WASHINGTON — Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer has announced the names of two future littoral combat ships (LCSs), the secretary’s public affairs office announced in two Oct. 9 releases. The Freedom-variant LCS 29 will be named USS Beloit and the Independence variant LCS 32 will be named USS Santa Barbara.

The future USS Beloit (LCS 29) is named in honor of Beloit, Wisconsin, and is the first ship to bear the name.

“The city and citizens of Beloit have been a steadfast supporter of the Navy and Marine Corps,” Spencer said. “From building engines for Freedom-variant LCSs to manufacturing components for the Ford-class aircraft carriers, the contributions of Beloit citizens make our Navy stronger, more capable and more lethal. I am proud to name the next ship in honor of the city and citizens of Beloit.”

USS Beloit will be constructed by Lockheed Martin with Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. This ship will be 387 feet long, have a beam length of 57.4 feet and travel at speeds in excess of 40 knots.

The future USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) is named in honor of Santa Barbara, California, and is the third ship to bear the name.

“I am pleased to name the next Independence variant LCS after the city of Santa Barbara,” Spencer said. “This city’s innovative workforce and longstanding support of our Navy and Marine Corps team, whether active duty, reserve force, civilian or Veterans, the support from this community strengthens our Navy and nation.”

The future USS Santa Barbara will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. This ship will be 421 feet long with a beam length of 103.7 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 40 knots.

The Navy has accepted delivery of 16 LCSs. Including the recent contract modifications, a total of 32 LCSs have been procured with 10 ships under construction (LCS 15, 17, 19-26).

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps met its recruiting goal in fiscal 2018, said the service’s commandant, Gen. Robert B. Neller, despite a more challenging recruiting environment.

“We’ve made our recruiting goal every year,” Neller told reporters Oc. 10 at a Defense Writers Group breakfast.

The Marine Corps met 100 percent of its goal in 2018, while the Army failed to meet its goal for the first time since 2005.

The improving U.S. economy, with the lowest unemployment rate since 1969, is adding to the stress of military recruiters.

Neller said the Corps achieved its goal without lowering standards.

“If anything, we’ve raised our standards,” he said.

Neller pointed out that today less than 30 percent of the nation’s youth are qualified — physically and otherwise — for military service.

“That should scare you,” he said.

He said that in the Marine Corps, 62 percent of the force — about 120,000 of 186,000 Marines — is 25 years old or less. The average age of Marines is the youngest of the U.S. armed forces.

“We’re getting good folks,” he said.

As a manpower-intensive service, the Marine Corps spends 65 percent of its budget on personnel costs.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard Cutter Confidence rescued 10 crew members, who had been stranded on a disabled cargo ship for almost 20 days, Oct. 8 approximately 1,380 miles southeast of Bermuda, the 5th Coast Guard District said in an Oct. 5 release.

“We were conducting a law enforcement patrol near Puerto Rico when we were assigned to assist the crew of the motor vessel Alta,” said Cmdr. Travis Emge, the commanding officer of the Confidence. “We traveled over 1,300 nautical miles to get to the disabled ship ahead of Hurricane Leslie’s forecasted track and brought the 10 crew members aboard. We are all proud of our part in this coordinated Coast Guard response to rescue this crew.”

The Coast Guard was notified Sept. 30 that the 250-foot Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship, Alta, became disabled Sept. 19, while transiting from Greece to Haiti, and was unable to make repairs. The crew reported that they had enough food for two days and water for 15 days, and that there were no injuries or immediate medical concerns.

An aircrew on an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, dropped about a week’s worth of food to the crew Oct. 2, helping sustain the men until help could arrive.

The Confidence is taking the 10 men to Puerto Rico and is scheduled to arrive there Oct. 12.
The Coast Guard’s Fifth District command center has been working to coordinate with the ship owner for a commercial tug to tow the vessel to shore.

NASA LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER, HAMPTON, Va. — Aerojet Rocketdyne has successfully tested a new dual-mode ramjet/scramjet (DMRJ) engine, the company announced in an Oct. 8 release.

