SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley repatriated 50 of 51 migrants to the Dominican Republic navy on June 11 in waters just off Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, following the interdiction of two illegal migrant voyages just off the west coast of Puerto Rico. 

Of the 51 interdicted migrants, 49 are reported to be Dominican nationals, while two others are reported to be Haitian. One of the migrants remains in U.S. custody facing criminal immigration charges. 

The interdictions are the result of ongoing efforts in support of Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group CBIG. 

“These interdictions speak to the strong local and federal law enforcement partnerships within the Caribbean Border Interagency Group and our collective resolve to safeguard the nations southernmost maritime border against existing threats,” said Capt. Eric P. King, Sector San Juan commander. 

“The efficient coordination between responding agencies led to these successful interdictions and the safe recovery of all 51 migrants. These illegal voyages are extremely dangerous, as migrants continue to take to the sea aboard grossly overloaded and unseaworthy makeshift vessels with little or no lifesaving equipment onboard.”  

Late on June 9, a Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit interdicted a 25-foot yola with 38 migrants aboard, 36 men and 2 women, including the two Haitian men, about 3 nautical miles off the coast of Aguada, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser diverted to the scene and embarked the migrants from the makeshift vessel, while a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen flew overhead rescue support throughout the transfer. 

Early on June 11, a Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit interdicted a second yola transporting 13 migrants, about 1 nautical mile off the lighthouse in Rincón, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard Cutter Reef Shark arrived on scene shortly thereafter and embarked all 13 migrants from the makeshift boat. 

The migrant facing potential federal prosecution was transferred to the custody of Border Patrol Agents in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, on June 11, while the remaining migrants were transferred and transported by the cutter Donald Horsley to the Dominican Republic for their repatriation. 

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants received food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction Coast Guard crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19. No migrants were reported to be sick or to have any COVID-19 related symptoms. 

Winslow Griesser and Donald Horsley are 154-foot fast-response cutters, while Reef Shark is an 87-foot coastal patrol boat. All homeported in San Juan.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James returned home on June 12 to Charleston following a 75-day counter-drug patrol in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. 

During their patrol, the James’ crew, augmented by an embarked armed helicopter capable of disabling drug smuggling vessels from the Coast Guard’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, interdicted four drug-smuggling vessels and seized more than 3,800 kilograms of cocaine and 3,300 pounds of marijuana bound for the United States.  

The James’ patrol efforts were in direct support of the president’s enhanced counter-narcotics surge announced in early April. The U.S. Coast Guard, working cooperatively with U.S. Southern Command, began this surge effort in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, putting increased pressure on the drug trafficking organizations operating in Central and South America. 

Working alongside U.S. Navy crews aboard destroyers and littoral combat ships, the James crew, along with several other Coast Guard cutter crews, seized or disrupted more than 43,000 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 10,000 pounds of marijuana. 

Before returning home, the crew conducted a narcotics offload in Port Everglades, Florida, on June 9. After collecting contraband from other vessels in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean, the crew offloaded nearly 30,000 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, worth an estimated $400 million, representing seven additional interdictions events by Coast Guard and Navy vessels supporting this enhanced counter-narcotics surge. 

“This patrol highlights our crew’s sincere commitment to protecting the American people from our adversaries amid all the uncertainty caused by COVID-19,” said Capt. Jeffrey Randall, the James’ commanding officer. “The James’ crew demonstrated supreme resilience and performed exceptionally as showcased by the results of this successful patrol.” 

The James is one of two 418-foot national security cutters homeported in Charleston.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — L3Harris Technologies has received an order to upgrade three Iver3 autonomous underwater vehicles to be used in support of the British Royal Navy’s Project Wilton, the company said in a June 12 release.  

L3Harris will upgrade the Iver3 vehicles with the capability to integrate high accuracy navigation sensors and advanced communications for surface tracking, with collaborative autonomy architecture and automatic target recognition. The U.K. Royal Navy will use the upgraded Iver vehicles during unmanned mine hunting and other missions. 

The Project Wilton program will provide a portable route survey capability using a suite of equipment, including autonomous surface craft, autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, and a portable operations center. The initial program operating capability is planned for the third quarter of 2020. 

