aim of delivering the ship to the Navy this year.

After that, there will be even more assessments, including rough-weather tests to determine the performance of the unusual hull that gives the ship a pyramid shape.

“We go to find the most miserable places in the ocean and drive at various sea stages,” Fanta said.

The Navy believes it knows how the ship will perform, but it won’t know for sure until all tests are completed, he said.

This will be the second time the ship has gone to sea. The “alpha” trials in December, which gave engineers their first opportunity to test systems at sea, were deemed a success even though repairs were needed on one of the ship’s 12 motor drives.

The U.S. Navy's first Zumwalt-class destroyer leaves the Kennebec River.

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RSS Endurance Navy ships docked in Cam Ranh

HANOI, -- Singapore Navy ships named RSS Endurance International has just docked in Vietnam's Cam Ranh at 9 am on 17 May 3. This was the first foreign ship to Cam Ranh International Port from the date of opening of the port Thursday 8 May 3.

RSS Endurance ship visits in the annual exchange program of the two navies of Vietnam - Singapore. 

According to schedule, the same day, the ship's crew will visit people's social committee of Khanh Hoa Province, visited the headquarters of the Navy 4 and the reception of Command Area 4, at the International Port Orange Free. Of vessels to return to Singapore on the morning of March 21.

Cam Ranh International Port has previously been Vietnam to the Soviet Union and then Russia rent for the period from 1979 to 2002. On March 8 last, the international port of Cam Ranh was launched with the mission of providing maritime services for vessels of water.

The Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Endurance (207) landing platform dock at the Cam Ranh International Port in Vietnam for the last leg of the Midshipman Sea Training Deployment.

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US to deploy rocket launcher in Balikatan Exercise

MANILA / WASHINGTON, -- The United States (U.S.) will deploy its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to participate in this year’s US-PH Balikatan Exercise (BK16), which will bring together more than 8,000 Filipino and American forces.

It will be the first time that the HIMARS, which offers the firepower of a multiple-launch rocket system, will be used during the live fire phase of the annual bilateral training between U.S. and Philippine troops.

BK 16 is scheduled to kick off April 4 and will run through April 16.

A U.S. military official said the HIMARS live fire exercise will be held at Crow Valley in Tarlac where the Joint Rapid Response Force (JRRF), one of the main operations for this year’s Balikatan, will begin.

“Yes, HIMARS will be present there. I believe the live fire demonstration will coincide with the opening ceremony,” he said. But the HIMARS weapon will not stay at Crow Valley, as it will also be transported to Palawan during the exercise.

Capt. Celeste Frank Sayson, Balikatan spokesperson, confirmed this, saying, “In Crow Valley, HIMARS will demonstrate to Filipino troops its capability to engage ground, air, and sea targets. It has maximum range of 300 kilometers. Later on it it will be brought to Palawan.”

Sayson defined maritime interdiction as military efforts to deal with pirates and other vessels not clear or without permission to enter Philippine territorial waters.

The HIMARS is a light multiple rocket launcher mounted on a standard Army Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV) truck frame. It can roll off a C-130 plane to deliver long-range artillery support.

The HIMARS system carries six rockets on a five-ton truck, each one of them have the capability to level entire buildings.

Aside from the HIMAFS, 55 US tactical aircraft are also expected to participate in BK16, including the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey and Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo planes and and Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft.

American aircraft and accompanying personnel will start arriving byMarch 28 to April 1, Sayson said.

Balikatan is an annual Philippine-U.S. military bilateral training exercise that is a signature element of the Philippine-U.S. alliance focused on a variety of missions to include humanitarian assistance, maritime law enforcement, and environmental protection.

The US Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) light multiple rocket launcher mounted on a standard Army Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV) truck frame.

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55 American tactical aircraft to participate in 'Balikatan 2016'

MANILA, -- Around 55 American tactical aircraft will be participating in this year's 'Balikatan' exercises.

This was disclosed by Capt. Celeste Frank Sayson, "Balikatan 2016" spokesperson, in an interview Monday.

American planes expected to participate in the aerial phase of "Balikatan" include the tilt-rotor MV-22 "Osprey" and Lockheed C-130 "Hercules" cargo planes and and Fairchild Republic A-10 "Thunderbolt" ground attack aircraft.

In last year's "Balikatan" exercises, around 76 American tactical aircraft were deployed.

American aircraft and accompanying personnel will start arriving by March 28-April 1, Sayson said.

On April 5-6, the Philippines first two FA-50PH "Fighting Eagle" light-interim fighter aircraft will participating in an airborne command-and-control and interdiction, air interdiction operations together with its American counterparts.

The aerial maneuvers is expected to take part in the "northern part" of the Philippines, Sayson added.

An A-10C Thunderbolt II Fixed-wing close air support forward air control, and ground-attack aircraft from the 40th Flight Test Squadron, moves down the runway at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

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DCNS Targets Australian Frigate Tender

#TOULON, France, — Rand Corp., a think tank, is due to conclude a short list of competitors this month for Australia’s tender for nine frigates to replace the Anzac warship, Hervé Boy, DCNS business development manager, said March 16.

An announcement of a “short list of two or three” candidates is due later this month in Australia’s Sea 5000 Future Frigate Program, he told journalists as DCNS formally handed over the Languedoc, a Frégate MultiMission or multimission frigate, to the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement (OCCAR), the international program manager.

The Languedoc handover took place as the stealthy frigate took to sea for a brief cruise in heavy rain and strong wind off the coast of southern France, with Navy Seals sailing close by in an Ecume rigid inflatable commando boat and an NH90 naval helicopter flying over.

OCCAR delivered the frigate to Direction Générale de l’Armement, the French procurement office, which in turn will hand the warship over to the French Navy.

Canada is also among the export prospects for DCNS, as Ottawa seeks to acquire 15 frigates, of which 12 would be multipurpose and three air defense versions, he said.

The Australian frigate program, estimated to be worth AUS $20 billion (US $15.2 billion), would replace eight Anzac frigates. DCNS is pitching an extended-range version of its frigate, which could be 6,000 to 7,000 tons, and could be 5 to 6 meters longer than the 6,000-ton standard version built for the French Navy and sold to Egypt and Morocco.

The French Navy FREMM Normandie (D651) Multi-Mission Stealth Frigate Sea Trial.

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Myanmar Navy holds exercise in strategic waters

NAYPYIDAW, -- The Myanmar Navy (MN) has completed its annual 'Sea Shield' combined fleet exercise, which ran from 22 February to 2 March in strategic waters between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.

The exercise zone was located immediately northeast of Myanmar's Coco Islands and not far from India's Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.

The annual manoeuvres, which typically involve live-fire exercises by several of the MN's capital vessels, were unusually low key this year. While attended by Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, 'Sea Shield 2016' was marked by none of the extensive state media attention lavished on the 2014 and 2015 iterations of the exercise.

The Myanmar Navy Warships at Combined Fleet Exercise - Sea Shield 2016.

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