The emergence of more capable missile threats — more precise
and maneuverable ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles — requires more
capable sensors in space and total integration of all missile defense systems
and sensors in space, on land and at sea, the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) director
said.

That systems integration is particularly important to the
national defense network because “we are running out of islands” in the Pacific
and “there is a lot of space to cover,” Vice Adm. Jon Hill said Oct. 7 at a
Center for Strategic and International Studies forum.

Looking at the Pacific theater, Hill said MDA has been
testing integration of the U.S. Army’s land-based THAAD and Patriot missile
defense systems. “If you tie in the ships that are off the coast, you can
defend against all sorts of threats,” he told the forum.

Hill noted that in the original MDA charter, “we’ve always
been focused on the North Korean threat, focused on the growing Iranian threat.
Now we’re moving to these other threats and different adversaries,” he said, an
apparent reference to Russia and China.

“What we’re finding as we move into the future, our
adversaries are taking a different path” in missile capabilities, with more precision
guidance, hypersonic and cruise missile, he said. “Then you get into the
unpredictability of maneuverability. It’s very challenging. It challenges your
architecture, your fire control, challenges the methods by which you engage.”

“I do believe we are at an inflection point, for our forward-deployed
forces and our friends and allies.

We have to think differently,” Hill said.

Hill showed graphics and explained the latest test of the
Ground-Based, Mid-Course system, which is the main national missile defense
capability with sensors in space, radars on the west coast and in the Pacific
and interceptors in Alaska and California. The March 25 test involved a
simulated ballistic missile with decoys. The simulated warhead and a decoy were
destroyed by two interceptors, guided by a TPY-2 radar on Wake Island, the
sea-based X-band radar and an Aegis-equipped U.S. Navy ship in the Pacific.

The interceptors in that test used the old kill vehicle. Hill
said MDA is still working on detailed requirements before issuing a request for
proposals to industry for the next-generation kill vehicle, after cancelling
the previous attempt at a new interceptor.

He described a recent visit to the Aegis Ashore site in
Romania, where construction is completed and is manned by U.S. Sailors and
Romanian personnel but is not yet operational. When completed, it will join the
Poland-based Aegis-Ashore site and the four Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke-class
destroyers based in Rota, Spain, as part of the missile defense of NATO allies.

Recently retired Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M.
Richardson advocated getting the Navy out of the dedicated BMD mission, to free
the four destroyers for broader missions.

Hill said MDA recently made the final production decision
for the new SAM-3 Block IIA missile.

He declined to answer questions about the recent
North Korean launch of what may be a submarine-capable missile and the new
missile systems displayed in China’s 70th anniversary parade, referring those
issues to intelligence agencies.

PHILADELPHIA — The V-22 fleet of tilt-rotor aircraft built by Bell Textron Inc. and Boeing has topped the milestone of 500,000 flight hours. More than 375 Ospreys logged the hours, including the U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 and the Air Force CV-22, Bell and Boeing said Oct. 7 in a joint statement. 

“The V-22 provides unmatched capability for the U.S. Marines and U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command,” said Marine Col. Matthew Kelly, the V-22’s joint program manager. “The platform’s influence on our nation’s defense is seen through its extensive operational and humanitarian impact across the globe.” 

The V-22 Osprey is the world’s only production tilt-rotor aircraft, enabling servicemen and women to conduct diverse missions throughout the most difficult operating environments. Most recently, the aircraft deployed to join relief efforts in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian. 

Bell and Boeing support V-22 readiness through a sustainment effort that includes maintenance, training, on-site field representatives and data analytics. The companies also are working with the V-22 program office on several efforts to improve V-22 readiness. The Marines’ Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization program, the Air Force’s configuration reducing modification plan, and nacelle wiring and structure improvements are expected to increase readiness. 

“V-22 is one of the highest demand platforms in the Department of Defense. This achievement is a great testament to the Marines and Air Commandos operating this platform in all environments,” said Chris Gehler, Bell V-22 vice president and Bell-Boeing deputy program director. 

“We are committed to providing unparalleled support to our partners by steadily improving Osprey readiness and capabilities now and in the future.” 

Since 2007, the V-22 has served the Marines as well as Air Force special operations. A third variant, the CMV-22, is set to join the U.S. Navy next year.

MIAMI — The Coast Guard interdicted 13 migrants and one suspected smuggler on Sept. 25 miles east of Miami, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. 

