Today's Naval News Summary

You asked for it, you got it. Here today's naval summary.

FWFS,

Greg Emerson, DM1(SW), USN-Retired

- - - - -

02 January

BRAZIL

British BAe Systems signed a contract for transfer of three 90-m Ocean Patrol Vessels originally ordered by the Trinidad & Tobago coast guard - and cancelled by it shortly prior delivery – to the Brazilian navy … contract value given as Euro 140 million. The first two ships will be delivered in 2012 and the third will follow in early 2013. Contract said to also provide for further vessels of the same class to be constructed in Brazil.

IRAN

During the final day of exercise „Velayat 90“ the Iranian navy has test-fired anti-ship missiles “Nour” “Ghader” and “Nasr”… from both mobile launchers ashore and naval vessels … at least one missile hit a moored target at sea, although not known over what distance … the “long-range” cruise missiles (rmks: 150-250 km, NOT to be mistaken with long-range ballistic missiles) are said to have been fired in northern the Gulf of Oman “near” (but not at) the Strait of Hormuz … displayed by the Iranian navy as “proof of capability” to effectively close the narrows.

RUSSIA

KUZNETSOV deployment: the ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV carrier task force is heading east towards the Central Mediterranean … from 03-06 Jan reportedly scheduled tactical training incl. flight operations south of the Ionian Sea between Malta and Crete … Greece permitted Russian aircraft to use airspace in the western part of the Greek Flight Information Region.

(rmks: mirrors exercises conducted during previous KUZNETSOV deployments)

SPAIN

General Admiral Fernando Garcia Sanchez takes over as new Chief of Defence Staff (Jefe de Estado Mayor de la Defensa – JEMAD)

YEMEN

Eleven Yemeni coastguards personnel were found dead and six others rescued when their boat capsized in the Red Sea off Hudieda … boat had a machine fault before it was struck by a tidal wave.

UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS

FRANCE (05 Mar)

Training squadron for 2012 “Mission Jeanne d’Arc” to be comprised of helicopter carrier DIXMUDE and destroyer GEORGES LEYGUES … sail from Toulon for Eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean, Cape of Good Hope, Atlantic … return in late July.