ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has selected L3 Technologies to design and build its first medium unmanned surface vehicle (MUSV). According to a July 13 Defense Department contract announcement, Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded to L3 Technologies Inc. of Camden,…
COVID-19 Breaks Out on Okinawa as About 90 Marines Test Positive
At least two U.S. Marine Corps bases on Okinawa are reporting clusters of COVID-19 infections, leading Marine leaders to reinstitute stringent protective measures on the Japanese island, home to numerous U.S. military installations. “After months with no confirmed COVID-19 infections…
Parties Unite in the House Behind More Submarine Construction
ARLINGTON, Va. — The chairman of the House Armed Service Committee reiterated his support for increasing construction of submarines for the U.S. Navy, as reported in the committee’s mark-up of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. “There were some concerns about some shortages…
Navy Fights Fire From the Air After Explosion Aboard USS Bonhomme Richard
ARLINGTON, Va. — In what may be a first, the U.S. Navy is using water carried by helicopters to combat a shipboard fire. At least two MH-60S helicopters assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3 have hoisted water in large buckets on their external…
Japan Cleared for Possible Sale of F-35B Fighters for Shipboard Deployment
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of 105 F-35 Lightning II strike fighters, including 42 F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing versions that Japan could deploy onboard ships to significantly expand its naval aviation capabilities. Under…
Germany, Belgium Cleared for Possible Procurement of Mk54 Torpedoes
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of Mk54 lightweight antisubmarine torpedoes to Germany and Belgium, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in two July 9 releases. The procurement of the torpedoes, built by…
Defense Department Shores Up Shipbuilding Industrial Base With $56 Million
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department is taking another Defense Production Act Title III action to shore up the nation’s shipbuilding industrial base in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The action is one of seven announced July 10 by the Defense…
Aircraft Carrier Theodore Roosevelt Returns From Deployment
SAN DIEGO — The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt returned to San Diego on July 9, marking the end of its deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, the commander of 3rd Fleet public affairs said in a release. More than 6,000 Sailors from Theodore Roosevelt…
Navy Orders Four Metal Shark Patrol Boats
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has placed an order for four patrol boats from Gravois Aluminum Boats, doing business as Metal Shark Boats, according to a July 7 announcement from the Pentagon. The Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Gulf Coast,…
More Powerful Laser Systems Are Needed, Navy Technologist Says
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s official most heavily engaged in the development of directed-energy (DE) weapons said the service is focused on fielding the sea service’s family of laser systems to warfighters but is also working to improve the systems’ power and beam control. “We’ve been working…
