LOCATIONS
MARITIME
31 Dec 25. US Navy receives Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Ted Stevens from HII. The Ted Stevens (DDG 128) features upgraded radar and combat systems as part of the latest generation of US Navy destroyers. Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has handed over Ted Stevens (DDG 128), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, to the US Navy. This vessel is the second of the Flight III variant delivered by Ingalls, following the USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), and marks the latest addition to the Navy’s surface fleet. Ted Stevens incorporates both the Flight III AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar system and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, intended to address present and future operational requirements. Ingalls Shipbuilding currently has four additional Flight III destroyers in various stages of fabrication: Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), Sam Nunn (DDG 133), George M. Neal (DDG 131), and Thad Cochran (DDG 135). Seven more ships are in the early planning and material procurement phases, including John F. Lehman (DDG 137), Ernest E. Evans (DDG 141), Telesforo Trinidad (DDG 139), Charles French (DDG 142), Robert Kerrey (DDG 146), Richard J. Danzig (DDG 143), and Intrepid (DDG 145).
Ingalls Shipbuilding president Brian Blanchette said: “The delivery of Ted Stevens reflects the strong momentum of our destroyer program as we accelerate Flight III production and bring enhanced capabilities to the fleet. We are honoured to deliver DDG 128 to the Navy knowing that it will stand as a powerful asset in strengthening U.S. maritime security for decades to come.”
To manage demand for naval vessels, Ingalls has started a distributed shipbuilding initiative, partnering with additional shipyards and fabricators to increase output and maintain production schedules. Till date, Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered a total of 36 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the US Navy. In September, the division concluded builder’s sea trials for the guided missile destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128). (Source: naval-technology.com)
22 Dec 25. Italian Navy receives second logistic support ship “Atlante” from Fincantieri. The vessel is the second LSS unit delivered under Italy’s naval fleet renewal programme. Fincantieri has handed over the Logistic Support Ship (LSS) ITS Atlante to the Italian Navy during a ceremony at the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard in Italy. The ship represents the second LSS unit delivered as part of Italy’s naval fleet renewal programme, which is overseen by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). The first ship in this series, Vulcano, was delivered in 2021. The addition of Atlante is set to expand the operational capabilities of the Italian Navy. The vessel will support national defence operations, assist in Euro-Atlantic missions, contribute to international security efforts, and provide aid during public emergencies. OCCAR director Joachim Sucker said: “ITS Atlante belongs to a new generation of double-hull support ships, fully compliant with the latest environmental regulations and conceived to replace the Navy’s ageing tanker fleet.
“These ships are fully interoperable with Nato and partner navies, ensuring seamless integration in multinational operations.”
Fincantieri and Leonardo, operating as the Temporary Business Grouping (RTI) consortium, are responsible for constructing these ships under the navy’s modernisation plan. Logistic Support Ships such as Atlante can be deployed for a variety of tasks beyond military roles, including supporting civil protection, humanitarian missions, and rescue work. The design features low-emission power and propulsion systems as well as advanced control technology for biological effluents, which aims to limit environmental impact. Atlante has a displacement of roughly 27,000 tonnes, measures 193 metres in length, and can reach speeds of up to 20 knots. The ship can accommodate up to 235 people, consisting of crew members and specialists. It is equipped with medical facilities and can transfer both liquid and solid cargo to other vessels. It also supports repair and maintenance activities at sea, helicopter operations, and the recovery of vehicles or materials from both the surface and seabed. In addition, Atlante is designed to facilitate intelligence gathering and electronic warfare functions. The Castellammare di Stabia site, which is Fincantieri’s oldest shipyard, employs 605 people directly and supports more than 3,200 jobs through its supply network. (Source: naval-technology.com)
22 Dec 25. Naval Group delivers first FDI frigate to Hellenic Navy. The handover is part of a contract in which Naval Group will provide Greece with three more frigates. Naval Group has delivered the HS Kimon, the first defence and intervention (FDI) frigate for the Hellenic Navy, at Lorient in France. The delivery was done under the presence of Greek Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias and French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin. The handover is part of a contract under which Naval Group will supply Greece with three additional frigates. The vessels are designed for high-intensity combat and are intended to enhance the operational capacity of Greece’s surface fleet. The HS Kimon delivery follows Naval Group’s handover of the first frigate of this class to the French Navy two months earlier. According to the current schedule, Greece will receive two more frigates in 2026, while a fourth vessel, ordered in November last year, is due for delivery within three years.
Naval Group chairman and CEO Pierre Éric Pommellet said: “The delivery of the first FDI for the Hellenic Navy, HS Kimon, represents a major milestone in our cooperation with Greece. We are honoured to put our expertise at the service of the Hellenic Navy’s sovereignty and naval superiority through the FDI frigates, which offer very high-level capabilities in all areas of combat.”
Naval Group has also secured an initial in-service support contract from the Hellenic Navy for these ships. Maintenance and future upgrades will involve cooperation between Naval Group, its subsidiary Naval Group Hellas, and Greek industrial partners. Construction of these vessels employs processes developed by Naval Group to enable the production of two ships each year. The frigates are equipped for various types of warfare, including anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, anti-surface, and operations involving asymmetric threats. Their design allows operation either independently or as part of a fleet and addresses a range of threats, such as advanced submarines, supersonic missiles, cyberattacks, and complex asymmetric risks. (Source: naval-technology.com)
23 Dec 25. Indonesian Navy receives KRI PRABU SILIWANGI-321 from Fincantieri. Fincantieri has delivered the multipurpose combat ship KRI PRABU SILIWANGI-321 to the Indonesian Navy in a ceremony at its Muggiano shipyard in La Spezia. The event marked the handover of the second vessel built for Indonesia by Fincantieri, following the delivery of its sister ship, KRI BRAWIJAYA-320, in July 2025. Both ships now constitute the largest combat units in service with the Indonesian Navy. Representatives from both countries’ naval forces, including Admiral Muhammad Ali, chief of the Indonesian Navy, and Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, chief of the Italian Navy, were present at the ceremony. H.E. Prof. DR. Junimart Girsang, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Italy, also attended. Fincantieri was represented by CEO and managing director Pierroberto Folgiero and Eugenio Santagata, general manager of the naval vessels division. The delivery concludes an agreement that strengthens defence cooperation between Indonesia and Italy. The vessels are intended to support maritime security and protect Indonesia’s national interests in the Indo-Pacific region. KRI PRABU SILIWANGI-321 belongs to the Multipurpose Combat Ship (MPCS/PPA) class, designed for a range of missions such as frontline combat, maritime patrols, rescue operations, and civil protection activities. The ship can deploy high-speed boats such as rigid hull inflatable boats using either a lateral crane or a stern ramp. According to technical specifications provided during the ceremony, the vessel measures 143 metres in length and can reach speeds exceeding 31kt. It accommodates a crew of 171 personnel and is fitted with a combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant (CODAG) alongside an electric propulsion system. The addition of these two vessels is intended to enhance Indonesia’s naval capabilities while furthering collaboration between Fincantieri and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence. (Source: naval-technology.com)
PERSONNEL
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
30 Dec 25. CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) announced today that Adm. Michael Gilday, U.S. Navy (Ret.), and David Keffer have been appointed to its Board of Directors, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Each will serve as an independent director on CACI’s board, both joining following the death of Michael A. Daniels in July 2025, and the resignation of William L. Jews, effective Dec. 31, 2025. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)