News Story: Chinese naval fleet returns home after drill with Russia & China, Russia conclude joint naval drills

Chinese Navy Warships (File Photo)

Chinese naval fleet returns home after drill with Russia

SANYA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval flotilla Monday returned to a military port in the city of Sanya in southern China's Hainan Province after a military exercise with the Russian navy in the Baltic Sea.

The formation, comprising missile destroyer "Hefei," missile frigate "Yuncheng" and supply vessel "Luomahu," was the first Chinese fleet to ever sail in the region for a military exercise.

The joint drill, held in July, was the first phase of "Joint Sea 2017," which had similar exercises in the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk this year.

Read the full story at Xinhua

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China, Russia conclude joint naval drills

MOSCOW, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The last batch of scheduled exercises in the second phase of the 2017 China-Russia Joint Sea Drills was completed in the Okhotsk Sea near Russia's Far East Federal District on Monday.

Starting in the morning, Chinese and Russian commanders simulated joint rescues of ships hijacked by pirates and ships in distress, and later in the afternoon, fleets of the two sides held a farewell ceremony after the completion of both exercises.

During the entire week-long drills, major Chinese and Russian fleets conducted a string of highly challenging joint operations, including air defense, anti-submarine and anti-fleet actions as well as maritime search and rescue.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Philippine navy, air force conduct joint maritime drill to improve interoperability

MANILA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Navy and Air Force have began a pilot maritime exercise to improve interoperability in monitoring internal security and territorial defense in western Mindanao, a military statement said on Thursday.

Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the military's Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said the drill, dubbed Exercise Ayudahan 2017 which opened last Monday, is aimed at developing the soldiers' capability to conduct maritime patrols, surveillance and search and rescue operations in the Western Mindanao region.

"The interoperability exercise aims to develop interoperability and operational capabilities of the units in Western Mindanao area of operations and enhance the overall coordination and responsiveness in the conduct of joint maritime operations in support to internal security operations and territorial defense operations," Medina said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

USA: US, Malaysian navies begin bilateral maritime exercise

By Lt. Clyde Shavers, Destroyer Squadron 7 Public Affairs

In this file photo, USS Coronado (LCS 4) arrives in Langkawi, Malaysia, earlier this year for the International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. (U.S. Navy/MC2 Amy M. Ressler) >>

LUMUT, Malaysia - The U.S. and Royal Malaysian Navy kicked off Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Malaysia at Lumut Naval Base, Sept. 18.

Nearly 300 U.S. and Malaysian Sailors aboard the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4), Kasturi-class corvette KD Lekir (F26) and Lekiu-class frigate KD Lekiu (F30) are participating in the exercise.

“The U.S. and Royal Malaysian Navy maintains a close and unique partnership that continues to grow and evolve with each bilateral and multilateral exercise,” said Capt. Matthew Jerbi, deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. “MTA Malaysia is just one of many opportunities for both navies to work closely together towards cooperatively ensuring regional maritime security and stability.”

News Story: China, Russia start joint naval drills

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia started the second stage of their "Joint Sea-2017" military exercises on Monday with the arrival of a Chinese naval fleet in the Russian port city of Vladivostok.

The exercises are scheduled to take place in the Sea of Japan and the Okhotsk Sea, after the first stage was held on July 22-27 in the Baltic Sea.

It is the first time that the venue of the drills has extended to the Okhotsk Sea. Naval forces from both sides will, also for the first time, conduct joint submarine rescue exercises and joint anti-submarine exercises.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Philippine Coast Guard to beef up patrol fleet beginning 2018

Japanese made patrol boat for Philippines Coast Guard

MANILA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will beef up its patrol fleet with more brand new and modern patrol boats, a helicopter and weapons beginning next year as it plans to further strengthen its maritime patrol capability, a lawmaker said on Sunday.

Rep. Johnny Pimentel, a member of the House appropriation committee, said the government has set aside 6.7 billion pesos (130.1 million U.S. dollars) of its 3.767 trillion pesos (73.15 billion U.S. dollars) budget for 2018 to build up the PCG with a fleet of new boats, helicopters and weapons.

"The fresh funding will help pay for the acquisition of 10 newly built 44-meter patrol boats from Japan, of which five have already been delivered to the PCG," said Pimentel in a statement.

He said the PCG is also acquiring four 24-meter fast boats for delivery in 12 months, an 82-meter boat for delivery in 2019, and two 94-meter, high-endurance boats for delivery in 2020 and 2021.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Myanmar Military Jet Goes Missing During Training Mission

G-4 Super Galeb trainer/light attack aircraft (Image: Wiki Commons)

A military G-4 fighter jet from Myanmar’s Air Force went missing in the southern Ayeyarwady region.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A military fighter jet from Myanmar’s Air Force went missing on Tuesday during a training mission in the country’s south, according to local media reports.