“We look forward to trialing and incorporating the upgraded Iver3 as part of the Wilton equipment set,” said Cmdr. Steven White, the commander of the Royal Navy’s First Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM1), which conducts route survey operations in U.K. waters and in many areas throughout the world to ensure freedom of navigation for commercial and military vessels. 

“We are pleased to support the Royal Navy in their mine countermeasure missions and peacetime route surveys,” said Daryl Slocum, vice president/general manager Unmanned Maritime Systems, L3Harris. 

“We are proud to be part of the autonomy revolution and will continue to evolve the Iver platform to keep it at the cutting edge.”

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s only special projects patrol squadron has moved to its new base and soon will operate a new aircraft. 

Special Projects Patrol Squadron 2 (VPU-2), which flies modified P-3C Orion maritime patrol reconnaissance aircraft, “will transition to P-8A this summer,” Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, a spokeswoman for commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, said in a statement to Seapower. 

VPU-2 moved from Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, effective April 1. It was the Navy’s last of four P-3 squadron to depart Kaneohe Bay. The other three squadrons — regular patrol squadrons VP-4, VP-9 and VP-47 — have moved to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, and have already made the transition to the P-8A Poseidon.  

VPU-2 originated in the late 1960s as a special projects detachment of a patrol squadron but later became Patrol Squadron Special Projects Unit 2. It was upgraded later to a full squadron and its name was changed to Special Projects Patrol Squadron 2. VPU-2’s P-3Cs were equipped with specialized sensors and other modifications for reconnaissance and special projects. 

Two years ago, the Navy had planned to deactivate VPU-2 but apparently reversed the decision.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s new organization for warfighting development (N7) is now fully organized for its role in developing strategy and warfighters, its director said, and has joined with the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard to develop a new maritime strategy.  

The deputy chief of naval operations (DCNO) for warfighting development, Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch, said that N7 is making progress in fulfilling its roles and is hitting its stride and, in conjunction with the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, expects to field the new maritime strategy by late summer or early fall.  

“Our North Star is warfighting advantage,” Munsch said during a June 5 teleconference with reporters, noting the Navy’s focus on the current climate of Great Power Competition and the need to outpace increasingly sophisticated adversaries, renewing a focus on sea control.  

The Navy directive addressing the organizational changes defined the role of N7 “with ensuring the Navy’s warfighting advantage in order to deter, dissuade and deny or defeat adversaries by engaging in three broad, interrelated lines of effort: warfighter development, warfare development and warfighter corps development. It further established that CNO N7’s mission and functions will be supported by a digital platform to enhance its ability to achieve a warfighting edge for the Navy.”    

The N7 now has four divisions: director, warfighter development; director, warfare development; director, strategic warfighting innovation cell; and director, warfare integration.  

N7 is responsible for developing the strategic framework for the Navy, looking forward at longer range than N3/5, the DCNO for operations, plans and strategy, which focuses on the short term. N7 has now absorbed the functions and billets of the now disestablished Strategy Division, Naval Strategy Panel, and some billets from the Naval Warfare Group from N3/5. The Naval Analytics Office also now is aligned within N7.  

Munsch said that N7 is to identify the key operational problems facing the Navy and to develop solutions.  

N7 also is responsible for force employment and force development, working with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop the Joint Warfighting Concept and an influencing the DCNO for warfare systems (N9) with the characteristics of the capabilities needed to implement strategy.  

Munsch also said his office has the role of adapting the Navy to changing circumstances, instilling adaptability into the institutional behavior of the Navy, and instilling a lifelong habit of learning to enable that adaptability.  

To enhance that learning, Munsch said that the Naval War College, Naval Postgraduate School and U.S. Naval Academy are now under the N7 umbrella, having been shifted from the chief of naval personnel (N1) organization.  

Also now aligned within N7 are certain billets from the Resource Management Division and Total Force Manpower, Training, and Education Requirements Division from the N1 organization.  

The admiral said that N7 will craft a wargaming schedule for the War College that will be the “most advanced and significant war gaming we’ve done since the 1930s.”  

He was referring to the innovative wargaming by the Navy in the inter-war period in which the Navy developed many of the concepts that enabled the Navy to achieve victory in World War II.  

Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet, has been confirmed to succeed Munsch as the head of N7 this summer. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Senate Armed Services Committee’s $740.5 billion version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act includes a billion-dollar boost in shipbuilding to $21.3 billion, signaling support for the 355-ship U.S. Navy “as soon as practicable.”

