NOVEMBER 2020 news

Naval Forces, Defense Industry, Navy Technology, Maritime Security


According to information published by the Global Time website on November 6, 2020, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning or Type 001 has been at sea over the past week, making history by qualifying the first batch of new J-15 fighter jet pilots who were directly recruited from high school and trained specifically to fly carrier-based aircraft.

According to a contract released by the U.S. Department of Defense on November 5, 2020, General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $9,473,511,245 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-2117. The contract modification exercises an option for construction and test of the lead and second ships of the Columbia class ballistic missile submarines SSBN 826 and SSBN 827, as well as associated design and engineering support.

According to information published by the Russian press agency TASS on November 5, 2020, the Russian Navy Vasily Bykov corvette of project 22160 has completed Arctic trials. It tested its armament and life support. It was believed that project 22160 warships are unfit for the Arctic, but the corvette coped with all missions. It means the corvettes can operate in the northern seas against submarines, the Izvestia daily writes.

According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on November 3, 20200, the U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) of four (4) Weapons-Ready MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $600 million.

According to information published by the Taiwan News website on November 2, 2020, Taiwan will start next month the construction of the first local-made submarine. In September 2019, it was announced by the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense has allocated an estimated NT$10.6 billion (US$341.33 million) for a domestic submarine program, but the budget was reported for 2020.

According to information released by the International press agency Reuters on November 2, 2020, the United States is closed to approve the sale of MQ-9B SeaGuardian naval drones to Taiwan. In August 2020, Navy Recognition reported that Taiwan is negotiating the purchase of four American MQ-9B SeaGuardian maritime drones manufactured by the company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI).

According to information published by the Russian press agency on November 2, 2020, a Russia Defense Ministry delegation participated in a meeting at Vega experimental plant of Zvyozdochka Shipyard to discuss new modern propulsion that will equip warships under construction including project 23900 amphibious assault ships and medium tankers of project 23130.

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