The Coast Guard Cutter William Trump crew detected a westbound 21-foot cabin cruiser about 25 miles east of Miami heading towards southeast Florida. Upon detection, the cabin cruiser crew reversed their course to go east toward the Bahamas. William Trump’s crew stopped the vessel and discovered six Jamaican migrants, six Haitian migrants, one Guyanese migrant and the suspected smuggler, a Bahamian national, aboard. 

The crew of a Coast Guard Station Miami Beach 45-foot response boat-medium transferred the 11 migrants and the suspected smuggler ashore to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for further investigation and the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell crew transferred only two of the Haitian migrants to the Bahamian Immigration Department. 

“The Coast Guard continues to maintain a focused and coordinated effort with multiple agency assets to interdict any attempt to dangerously and unlawfully immigrate by sea to the United States,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Cobb, Coast Guard Sector Miami chief of enforcement. “These illegal migrant smuggling ventures are extremely dangerous, especially during the hurricane season, and place families in danger of being lost at sea.” 

NORFOLK, Va. — After a quarter-century of worldwide operations, the guided missile cruiser USS Hué City was inducted into the cruiser modernization program on Sept. 30 at Norfolk Naval Base, entering a period of major overhaul, according to a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) release. 

The program shifts administrative control from Commander, Naval Surface  Forces Atlantic, to the Commander, NAVSEA, allowing the ships to undergo modernization to extend their service lives and air-defense commander capabilities. 

The modernization program paces the threat through the installation of the latest technological advances in combat systems and engineering, ensuring these ships remain relevant and viable throughout their entire service lives of 40 operational years. Hué City will undergo extensive structural, mechanical and combat systems upgrades and return to the fleet at peak technical readiness, fully equipped for the Sailors who will take her into harm’s way. 

“The induction of Hué City is a major milestone for the CG Mod program,” said Capt. Kevin Byrne, program manager for surface ship modernization. “Her upcoming overhaul will not only extend the life of this critical capability, but will help the Navy on its mission to grow the fleet and expand our warfighting advantage.”  

Once a ship is inducted into the modernization program, two smaller maintenance availabilities are performed to remove equipment for replacement and to conduct structural repairs. These availabilities lay the foundation for the ship to receive new and upgraded systems during a longer dry-docking.    

“This was a tremendous effort between ship’s force, maintenance team and other stakeholders,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ethan Reber, Hué City’s commanding officer. “From the beginning, lessons learned from ships inducted earlier in the process —  Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Anzio — were incorporated effectively into our planning. Our crew is ready to get started and work alongside the maintenance teams to deliver on her next milestone.” 

Six of 11 cruisers have been inducted into the modernization program and are  in various stages of returning to the fleet with modernized capability. USS Hué City is the seventh cruiser to be inducted and will be equipped with the latest technological advances in combat systems and engineering to ensure she remains warfighting relevant through the 2030s.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s submarine base in Kings Bay, Georgia, will be the first base to be readied for the Navy’s new Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine (SSBN), a Navy admiral said. 

“Kings Bay will come first, so that [construction] will be in [the] 2023 to 2025 period,” Rear Adm. John W. Korka, commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command, said in an interview with Seapower. “About a year later, we will see similar efforts at Bangor [Washington].

See More Coverage of the Columbia Class

“In Kings Bay today, the critical SSBN dry dock facility requires upgrades,” Korka said. “In support of that requirement, next year we will award a project to recapitalize the dry dock. That work is part of a $400 million-plus project.” 

The 12 planned Columbia-class SSBNs will replace the 14 Ohio-class SSBNs in service on ballistic-missile patrols beginning in 2031. The program is on a tight timeline to deliver the new SSBNs in time to assume the patrols, and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command has program officials embedded with Program Executive Office-Submarines to coordinate the infrastructure requirements of the Columbia sub program. 

“Each new class brings a new capability, so that translates to unique training and refitting associated with supporting any new platform,” Korka added. 

“I tell people to keep in mind, though, that as we are bringing the Ohio class offline, we still need to maintain the facilities to support that program and that submarine and, at the same time, we are transitioning to bringing on the Columbia class. Training and maintenance spaces are critical in that arena. I will add that there is an opportunity to use the existing spaces, but there is a requirement for a certain amount of expansion.” 

Korka added: “It’s important to note that we are introducing a new platform while there is still an operational requirement for an existing platform. As such, we need to make sure our team has the requirements right and possesses the agility of being able to change direction without losing the pace of construction. That is going to be critical element to our success — being able to adjust to meet the emerging requirements while keeping the timeline on track. That is where agility plays a key role.”   