The incident occurred at about 03:00 GMT in the southern Ayeyarwady region, the Xinhua news agency reported citing Myanmar’s Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Service.

News Story: 3 missing after MSDF helicopter crashes in Sea of Japan

A JMSDF SH-60J Seahawk (Image: Wiki Commons)

TOKYO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- A helicopter belonging to Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) crashed during a drill Saturday night, leaving three crew members missing.

The SH-60J patrol helicopter lost contact at around 10:50 p.m. local time (1350 GMT) on Saturday during a landing and takeoff drill on a destroyer off Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, according to Japan's Defense Ministry.

Four people were on board the helicopter. One of them was rescued some 40 minutes after the incident, and the MSDF and Japan Coast Guard are still searching for the other three, according to the MSDF.

Japan's new Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters on Sunday that parts of the wreckage of the helicopter had been found around the crash area.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Vietnam, Indonesia eye joint vision statement on defence cooperation

Jakarta (VNA) – The defence ministries of Vietnam and Indonesia are going to sign a joint vision statement on defence cooperation for 2017-2022 during an upcoming Indonesia visit by Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich.

The consensus was reached by Vietnam’s Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh and Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu in Jakarta on August 23.

At the meeting, held in the framework of an official visit to the archipelago nation by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the two sides expressed their delight at the outcomes of bilateral defence cooperation in recent years, saying that the development of Vietnam-Indonesia friendship as a good condition to enhance cooperation in multiple spheres, including defence.

They agreed to make efforts to boost substantive defence relations, stressing cooperation between their navies, air forces and coast guard forces, personnel training, UN peacekeeping operations, and counter-terrorism.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

News Story: Multinational search for missing US Navy sailors expands in Asia

USS John S. McCain (Image: Wiki Commons)

By: Mike Yeo

MELBOURNE, Australia – The multinational search and rescue for sailors missing from the U.S. Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain following a collision with an oil tanker near Singapore has expanded, even as remains of some of the missing have been located inside the flooded compartments of the ship.

Both Singapore and Malaysia have increased the number of assets taking part in the SAR operations for the 10 sailors initially reported missing following the collision, while Indonesia has also started scouring the waters off its islands closest to where the collision occurred. Australia has also offered an aircraft to assist in the search, according to a media statement from Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority on Tuesday.

The new, expanded search area covers more than 1,100 square miles, with Singapore and the U.S. covering the center of the identified search area while Malaysian and Indonesian assets are covering the north and south.

The collision occurred in waters where there is an unresolved maritime boundary dispute between Singapore and Malaysia, and both have said the collision occurred in their respective territorial waters and have laid claim to leading the search operation. That said, the disagreement has not interfered with the search operation so far.

U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopters and Marine Corps MV-22 tiltrotors from the amphibious assault ship USS America are also involved in the search, while the Republic of Singapore Air Force has deployed a C-130 transport and a Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft to join two patrol vessels each from the Singapore Navy and police coast guard already on scene. A Singaporean Super Puma helicopter had earlier evacuated four of the five sailors injured in the collision to a hospital on Monday morning.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Amid accidents and sailor deaths, US Navy's top officer questions readiness of Japan-based ships

CNO Adm. John Richardson (Image: Wiki Commons)

By: David B. Larter

The Navy’s top officer is eyeing U.S. 7th Fleet based in Yokosuka, Japan, after four accidents in one year have resulted in three collisions, a grounding, seven sailors dead and 10 missing as of Monday afternoon. 

The fleet, which is led by Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, is now under direct scrutiny after Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson directed his four-star fleet boss, Adm. Phil Davidson, to determine if 7th Fleet ships are ready to do the basics of their jobs.

"[The collision is] the last in a series of incidents in the Pacific Fleet in particular, and that gives great cause for concern that there is something out there that we’re not getting at," Richardson told a group of reporters Monday afternoon. "So I’ve conferred with senior leadership in the Navy and in the department. We are taking a much more aggressive stance at this point to get to that level of understanding."

Richardson, who ordered a vague ”operational pause” earlier in the day, said he was directing Fleet Forces Command head Davidson to look at training of sailors in 7th Fleet  while they are forward deployed.

“There’s the longer-term review that I’ve asked Adm. Davidson, down in fleet forces command, to undertake,” Richardson said.

“This will be a broader effort, looking at a number of things. One being, what is the situation out in Japan with our forward deployed naval forces out there, how are they executing their business? I just want to understand that more deeply in terms of training, generating that readiness that we’ve asked them to achieve, and then certifying that readiness.”

The scrutiny comes on the heels of the second major at-sea disaster since June, which has crippled two of the Navy’s ballistic missile defense ships at a time when the threat from the Nuclear-armed Kim regime in North Korea is rapidly increasing.

