ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of 105 F-35 Lightning II strike fighters, including 42 F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing versions that Japan could deploy onboard ships to significantly expand its naval aviation capabilities. Under…
Germany, Belgium Cleared for Possible Procurement of Mk54 Torpedoes
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of Mk54 lightweight antisubmarine torpedoes to Germany and Belgium, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in two July 9 releases. The procurement of the torpedoes, built by…
Defense Department Shores Up Shipbuilding Industrial Base With $56 Million
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department is taking another Defense Production Act Title III action to shore up the nation’s shipbuilding industrial base in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The action is one of seven announced July 10 by the Defense…
Navy Orders Four Metal Shark Patrol Boats
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has placed an order for four patrol boats from Gravois Aluminum Boats, doing business as Metal Shark Boats, according to a July 7 announcement from the Pentagon. The Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Gulf Coast,…
More Powerful Laser Systems Are Needed, Navy Technologist Says
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s official most heavily engaged in the development of directed-energy (DE) weapons said the service is focused on fielding the sea service’s family of laser systems to warfighters but is also working to improve the systems’ power and beam control. “We’ve been working…
Indonesia Cleared for Possible Acquisition of MV-22s
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft to the Indonesian government, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a release. If concluded, Indonesia would be the third nation to procure the…
France Cleared for Possible E-2D Procurement
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of Northrop Grumman-built E-2D Advanced Hawkeye command-and-control aircraft to the government of France, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a release. If concluded, France would become the third nation to…
Navy Will Inactivate 9 Ships in 2021
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy plans to inactivate nine ships in fiscal 2021, the service said in a message to the fleet. According to a June 30 message from the chief of naval operations, four littoral combat ships (LCS),…
Navy Prepping More Prospective Minority Students for NROTC
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is expanding its program to prepare more minority students for the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, a senior Navy admiral said, to increase officer accessions of more black officers. Speaking at a July 2…
Navy Orders Four F-35C Strike Fighters
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has ordered four F-35C Lightning II joint strike fighters from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., the Defense Department said in a release. Naval Air Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $360.8 million not-to-exceed undefinitized contract modification to previously…
