ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s submarine production enterprise is besieged by growing demands as it moves Virginia-class construction to two a year, is building payload models for future Virginias and is designing new models, and is working on refueling some…
Panelists Argue Current Pentagon Spending Conflicts with Likely Future Needs
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has a serious problem in that providing what it needs for the forces to be ready for current and likely near-term conflicts can clash with what it requires to prepare for the return of great power…
Dunford Encouraged by Afghan Security Forces in Latest Afghanistan Strategy
ARLINGTON, Va. — The nation’s top military officer argued that the U.S. military role in Afghanistan was necessary to protect the U.S. homeland from violent extremists and that the strategy was working in the sense that Afghan security forces were…
Changing Global Security Environment Challenges U.S. Logistics Advantage
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The United States’ ability to project military power on a global scale is an “unparalleled” strategic advantage, but that capability is being challenged by the rapidly changing global security environment, cyber threats to defense command and…
Naval Aviation Leaders: Readiness Improving, but ‘Still Not Where We Need to Be’
WASHINGTON — The combat readiness of naval aviation is improving, but it is not where it needs to be, the Navy and Marine Corps top aviation leaders said Oct. 5. Vice Adm. DeWolfe Miller, commander of Naval Air Forces, said…
Modly: Unmanned Systems ‘Huge Priority’ in Building a Bigger Fleet
WASHINGTON — When talking about the future fleet size, the Navy’s No. 2 civilian leader says he calls it “355-plus,” with the “plus” meaning a lot of unmanned systems and other innovative things not normally considered part of the fleet….
Rising Accident Rates Taking Toll on Navy, Marine Aircraft Availability
RENO, Nev. — The accident rate for the major Class A mishaps in naval aviation is “trending up” and there has been a “major increase” in the more minor Class C accidents, which is aggravating the lack of aircraft availability…
Industry Offers Alternatives to Achieve 38 Amphibious Warships, Recapitalize MSC Fleet
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…