John S. McCain collided with the Liberian-flagged merchant vessel Alnic MC just east of the Singapore Strait entering the Strait of Malacca at 5:24 a.m. local time. The Alnic, which is three times the size of McCain, is an oil and chemical tanker.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

USA: America pulls into Changi Naval Base to support USS John S. McCain

From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

USS America (LHA 6) file photo. (U.S. Navy/MC3 Justin A. Schoenberger) >>

SINGAPORE - Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) arrived Aug. 21 at Changi Naval Base and is moored across the pier from the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56).

While in Singapore, America will provide messing and berthing services to McCain crew members and to support damage control efforts on board. America will also support ongoing searches for 10 missing Sailors. Ship Repair Facility divers are on scene as well to assess the damage to the hull.

McCain was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel Alnic MC while underway east of the Strait of Malacca and Singapore early in the morning on Aug. 21 (as reported 6:24 a.m. Japan Standard Time) and arrived at Changi Naval Base in the afternoon.

Significant damage to the hull resulted in flooding to nearby compartments, including crew berthing, machinery and communications rooms. Damage control efforts by the crew halted further flooding.

News Report: US Navy Orders Operational Pause for Up to 2 Days Following Collision

USS John S. McCain (Image: Wiki Commons)

Jeff Seldin

PENTAGON — The U.S. Navy is promising to take "a much more aggressive stance" as it tries to determine what led to a second collision between a U.S. guided-missile destroyer and a commercial vessel in as many months.

Ten American sailors are missing and five injured, with the USS John S. McCain sustaining "significant damage" as a result of Monday's collision with a tanker near the Strait of Malacca.

Photos released by the U.S. Navy show a gaping hole, below the waterline, on the John S. McCain's port side. A statement from the U.S. 7th Fleet said the damage was "significant" and that some sleeping areas and communications rooms flooded as a result.

In response to the incident, the Navy ordered an immediate operational pause across the U.S. fleet.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said the pause, lasting one to two days, will give commanders a chance to evaluate everything from how officers conduct themselves on the bridge to shipwide working conditions.

USA: USS John S. McCain collides with merchant ship near Strait of Malacca

From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) file photo. (U.S. Navy/MCSN Gavin Shields) >>

SOUTH CHINA SEA - The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel Alnic MC while underway east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore on Aug. 21.

The collision was reported at 6:24 a.m. Japan Standard Time, while the ship was transiting to a routine port visit in Singapore.

The ship is currently sailing under its own power and heading to port.

Search and rescue efforts are underway in coordination with local authorities. In addition to tug boats out of Singapore, the Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Gallant (97), RSN helicopters and Police Coast Guard vessel Basking Shark (55) are currently in the area to render assistance.

MV-22 Ospreys and SH-60S Sea Hawks from USS America (LHA 6) are also responding.

Initial reports indicate John S. McCain sustained damage to her port side aft. The extent of damage and personnel injuries is being determined. The incident will be investigated.

Updated: Aug. 20, 2:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time

See initial release from U.S. 7th Fleet.

US Pacific Fleet

News Report: US Navy Destroyer Collides With Merchant Ship Near Singapore

USS John S McCain (Image: Wiki Commons)

The USS John McCain collided with a merchant ship early August 21 near Singapore and the Strait of Malacca.

The US guided-missile destroyer crashed into the merchant vessel Alnic MC while underway east of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca in the South China Sea, the US Navy 7th Fleet reports. 

The incident occurred at 6:24 a.m. local time as the ship was on its way to make a routine port visit in Singapore. Early reports hold that the McCain has been damaged on its port side, and the latest US Navy update says the ship is sailing under her own power and is on her way to port.

A search and rescue operation has been launched, combining the efforts of the Singapore Navy and US ships in the area. The Singapore Navy ship RSS Gallant, RSN helicopters and Police Coast Guard vessel Basking Shark are currently in the area to render assistance, the 7th fleet reports, and MV-22s and SH-60s from USS America are also responding.

The incident will be investigated, the Navy has said.

News Story: Vietnam, Philippines need mechanism for antipiracy cooperation

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and the Philippines should develop a mechanism for anti-piracy cooperation in the future to ensure maritime security and safety, said Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Senior Lieutenant General Pham Ngoc Minh.

Minh made the statement at a reception on August 16 for Commander of the Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph S.Mercado who was on a visit to Vietnam to strengthen bilateral ties between Vietnam and the Philippines in defence and navy and discuss collaboration between the two navies.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

News Story: (Vietnam) Deputy Defence Minister meets Vice Chief of Australia’s Defense Force

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam and Australia need to maintain and develop further their defense cooperation, said Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Deputy Minister of National Defense.