When combined with a gas turbine engine as part of a turbine-based combined-cycle propulsion (TBCC) system, this engine may provide the capability to propel a vehicle from a standstill into the hypersonic flight regime of Mach 5 or higher and back again.

“Developing hypersonic capabilities has recently been cited by Department of Defense officials as the ‘highest technical priority’ for our nation,” said Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne president and CEO. “Aerojet Rocketdyne is well positioned to support this call to action as we have been developing hypersonic propulsion technologies for more than 30 years.

“Our scramjet engine powered the record-setting test flights of the X-51A WaveRider, and we have accelerated our development efforts since then. That progress, when combined with the advances we’ve made in additive manufacturing has enabled this next generation of hypersonic propulsion systems,” she said.

The series of tests was conducted as part of an ongoing collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, NASA and the U.S. Air Force to develop hypersonic propulsion technologies. These tests also helped validate an advanced analytical tool set developed by Aerojet Rocketdyne that enables precise simulation of complex DMRJ flow fields across a broad scale of applications.

NASHUA, N.H. — BAE Systems, a leader in optical electronic warfare systems, has unveiled its Smart D2 system, a next-generation threat management technology named for its ability to dispense countermeasures and defend military aircraft, the company said in an Oct. 8 release.

The system efficiently manages and deploys smart, expendable countermeasures — including multishot flares, active radio-frequency (RF) decoys and kinetic interceptors — that are designed to protect aircraft and aircrews from existing and emerging threats.

Traditional threat warning and countermeasure systems identify and defeat infrared and RF-guided missiles by dispensing flares or chaff, which confuse threats and their ability to track. However, current systems lack the communications, inventory management and customizable response capabilities necessary to increase survivability against evolving future threats.

The Smart D2 system provides two-way communication between the dispenser and aircraft using the NATO-standard Smart Stores Communication Interface, providing crews with critical inventory information and the ability to program expendable, active decoys in real time to improve survivability against advanced threats. The system monitors the quantity, location, age and carriage life of each expendable on the aircraft and can deploy a tailored mix of smart countermeasures to efficiently defeat specific threats.

“The Smart D2 system combines smart inventory management with a database of proven countermeasure combinations,” said Paul Markwardt, vice president and general manager of Survivability, Targeting and Sensing Solutions at BAE Systems. “The updated communications and inventory control in our Smart D2 system and its ability to work with current and future smart countermeasures provides aircrews with a more capable survivability solution that improves their ability to complete missions.”

Smart D2 is designed to work with fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and integrates with existing warning systems as well as future systems, including the company’s 2-Color Advanced Warning System. Smart D2 also builds on the company’s proven ALE-47 Airborne Countermeasures Dispenser System, a trusted and highly reliable survivability system that operates on a wide variety of military aircraft worldwide.

WASHINGTON — AeroVironment Inc., a leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems (TMS), announced a new strategic relationship with General Dynamics Land Systems (GD), the leader in ground combat vehicles, to produce highly integrated and effective tactical UAS and TMS for armored ground combat vehicles, AeroVironment said in an Oct. 8 release.

“By integrating the leading small tactical UAS and loitering missile systems with the leading armored combat vehicles, our team will deliver a new level of battlefield lethality, survivability and combat effectiveness to protect and enable the warfighter,” said Kirk Flittie, vice president and general manager of AeroVironment’s UAS business. “This enhanced integration will ensure precise, mobile lethality with increased automation, decreased workload, and fewer operators required for small drone and loitering missile systems deployment. AeroVironment and General Dynamics Land Systems are ready today to equip our warfighters with more lethality tomorrow.”

“The purpose of this partnership is to deliver a decisive advantage to ground combatants, to see first and strike first, across the tactical landscape,” said Don Kotchman, U.S. vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Land Systems. “We’re confident this integrated capability, expanding the warfighter’s situational awareness, survivability and over-the-next-obstacle lethality, will define the market for years to come. This will be done without adding significant burden to the Soldier or vehicle commander’s cognitive or physical workload. The benefits will be had in all environments, including urban, forest, desert or other terrain. This is the right partnership between industry leaders to offer real innovation to our customers.”