The legislation, approved June 10 by a 25-2 bipartisan vote, authorizes $1.4 billion more than the Navy’s budget request for shipbuilding. The legislation shifts to the full Senate for debate.

“The FY21 NDAA ensures the United States fields a force of the optimal size, structure and strategy, capable of supporting conflict as envisioned by the [National Defense Strategy],” which refocused U.S. attention on a “Great Power Competition” with China and Russia, according to an executive summary of the Senate bill. The House Armed Services Committee is slated to begin marking up its own version of the 2021 NDAA on June 22.

The fiscal 2021 NDAA also establishes the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) “to send a strong signal to the Chinese Communist Party that America is deeply committed to defending our interests in the Indo-Pacific.” The initiative would focus resources on military capability gaps, reassure U.S. allies and partners and bolster the credibility of American deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, the summary stated.

The bill authorizes $1.4 billion for the PDI in fiscal 2021, including $188.6 million above the Pentagon’s budget request for Indo-Pacific requirements such as missile defense, enhanced forward posture and improved interoperability with allies and partners. The bill also authorizes a PDI topline of $5.5 billion for fiscal 2022 and directs the secretary of defense to create a spending plan for these resources.

The increased shipbuilding authorization calls for procurement of seven battle force ships, one less than the Navy’s budget request, due to an amphibious transport dock ship previously authorized by Congress. It also includes multiship contracting authority for up to two Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, three San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships and one America-class amphibious ship. It also authorizes $500 million for long lead time material for two other amphibious ships.

The Senate panel’s bill provides for an increase of $472 million for Virginia-class attack submarine advance procurement to preserve the option to procure 10 Virginia-class boats between fiscal years 2019 and 2033. Also authorized is $350 million to improve sub and surface ship supplier stability. The measure also authorizes $260 million for long-lead time material for Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers.

The authorization bill establishes a Navy-U.S. Department of Labor joint shipbuilding industrial base working group and requires the comptroller general to review shipbuilding and ship repair as well as the Supervisor of Shipbuilding organization.

In aviation, the bill authorizes $9.1 billion to procure 95 joint strike fighters, including $2.4 billion for 23 carrier-based F-35Cs and $1.2 billion for 12 short takeoff/vertical landing F-35Bs for the U.S. Marine Corps.

The Senate bill also requires the Navy to create an acquisition strategy for the fighter aircraft force and report on carrier air wing composition and carrier-based strike fighter squadrons “to better prepare for potential conflicts envisioned by the National Defense Strategy.”

MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a contract to produce multiple types of Vertical Launching System (VLS) canisters with a total lifetime maximum value of $955 million, the company said in a June 11 release.  

The initial contract was awarded in February with $24 million funded, followed by contract modifications of $99 million and $43 million received in March and May, respectively. Options on the contract include additional canister types for future Navy production requirements. 

“These canisters are a key element of the Navy’s Vertical Launching System, and our experience includes 30 years of VLS production, integration and testing to support this world-class capability,” said Brent Butcher, vice president and general manager of the Weapon Systems product line at BAE Systems. 

“The Navy will continue to benefit from our high-quality canisters and lean, efficient operations, which translate into the best possible value for our customers.” 

VLS canisters serve in a multifaceted role as containers for missile shipping and storage as well as launch tubes when loaded into the VLS. They also provide identification and firing support to multiple missile types, including the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, Standard Missile-2, Standard Missile-3, Standard Missile-6, and the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile. 

Under this latest contract, BAE Systems will produce canisters not only for the U.S. fleet but also for allied nations under a foreign military sales program. Deliveries for the initial order are expected to begin in early 2021, and if all options are exercised, the contract could support the production of canisters over a five-year period, with deliveries extending into 2025.  

Work on the new contract will be performed at the BAE Systems production facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with engineering and program support in Minneapolis. 

EVENDALE, Ohio — GE Marine has delivered its first new lightweight LM2500 composite gas turbine module to Austal USA for the future USS Santa Barbara, the company said in a release. 

This new module, which was fully certified by the U.S. Navy last year after receiving MIL-S-901D shock qualification, provides a 5,500-pound weight savings (50% wall weight reduction) and 60% quieter enclosure.  

Austal USA recognized the attributes of this new composite module design by bestowing GE Marine with its 2018 Supplier Innovation Award. 