He made the statement at a meeting with Vice Admiral Raymond Griggs, Vice Chief of Australia’s Defense Force, in Hanoi on July 27, as part of the guest’s ongoing visit to Vietnam from July 26-30.

Giang said the bilateral defense cooperation has reaped positive outcomes over the past time, including the effective implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding in the field signed in 2010.

He affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to the comprehensive cooperation with Australia and hoped the two sides will increase all-level delegation exchanges and explore new cooperation spheres.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

News Story: Vietnam, Singapore share concern over terrorism

Singapore (VNA) – Vietnam and Singapore have shared concern over terrorism in the region and the world and affirmed willingness to fight terrorism and extreme violence. 

It was one of the important agenda during Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh’s visit to Singapore from July 13-15 at the invitation of Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. 

Both sides agreed to continue facilitating all-level visits and exchanges on the Party, State and government channels and people-to-people exchange, effectively tap strategic consultation mechanisms and enhance ties between the two countries’ defence forces, particularly in naval and aviation fields, anti-piracy cooperation and search and rescue. 

The Singaporean side pledged to boost security collaboration with Vietnam, especially in cyber security, sharing of anti-terrorism intelligence information, immigration management, information security and personnel training. 

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

News Story: Allies And The Maritime Domain Strike Enterprise

Australia's 1st P-8 Poseidon takes flight (File Photo)

By ROBBIN LAIRD

The UK, Norway and the US have signed an agreement to work together on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in the North Atlantic which will leverage the joint acquisition of the P-8 aircraft, another example of the US and its allies an evolving defense capability in which allies are clearly key partners.

The P-8s is part of a cluster of software upgradeable airplanes which are defining the way ahead for combat airpower: the Australian Wedgetail, the global F-35, and the Advanced Hawkeye, all have the same dynamic modernization potential to which will be involved in all combat challenges of maritime operations.

All military technology is relative to a reactive enemy. As my colleague Ed Timperlake has noted: “It is about the arsenal of democracy shifting from an industrial production line to a clean room and a computer lab as key shapers of competitive advantage.”

Much as allied F-35 pilots and maintainers are being trained initially in the United States and then standing up national capabilities, the same is happening with the P-8/Triton allies. The Brits and Australians are training at Jacksonville Navy, and this will certainly happen with the Norwegians as well. In fact, an RAF pilot has recently topped 1,000 flight hours on the P-8 at Jacksonville. 

These allies cover key geographical territory, so shared domain knowledge and operational experience in the South Pacific and the North Atlantic is of obvious significance for US warfighting and deterrence. Given the relatively small size of the allied forces, they will push the multi-mission capabilities of the aircraft even further than the United States will do and, as they do so, the U.S. can take those lessons as well.

There is already a case in point. The Australians wanted the P-8 modified so they could do search and rescue — something that the US Navy did not build into its P-8s. Now that capability comes with the aircraft, something that was very much a requirement for the Norwegians as well. And the US Navy is finding this “add-on” as something of significance for the US.

Read the full story at Breaking Defense

News Story: Abe to dump defense, justice ministers in Aug shakeup - sources

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to replace his beleaguered defense and justice ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle in the first week of August, attempting to revive his fortunes after a stinging defeat in Tokyo metropolitan elections, government and party sources said Friday.

Abe is also tipped to overhaul key posts in the Liberal Democratic Party he leads at the same time, the sources said, adding that Aug. 3 is a strong possibility for the Cabinet reshuffle. Abe is expected to make a final decision after he returns from his European trip on Wednesday.

He is likely to retain the core members of his Cabinet and the LDP.

Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, a conservative ally of Abe, and Justice Minister Katsutoshi Kaneda both faced questions about their competency. Each joined the Cabinet in the previous reshuffle on Aug. 3 last year.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga spoke little on the issue at a press conference on Friday, only saying it is a "matter left to the prime minister."

He was initially expected to conduct a reshuffle in September when the tenures of LDP leadership posts expire, but the party's historic defeat in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election last Sunday appears to have forced his hand.

Read the full story at The Mainichi

USA: Number of USS Fitzgerald Sailors' remains found

From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) returns to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, June 17. (U.S. Navy/MC1 Peter Burghart) >>

YOKOSUKA, Japan - A number of Sailors' remains that were missing from the collision between USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and a merchant ship have been found.

As search and rescue crews gained access to the spaces that were damaged during the collision this morning, the missing Sailors were located in the flooded berthing compartments. They are currently being transferred to Naval Hospital Yokosuka where they will be identified.

The families are being notified and being provided the support they need during this difficult time. The names of the Sailors will be released after all notifications are made.

For continuing updates visit http://www.c7f.navy.mil/, and follow https://twitter.com/us7thfleet or https://www.facebook.com/7thfleet.

US Pacific Fleet