Korka’s command also has been heavily engaged in upgrading the infrastructure in Philadelphia to support the Columbia construction. 

“What many people may not know is that the Navy produces the propulsor components and propellers at the Naval Foundry and Propeller Center in Philadelphia,” he said.

“The facilities at the Naval Surface Warfare Center portion of the annex that were part of supporting the Columbia class needed power upgrades. They additionally required construction of the power propulsion facilities primarily designed to do all the testing of components associated with the electrical drive system of the Columbia class. We awarded that project in 2015 and will complete it in the coming months. It has a full-tilt testing cell to characterize and certify the acoustic signature performance. The propulsion system then is barged up to Groton [Connecticut] to Electric Boat, where it will be installed into the submarines. This project is active and progressing along. There are other projects in Philadelphia supporting the manufacturing elements and testing labs as well, and work associated with those projects will continue.” 

“There also is a submarine propulsor manufacturing support facility that is tracking to be awarded this year as well as planning and design efforts for the training and refit facilities in support of the Columbia class,” he said.

The return to an era of ‘great power competition’ and the
emergence of peer military threats “demands in no uncertain terms that the
services need to change to meet the challenges of the new world.” For the
Marine Corps, that change means redesigning the Corps into a naval integrated
force, the commandant of the Marine Corps said Oct. 3.

Although the details of what the future Marine Corps must
become will be developed through a period of experimentation, wargaming and
testing, “in broader terms, it is an integrated naval force. To be competitive
in the Indo-Pacific region and in the Mediterranean and elsewhere around the
world requires a truly integrated naval force,” Gen. David H. Berger said at a
Heritage Foundation forum.

“We have not focused on that aspect for 20 years. We have to
get creative” and examine “what can the Marine Corps … do to help a naval
commander fight his fleet. How does that contribute to a joint fight?”

Berger described Marines seizing land within the enemy’s
“weapons engagement zone” and using long-range precision fires — or putting
Marine weapons on Navy ships — to help the naval commander fight for sea
control.

Redesigning the Corps is his primary focus, Berger said, and
the process will be to look at the threat in 2030 and plan back from there to
determine how the Corps must change.

“The strategic realities will cause us to think differently.
The realities of the world cause us to throw out old assumptions and start
afresh. We cannot assume that today’s equipment, the way that we’re organized,
how we train, how we select leaders, all of our warfighting concepts, we cannot
assume they will remain relevant in the future. My assumption is they will
not,” the commandant said.

Based on his observation and that of others, Berger said the
current Marine Corps “is not optimized for great power competition. It is not
optimized to support a naval campaign. It is not optimized to support the fleet
through missions like sea denial. And it is not optimized to deter a pacing
threat.”

Because the fiscal 2021 defense budget has been submitted to
the White House, any major changes will not show up until the following year or
later, he said. And his assumption is that those future budgets “will be flat
or declining, not rising.”

In his sweepingly provocative planning guidance released
shortly after he took over as commandant, Berger said he was willing, if
needed, to cut the size of the Corps to have money for the modernization of
equipment that will be needed to counter a peer threat.

In his speech and answers to questions, he repeated his
focus on shifting from reliance on the few,  large, relatively expensive amphibious
warships, which he said would be vulnerable to interdiction by Chinese
long-range precision weapons, to a large number of smaller, less expensive
manned ships and a wide range of unmanned surface, subsurface and aerial
systems.

“Mass will have a quality all its own. … And low
cost doesn’t mean cheap,” Berger said.

HAIFA, Israel — Elbit Systems Ltd.’s U.S. subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America LLC, was awarded delivery order valued at about $23 million for the supply of systems and various spare components to the U.S. Marine Corps, the company said in an Oct. release. The order will be executed in Roanoke, Virginia, and will be supplied over the next 10 months. 

This order is part of the $249 million five-year Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggles Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract from Sept. 6 that was awarded to the Night Vision business of L3Harris Technologies several days before the finalization of the acquisition of that business activity by Elbit Systems of America. 

Under this contract, the U.S. Marine Corps will be supplied with a Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle system that consists of a high-performance, white phosphor image intensifier binocular, a modular uncooled thermal imaging sensor, and a common external power supply — providing Marines improved mobility and situational awareness during night operations.

INDIAN HEAD, Md. — Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NSWC IHEODTD) announced the signing of a public-private partnership with Grey Ops. 

