QUANTICO, Va. — Three of the Navy’s biggest shipbuilders offered alternative plans they said would enable the Navy to get the 38 amphibious warships it needs and to recapitalize the Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) ancient fleet faster and cheaper than…
Hypersonic Technology Becomes a Top Pentagon Priority
WASHINGTON — Although hypersonic technology originated in the United States, “we didn’t choose to weaponize it, but now we have to,” the Pentagon’s top technology official said Aug. 1. “The enemy gets a vote. They have chosen to weaponize hypersonic,”…
Courtney Urges Pentagon to Keep Columbia-Class Funding Separate
WASHINGTON — The provision for separate funding for the Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine program is not being followed by Pentagon budget officials, which could “put tremendous pressure on the rest of the shipbuilding account,” the top Democrat on the House Armed…
MDA Director: Ship-based Missile Defense More Capable, Flexible than Land-based Options
WASHINGTON — The director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) accepted the declaration by Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John M. Richardson that he wants to get his Aegis-equipped warships out of the missile defense patrol missions, but noted…
Thornberry: Take “More Out of the Tail,’ Put ‘More into the Tooth’ of Defense Budget
WASHINGTON — House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, said he is convinced that the military’s readiness problems are far more serious than many people believe, and he is determined to get the maximum impact from the current defense funding…
New Technologies Drive Demand for More Power Aboard Ships
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The rapid growth of power-hungry new technologies and the accelerating drive for directed-energy weapons is requiring the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to put increasing efforts into new means to generate, control and store electrical energy…
Accelerated Acquisition Taking Shape, Producing Results
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The upbeat tone for a panel discussion on accelerated acquisition April 11 was set at the start when Vice Adm. David C. Johnson declared that “accelerated acquisition is not just a theory, but something we’re doing…
Arleigh Burke Program Pushes Ahead, With First Two Flight III Ships Under Contract
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The DDG 51 program is moving ahead rapidly, with 12 ships under contract, including the first two of the substantially improved Flight III ships, the program manager said April 10. The detail design on Flight III…