AeroVironment and GD’s collaborative projects will address the upcoming U.S. Army Next-Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) and U.S. Marine Corps Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) programs. The NGCV program will dramatically benefit from automated drone scout and precision loitering missile engagement technology tightly coupled into the GD armored vehicle electronic architecture to rapidly geolocate and, if necessary, finish targets.

The ARV project has evolved well beyond a straightforward replacement for the Light Armored Vehicle into a networked family of manned vehicles, ground robots and drones, collectively capable of not only reconnaissance but also electronic warfare and long-range precision strikes. The vehicle is designed to launch a drone, scout deep, and then deploy precision fire and electronic warfare. It also will have an open architecture design that is upgraded with new technologies as they become available.

FAIRFAX, Va. — The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) a contract ceiling increase from $177 million to $270.2 million for the Personnel Modernization (PERSMOD) contract, which supports the Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS), the company said in an Oct. 8 release.

NSIPS is the primary human resource system for the Navy, performing personnel management, pay and entitlement transactions and leave for over $34 billion worth of the Navy’s annual personnel budget. The Navy will leverage GDIT’s solutions and alliance partnerships to help drive down sustainment costs through the accelerated consolidation, migration and de-customization of legacy systems.

“GDIT’s ongoing support of NSIPS allows us to rapidly advance new solutions and help the Navy maintain momentum on this important initiative,” said Senior Vice President Leigh Palmer, head of GDIT’s Defense Division. “Through the PERSMOD contract, we have already completed modernization updates and collapsed one legacy HR system, with a second system’s retirement in progress. We are excited to leverage these milestones for the Navy and continue to upgrade this program.”

Through this increase, GDIT will accelerate the support and transformation of the Navy’s integration of Oracle’s PeopleSoft Global Payroll product as well as the implementation of the Treasury Direct Disbursing (TDD) process. These updates will improve financial reporting and eliminate errors at the source for the Navy.

This contract increase includes an immediate award of $93.2 million with the potential to award two preapproved six-month increments. If awarded, these increments will extend the ordering period by an additional year and increase the contract ceiling by an additional $95.7 million to approximately $366 million. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract was originally awarded to SRA International Inc., a managed affiliate of GDIT, in June 2014. It included a five-year ordering period through June 2019. Up to one year of additional ordering may be permitted through June 2020.

Over the past four years, GDIT has successfully collapsed one legacy human resources system, Reserve Headquarters System, with the retirement of a second system, known as the Inactive Manpower and Personnel Management Information System, currently in progress. At the same time, GDIT supported the successful rollout of the Blended Retirement System, eliminated significant manual processes with addition of Retirements and Separations functionality, and additional automation to Reservists’ drill processing with a major update to the Enhanced Drill Management (EDM) system in NSIPS. The EDM also provided self-service functionality allowing the individual sailor to schedule/reschedule drills, which eliminated the need for paper from the process and significantly reduced human error. The system can now handle the entire gamut of drill scheduling and processing.

PASCAGOULA, Miss. — Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division christened the guided-missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) Oct. 6 with approximately 900 guests in attendance, the company announced in a release. The ship is the 71st in the Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class of destroyers and the 33rd built by Ingalls.

Alfred Gray, a retired general and former commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, was the keynote speaker.

“We’re here to honor a great American, a great ship and a great shipyard as well,” Gray said. “Frank is the person who really gave all of the people that you’ve met here today their inspiration to go forward, to be tough about everything, to be disciplined and to never forget that above all, you’re a Marine warrior. It is that kind of spirit and that kind of belief that we honor today by naming this great ship Frank E. Petersen Jr.”

DDG 121 honors Frank Emmanuel Petersen Jr., who was the Marine Corps’ first African-American aviator and the service’s first African-American general. After entering the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1950, Petersen would go on to fly more than 350 combat missions throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars.

“We are here to christen this ship to the life and service of a true pioneer in the Navy and Marine Corps, Frank Petersen,” said Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller. “The USS Petersen is now a reality, and it is a ship that will be in service to our nation for decades to come. DDGs play a vital role, not only in the Navy and defense of the United States, but for our allies around the world. To the shipbuilders, we really appreciate your efforts, skill, professionalism and hard work in building this ship. Thank you so much for that.”

