A combined-arms task force of about 1,700 U.S. Marines and Sailors have deployed into Australia for six months of intensive training and an array of exercises that will involve contact with perhaps a dozen allies and friendly nations in strategically…

USS America, USS New Orleans to Forward Deploy to Japan; USS Stethem, USS Wasp to Return to U.S.
SASEBO, Japan — The Navy announced that the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and landing platform dock USS New Orleans (LPD 18) will become part of the U.S. 7th Fleet forward-deployed forces in Sasebo, Japan, the commander, Naval…
L3 Technologies Awarded Contract for Battle Force Tactical Training
NORFOLK, Virginia — L3 Integrated Maritime Systems has been awarded a $76 million contract to support U.S. Navy shipboard integrated training systems and provide instruction, engineering, systems integration and life-cycle support for the Battle Force Tactical Trainer (BFTT) family of…

Black to Become 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black has been selected to be the 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the Corps announced in a release. Black is the current Sergeant Major of Manpower and Reserve Affairs and will replace the current…
U.S. Must Add Low-Yield Nuclear Arsenal to Counter Russian Upgrades, Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Tells Conference
ARLINGTON, Virginia — The United States’ ability to deter a strategic nuclear attack is being eroded by Russia’s fielding of new types of weapons, and the U.S. must respond with new nuclear systems, which may include a sea-launched, nuclear-armed cruise…

U.S. Navy Supports Japanese-Led F-35A Search and Recovery Operations
OKINAWA, Japan — A U.S. Navy salvage team embarked a contracted vessel and departed Okinawa on April 24 to aid Japanese-led search-and-recovery operations for a downed Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II jet fighter, the U.S. 7th…

Navy to Christen High-Speed Transport Vessel Guam
WASHINGTON — The Navy will christen its newest high-speed transport vessel, the future USNS Guam (T-HST 1), during a 10 a.m. Japan Standard Time ceremony Saturday, April 27, in Okinawa, Japan, the Navy’s Office of Information said in a release….

Navy to Christen Guided-Missile Destroyer Lyndon B. Johnson
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy will christen its newest Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002), during a 10 a.m. EST ceremony Saturday, April 27, at General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine, the…

Lack of Well Deck Seen as a Wash for LHA USS America
ARLINGTON, Va.— The transfer of the new amphibious assault ship USS America to the Forward-Deployed Naval Force (FDNF) next fiscal year will bring a change in capabilities to the 7th Fleet’s amphibious ready group, but the Marines that will go…

Polar Security Cutter Contract Awarded to Replace Aging Icebreakers
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have awarded VT Halter Marine Inc. of Pascagoula, Mississippi, a contract for the detail, design and construction of the Coast Guard’s first polar security cutter (PSC), which will replace the nation’s aging…