ARLINGTON, Va. — The builder of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter has designed a new weapons rack to enable the aircraft to carry two more missiles internally. The new rack, called Sidekick, enables each of the two weapons…
Navy Leaders to Meet May 16 to Assess Sub Construction Delays, Columbia Class Schedule, Secretary Tells House Panel
U.S. Navy leaders will meet with industry officials in May to examine how they can improve the increasingly challenged submarine production program and try adding more space in the tight schedule to build the first of the Columbia-class ballistic missile…
Boeing’s MQ-25 Prototype Will Save the Navy 18 Months of Development
ARLINGTON, Virginia — The existence of a working prototype of the Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based aerial refueling UAV will save 18 months of development time and could be a factor if the Navy decides to move up the date of…
Australia to Purchase Second Triton UAV
CANBERRA, Australia —The Australian government has agreed to purchase a second MQ-4C Triton, Northrop Grumman Corp., manufacturer of the aircraft, said in a release. Australia’s 2016 Defence White Paper identified the requirement for seven high-altitude, long-endurance Triton unmanned aircraft. Northrop…
CNO Warns Forum of Challenges of ‘Great Power Competition’
With the return of the “Great Power Competition,” the U.S. Navy’s top officer on April 29 emphasized the need to strengthen ties with allies and partner nations and to condition commanders to avoid turning at-sea incidents into major battles while…
Sailors, Marines Head to Australia for 6 Months of Intense Training, Exercises With Pacific-Area Allies, Partner Nations
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…
