Defense

Building on collaborative preparations and a recently ratified bilateral agreement to counter illicit transnational maritime activities, the United States and Papua New Guinea concluded a joint maritime patrol on September 4, 2023, aimed at strengthening regional security and resource management in the PNG exclusive economic zone for the first time. 

Global shipping and energy supply chain leader Crowley has teamed with nuclear power leader BWX Technologies, Inc. through a memorandum of understanding for a ship concept that has the potential to generate alternative, zero-carbon emission energy for defense and disaster needs by including a microreactor on board.

AI based Maritime Autonomy & Navigational specialist, Robosys Automation and leading UK specialist installer and integrator, Landau Marine, announced at DSEi in London (UK), a new pioneering collaboration that enables full stack maritime autonomy for both new-build and retrofit vessels and naval craft.

Danish subsea engineering specialist EIVA a/s has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) with a total value of approximately €3.8 million (£3.2 million).

On 12 September 2023, Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania held a launching ceremony for the PNS Hunain, one of a series of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) 2600 that Damen is constructing for the Pakistan Navy. Damen was awarded the contract to build the vessel, following its successful delivery of the first two vessels, PNS Yarmook and PNS Tabuk in 2020.

SENEDIA—the alliance for defense tech, talent, and innovation—concluded Defense Innovation Days, an important national defense convening that featured three days of policy discussion, industry networking, and planning for the future in an increasingly-complex national security landscape.

BAE Systems has announced a collaboration with Cellula Robotics to showcase the capabilities of its new Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XLAUV), known as Herne, on a technology demonstrator in the water in the second half of 2024.

Iridium Communications Inc., a leading provider of global voice and data satellite communications, has been awarded a five-year base Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with one five-year option by the US Space Force for Iridium Certus^® services.

Orbit Communications Systems, a leading global provider of maritime and airborne SATCOM terminals, tracking ground station solutions, and mission-critical airborne audio management systems, is to unveil its Multi-Purpose Terminals (MPT) for SATCOM communication for unmanned surface vehicles and small vessels at DSEI 2023, in London.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) has been awarded contract worth approximately NOK 16 billion by the Polish Ministry of National Defense to deliver four NSM (Naval Strike Missile) Coastal Defense System (CDS) squadrons.

The Royal Australian Navy and Defense Science Technology Group representatives met with their Republic of Singapore Navy counterparts to discuss the development and evolution of autonomous maritime systems.

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division was awarded a $154.8 million contract modification today for the modernization of USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000).