DDG 121 is co-sponsored by Alicia Petersen, widow of the ship’s namesake, and D’Arcy Neller, wife of Gen. Neller. Together, Petersen and Neller officially christened the ship by successfully breaking two bottles of sparkling wine across its bow. Petersen spoke on behalf of both sponsors at today’s ceremony.

“Our family has been in Pascagoula for about two days now, and the love and friendship that we have felt from everyone has been so contagious,” Petersen said. “We believe that you are our family now and feel so happy that Frank’s ship is here in your home being built under the wonderful leadership of Ingalls. Ingalls not only does great work, but they take great pride in its ownership.”

Over the course of 30 years, Ingalls has built and delivered 30 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The shipyard currently has five DDGs under construction, including Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), the first Flight III ship, which started fabrication in May. Ingalls was recently awarded a $5.1 billion multi-year procurement contract to build six more destroyers.

“All Ingalls ships are built for men and women like General Petersen with one goal in mind: to protect the brave Americans who defend our freedom, and Frank E. Petersen Jr., the ship, will be no exception,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dependable returned to Little Creek, Virginia, after responding to Hurricane Florence and conducting a 42-day Mid-Atlantic fisheries patrol, Oct. 8, the 5th Coast Guard District said in a release.

During the patrol, Dependable was called to assist with the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Florence. Several dozen crew members volunteered to help Coast Guard units in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, rebuild critical infrastructure and restore habitability.

Over a three-day period, Dependable helped reopen waterways essential to facilitating commerce in the Port of Morehead City, North Carolina, provided needed supplies, and repaired damaged grounds to local Coast Guard units. The crew’s work helped Coast Guard Sector Field Office and Station Fort Macon restore their operations and assist their local partners in re-establishing their community.

Prior to Hurricane Florence, from New Jersey to South Carolina, Dependable’s boarding teams inspected U.S. fishing vessels’ catch, gear and lifesaving equipment, ensuring that the vessels were operating safely and legally. The boarding teams identified a variety of lifesaving equipment concerns on board several fishing vessels. The teams helped fix issues on the spot and educated the crews on the importance of maintaining their equipment.

“Enforcement of fisheries regulations at sea is a vital part of ensuring our natural resources are around for future generations,” said Cmdr. Rula Deisher, commanding officer of Dependable. “When Hurricane Florence came through, we quickly shifted gears and responded to the devastation she left in her wake. The teamwork and enthusiasm displayed by the crew to help fellow Coast Guardsmen in need was fantastic. I am very proud of Coast Guard Cutter Dependable and the work they accomplished this patrol.”

Dependable is a 210-foot medium-endurance cutter, which routinely deploys in support of counterdrug, alien migrant interdiction, living marine resources, and search and rescue missions.

CAMARILLO, Calif. — Saalex Solutions Inc. has been awarded the SeaPort Ordnance Logistics Support Services (OLSS) contract by the U.S. Navy, valued at $5.7 million over five years, the company said in an Oct. 4 release.

The work will support the Navy Munitions Command Pacific CONUS West Division (NMCPAC CWD). Saalex will provide technical and support services at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Seal Beach and NWS Fallbrook for the NMCPAC CWD mission of Fleet Ordnance Support.

Saalex’s contract services include administrative and inventory support, truck driving and heavy equipment operations, key custodianship and magazine access for NMCPAC CWD, USB and DET FB. Support specific to the Surface Launched Missiles Division at USB includes support of the Standard Missile, Evolved SeaSparrow Missile, Tomahawk Missile and Vertical Launch systems material coordination, movement, and tracking. Support specific to the Air Launched Missiles Division includes support of the Navy Sidewinder, Maverick, Hellfire and Air Force Maverick material coordination, movement and tracking.

“Saalex is proud to be awarded this contract and once again support the Navy,” said Travis Mack, president and CEO of Saalex. “We have a longstanding commitment to serving the Navy in its efforts to maintain the security of the United States and are honored to expand that relationship even further with this contract.”