GE is supplying 38 LM2500 gas turbines to Austal USA for Independence-class variants of littoral combat ships up to LCS 38. Like all Austal USA-built littoral ships, the Santa Barbara will be powered by two GE LM2500 gas turbines arranged in a combined diesel and gas turbine configuration with two diesel engines. 

The Module Modernization Program was a four-year collaborative effort with the Navy, Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine, and GE. GE’s strategic partners in this effort included: RL Industries of Fairfield, Ohio, for help in developing and qualifying the carbon fiber enclosure; and DRS Power Technology of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, which helped satisfy all first article inspection quality requirements and package assembly.  

Changes to the LM2500 system include the composite module, components, and fewer shock mounts for weight reduction, all while leveraging the experience and loadings from previous LM2500 shock tests with running units. Components such as sensors, transducers, ice and flame detectors and the heater also were updated.

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — Bell-Boeing has delivered the 400th V-22 Osprey to the Defense Department. U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command received the 400th Osprey, a CV-22, on June 2, marking a milestone for the world’s first production tilt-rotor aircraft. 

“The delivery of the 400th V-22 represents the demand for this platform’s unique capabilities,” said Kurt Fuller, Bell V-22 vice president and program director for Bell-Boeing. “It is a testament to the diligence of the men and women from Bell, Boeing and our entire supply chain who build and deliver this incredible aircraft to our customers. For over 30 years, the people who support the Bell Boeing V-22 have been the foundation in bringing tilt-rotor capabilities to the world.” 

The CV-22 is the Special Operations forces variant of the V-22. Its primary mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions. 

“It’s been over 20 years since the first production V-22 was delivered, and we are proud to reach another milestone in our 400th delivery,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew Kelly, program manager for the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275). “V-22s continue to be in high demand, protecting our country and our allies around the world through combat operations, international training partnerships and humanitarian missions. This platform’s impact can’t be overstated.” 

The Marine variant, the MV-22B, provides transportation of personnel, supplies and equipment for combat assault, assault support and fleet logistics. Since 2007, it has been continuously forward-deployed in a range of combat, humanitarian and special operations. The Navy variant, the CMV-22B, is the replacement for the C-2A Greyhound for the carrier onboard delivery mission. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department has announced five Defense Production Act Title 3 actions that will help sustain defense-critical workforce capabilities in body armor, aircraft manufacturing, and shipbuilding, Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a release.   

“These actions will help to retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by COVID-19 and to restore some jobs lost because of the pandemic,” Andrews said. 

The Pentagon signed a $19.5 million agreement with Steel America to sustain critical industrial base capability and capacity for U.S. Navy shaft repair and manufacturing during the pandemic. 

Using funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act, this investment at Steel America’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters will expand its domestic production capability and capacity to support the Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. 

Steel America will increase core machine shop peak capacity by 200%, build a “rotatable pool” of spare equipment and help reduce dry-dock times, driving time and facilitate cost savings for the government. This will enable Steel America to retain its workforce throughout the pandemic and restore some jobs. 

The Pentagon also has signed a $500,000 agreement with Allied Systems to sustain industrial base capability for manufacturing and service provisioning for cranes and davits for the Navy and Coast Guard during the pandemic. 

This investment at Allied Systems headquarters in Sherwood, Oregon, will address COVID-19 impacts caused by a significant shortfall in CO2 available for welding as well as provide funds to offset disruptions to operations and company orders. DoD and Allied Systems anticipate that it will take three months for initial set-up and support two years of ongoing operations to sustain this capability and capacity. 

DoD also signed a $15 million with Bethel Industries Inc. to increase industrial capacity for specialized laser cutting of laminated nylon fabrics for soldier protective systems. 

The Pentagon also signed a $20 million contract with GE Aviation on June 5 to sustain the industrial base for highly specialized engineering resources. GE Aviation is one of two U.S. suppliers capable of producing large advanced combat engines. 

DoD also allocated $80 million to Spirit AeroSystems Inc. to expand its domestic production capability and capacity for advanced tooling, composite fabrication and metallic machining at Spirit and the supporting lower level supply chain. Spirit AeroSystems designs, develops and manufactures complex structures for the commercial and defense industries. Spirit also makes high-temperature carbon/carbon materials for the Pentagon and defense prime contractors.