The design for the BPC-type force projection and command vessels ordered by the Russian Federation is now underway. DCNS, prime contractor for the programme, has begun studies to tailor the vessel design to the specific requirements of the Russian Navy. Signed in June 2011 with Russian defence export agency Rosoboronexport, the BPC contract with Russia is DCNS’s first international success with the BPC platform.

The Gowind frigate, designed by French company DCNS, has been selected for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme. However, the contract for building the six ships remains on hold due to disagreements between the builder, Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS), and the end user RMN, according to people familiar with the programme.

The U.S. Navy and its shipbuilding partners have incorporated lessons learned from the first two Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) in the design and construction of the follow-on ships. “I think the lead ships are pretty good,” says Rear Adm. Jim Murdoch, the Program Executive Officer for LCS (PEO LCS). “I think LCS 3 and 4 will be better.”

The Indian Navy is in dire need of more submarines. But the plan to build six next-generation underwater boats with foreign collaboration, which has been in the works for long, is stuck in the labyrinth of the bureaucratic muddle. Project 75 India, under which the new submarines are to be built, has failed to take off as a number of critical issues regarding construction modalities are yet to be sorted out between the defence ministry and the navy.

A Russian naval task force from the Northern Fleet has left its base in Severomorsk on a training mission in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, a fleet’s spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga said. The task force, led by Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, also includes Udaloy II class destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, rescue tugboat Nikolai Chiker, and three tankers.

Brazil could continue to modernize its armed forces with the acquisition of two conventional aircraft carriers. Paris is a candidate for this market and sees a good opportunity for the Rafale multi-role fighter.

The Philippine Navy has been cleared to begin negotiations for the purchase of a multirole vessel from any of the friendly nations, Rear Admiral Alexander Pama said on Sunday. “The latest process that we had undergone with the Department of National Defense had good results and we did not encounter anymore objections,” Pama said.

Pre-Commissioning Unit Mississippi (SSN 782) sponsor Ms. Allison Stiller christened the ninth Virginia-class submarine during a ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat, Dec. 3. During her remarks, Stiller mentioned today marked the 38th christening that she has attended, but emphasized how special the day was for her. "All of the christenings have been special, but this will be the most special one that I will be a part of," said Stiller. "The ship may be made of steel and fiber and the finest technology, but the crew is what is most important."

The Indian Navy will acquire 12 more Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to boost its eye in the sky over India's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. This is in addition to the 12 already ordered, a top commander said. Indian Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) in an interview that the force was satisfied with the progress of the first eight P-8Is being built by Boeing under a 2009 order and that the second order for four more aircraft was being processed. It would be placed within the current fiscal ending March 2012.

The Bal-E modern coastal missile system (CMS) has entered service in the coastal missile unit of the Caspian Flotilla formed this year. Spokesman for the Southern Military District Col. Igor Gorbul told Itar-Tass that “specialists of the Kaluga-based Typhoon plant are currently tuning the radar equipment and consolidating the entire system of the complex control into a single network.” “During 2011 part of the battalion’s officers underwent training at special courses at the plant,” he said.

The delivery of the first Yasen class nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine to the Russian Navy has been postponed until the end of 2012 due to additional tests of its weapons systems, the Sevmash shipyard said.

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce the delivery of the first NH90 NFH helicopter to the Norwegian Armed Forces. The delivery ceremony took place 30th November at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate facility in the presence of Brigadier General/Commander Frode R Flôlo, NDLO Air Systems Division.

In a major build up of India's naval strength, the Indian Navy will add 49 ships to its fleet strength over the next five years, flag officer commanding-in-chief of the eastern naval command, vice admiral Anil Chopra said Saturday. Addressing a press conference on board INS Shakti, a fleet tanker of the Indian Navy on Saturday, Chopra said that the navy presently had 132 ships, including 14 submarines.

Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation and the Baltiisky Zavod shipyard signed a 2.5 billion ruble ($80 million) contract on Friday to build hulls for the third and fourth French Mistral-class warships for the Russian Navy. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Sagem (Safran group) has successfully completed a series of flight tests of its long endurance surveillance drone, Patroller™.

Russia has delivered supersonic cruise missiles to Syria despite the violence shaking the Arab country and Israel's furious condemnation of the deal, a news report said on Thursday. "The Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles have been delivered to Syria," a military source told the Interfax news agency without disclosing when the shipment was made.

Thursday, November 17, 2011, the air defense frigate (actually a Destroyer class in displacement) "Chevalier Paul" destroyed an aerial target flying at high speed using an Aster 30 long range anti-aircraft missile. This shot was intended primarily to validate the use of these missiles over very long distances.

FREMM frigate Aquitaine berthed at DCNS’s Lorient shipyard on Friday 25 November after three weeks of successful sea trials, during which DCNS teams pursued integration and testing of the combat system under the supervision of the French defence procurement agency (DGA). The ship is to be delivered to the French Navy in the third quarter of 2012.