MANAMA, Bahrain — U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) conducted a change of command ceremony on Thursday, June 16 at Manama, Bahrain, as Capt. Eric Helgen relieved Capt. Benjamin Berg. Presiding over the ceremony was Adm. Linda Fagan,…
USS Sioux City was ‘Built for 5th Fleet’
USS Sioux City (LCS 11) has become the first littoral combat ship to deploy to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. According to Capt. Rob Francis, the commander of Destroyer Squadron 50 and Task Force 55, the Freedom-class variant…
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Helps Solomon Islands Patrol Their Waters
SOLOMON ISLANDS — The U.S. Coast Guard has responded to a request from the Solomon Islands to help patrol that country’s exclusive economic zone while maintenance was being conducted on the Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel Taro. The Fast Response…
New Safety Command Isn’t Just About Safety, It’s About Readiness
“Our mission and our focus every day is to enable warfighting capability by reducing preventable mishaps, loss of life and damage to materiel,” says Rear Adm. F.R. “Lucky” Luchtman, commander of the new Naval Safety Command. “Everything we do is…
Students Help Coast Guard to Find Unmanned Smuggling Boats
GALVESTON, Texas — A unique student project is helping the Coast Guard find small and hard to detect unmanned autonomous surface vessels that might be used to transport drugs into the U.S. Several USVs have been recovered attempting to transit…
Submarine Program ‘Alive and Well,’ Lawmakers Tell Industry Leaders
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Navy new submarine construction is on track, members of the Submarine Industrial Base Council were told by federal lawmakers during a visit to Washington. Virginia-class submarines and the new Columbia class are moving forward, thanks in part…
Russian Air Defenses Working Well When Operated by Ukrainians, ACC Chief Says
WASHINGTON — Air Force Gen. Mark D. Kelly, who leads Air Combat Command, was asked about the capabilities of Russia’s air defense systems since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “They’re operating pretty well when they’re operated by Ukrainians,”…
Cost of Critical Metals for Submarine Construction Climbs During Ukraine Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The availability of raw materials and components was a topic of conversation at yesterday’s Submarine Industrial Base Council congressional breakfast in Washington, D.C. Attendees noted the pandemic’s impact on the supply chain has made just-in-time deliveries virtually…
University of Maine Manufactures World’s Largest 3D-Printed Boat for Military
ORONO, Maine — The world’s largest polymer additive manufacturing machine printed the world’s largest 3D printed vessel at the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center in Orono, Maine. In fact, it printed two of them. The prototype vessels…
Dahlgren Focuses Energy Weapons on Target
DAHLGREN, Va. — The U.S. Navy has been researching and perfecting directed energy weapons to include railguns, high-powered microwaves and lasers, along with hypervelocity projectiles — to make futuristic weapons a reality on ships today. The Naval Surface Warfare Center…