Under this five-year agreement, NSWC IHEODTD and GreyOps will jointly manufacture an explosive desensitizing agent known as Silent Spring, which is a liquid safing fluid (LSF) intended to desensitize primary explosive hazards, most commonly homemade explosives, to allow the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) warfighter the ability to safely move explosive materials, increase opportunities for forensic analysis and minimize damage to existing infrastructure. 

“This partnership will provide the first responder community access to this unique technology and reduce the hazards faced by EOD personnel during explosive neutralization and removal activities,” said Capt. Scott Kraft, commanding officer of NSWC IHEODTD. 

This Navy-patented technology has been in development since 2012. Laboratory and field testing was facilitated through collaboration with the FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Applied Research Associates. This partnership will provide the first responder community access to this technology and reduce the hazards faced by EOD personnel during explosive neutralization and removal activities. 

“These two organizations are leveraging each other’s strengths and creating a better outcome than they could have achieved on their own,” said Tommy Luginbill, co-founder of Grey Ops. 

“These types of agreements leverage existing capability, and the transfer of federally developed technology also can have a positive effect on the greater scientific research community, the commercial sector, the economy, consumers and the public,” said Ashley Johnson, NSWC IHEODTD’s technical director.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast last month awarded a $49.8 million contract to Walsh Federal LLC to build a littoral combat ship (LCS) logistics facility at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, NAVFAC Southeast public affairs announced in a release. 

As NS Mayport is going to receive 14 LCSs to the base, construction of an improved logistics facility is expected to support personnel and crew assigned to these ships. The facility will support the LCS program, which includes the LCS operational trainer facility (LTF). 

“The LTF is a vital tool for training our Sailors in simulated real-world situations they may encounter while underway,” said Cmdr. Patricia Tyler, NS Mayport’s executive officer. “The new facilities allow teams to effectively train in a safe and controlled environment, providing immediate feedback and lessons learned to our warfighters.” 

The contract provides for construction of a new four-story building and renovations to an existing building. Together, the two buildings will house the ashore component of administrative functions for deployed and in-port littoral combat ships as well as a portion of the training component. 

The project also includes adjacent road improvements that will connect the logistics facility directly to a new parking garage that is being designed and constructed under a separate contract. 

The work started Oct. 1 and is expected to be completed by August 2021.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Forty-three Sailors assigned to the future aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy attended a ribbon-cutting in Newport News, Virginia, on Oct. 1 to establish the ship’s crew and open the building where they will work during the ship’s construction, Naval Air Forces Atlantic public affairs said in a release. 

“Today, we celebrate a truly historic event,” said Capt. Todd Marzano, commanding officer of the pre-commissioning unit. “It marks the grand opening of Building 608, where we will work out of until our spaces on the ship are ready [as well as] the official stand-up of our command. And I couldn’t be more excited, more motivated and more honored to be standing with you here today as we make naval history.” 

The ribbon was cut by Marzano with the help of Cmdr. David Skarosi, Kennedy’s executive officer, and Master Chief Information Systems Technician Erica Barnett, Kennedy’s acting command master chief, in front of Building 608. 

“Today is a huge milestone,” Marzano said. “We are now one step closer to accomplishing our mission. We will deliver to the fleet a combat-ready aircraft carrier, manned with properly trained warriors, in support of our nation’s needs. We’ll have a lot of hard work ahead of us, a lot of challenges, and a lot of long days, but with our skills, talents and dedication, we will be successful in building the best command in the United States Navy.” 

Pride in the event and the command was shared by many in attendance, including Information Systems Technician 1st Class Chandler Ragland, the first Sailor to be assigned to the Kennedy. 

“The legacy of this ship is going to be around for a very long time, and to be able to say that I was the first plank owner is incredibly rewarding,” Ragland said. “I get to tell my daughter and family members down the road that I was the first one.” 

Despite the small size of the crew, productivity among Kennedy’s Sailors is already high. 

“Every member of the crew that’s come in after me has put forth everything they’ve got,” Ragland said. “I don’t see people turning down tasks and saying ‘no, that’s out of my realm.’ They’re always willing and ready to lend a hand and get the mission done. Everyone has the same work ethic, and it’s a long road, but we’re going to keep charging down it.” 

Marzano added, “These Sailors have been screened and handpicked due to their outstanding professional records. Big Navy realizes the tremendous challenge and hard work we have ahead of us in standing up an aircraft carrier. It’s great for me as the CO, because I get a true A-team of folks.” 

The event concluded with the observance of colors and then a cake-cutting. 

John F. Kennedy, the second aircraft carrier in the Gerald R. Ford class, is under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding.