U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTIs) are converging in Washington for a conference January 9-12. The conference, known as a “Re-Blue,” is coordinated and hosted by the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), who leads the Surface…
USCGC Frederick Hatch Completes Expeditionary Patrol in Oceania
Story by Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia ******* SANTA RITA, Guam — The crew of the USCGC Frederick Hatch (WPC 1143) completed a 41-day 7100-nautical mile expeditionary patrol throughout Oceania on Dec. 23, U.S. Coast Guard…
7th Fleet Destroyer Conducts Transit of Taiwan Strait
7th Fleet Destroyer Conducts Transit of Taiwan Strait ******* TAIWAN STRAIT — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Jan. 5 (local time) through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight…
General Dynamics Land Systems Delivers Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle Prototype to U.S. Marine Corps
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, submitted its Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) prototype to the U.S. Marine Corps for evaluation in the service’s ongoing competition, the company said in a release. “We…
Congress Orders Report on Plan for Future of Navy’s Expeditionary EA-18G Squadrons
ARLINGTON, Va. — Congress rejected the U.S. Navy’s 2023 budget proposal to deactivate five electronic attack squadrons (VAQs) that operate the Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack jet in the defense policy bill recently signed into law by President Joe Biden. Instead,…
French Warship Seizes Illegal Drugs in North Arabian Sea
MANAMA, Bahrain — A French warship seized illegal drugs worth a total estimated U.S. street value of $24 million from a fishing vessel transiting international waters in the North Arabian Sea, Dec. 27, Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs said in…
Cohesion at Sea: Maritime Deterrence and Defense throughout 2022
Naples, Italy — In the Baltic Sea, Estonian troops and U.S. Marines rehearse amphibious assault drills, storming the beach and quickly seizing objectives in concert as the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) patrols the horizon. Farther south, in…
Coast Guard Leverages Aviation Workhorse to Overcome Challenges in Cutter Logistics in Oceania
SANTA RITA, Guam — Guam is home to three 154-foot fast response cutters commissioned in 2021. These ships are built in Lockport, Louisiana. After initial workups, they sailed from Key West through the Panama Canal, more than 10,000 miles to…
Navy Orders Fourth Lot of TH-73A Thrasher Training Helicopters
ARLINGTON, Va.—The U.S. Navy has exercised a contract option to order a fourth lot of Leonardo TH-73A Thrasher training helicopters. Leonardo said in a Dec. 24 release that it was awarded a $110 million firm, fixed-price contract modification through AgustaWestland…
U.S. Navy Approves Full-Rate Production for Sikorsky CH-53K Helicopter
Stratford, Conn. — The U.S. Navy declared full rate production of the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter, a decision that is expected to increase production to more than 20 helicopters annually in the coming years, Lockheed Martin said in a Dec. 2…