ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is starting to see results from laws, policies and processes that make career progression more flexible and more accommodating to education, and the sea service is liking what it sees, the Navy’s deputy chief of personnel said. New provisions in law enacted…
Order on Bahrain Assignments, Families Won’t Affect Crews of Navy Ships
ARLINGTON, Va. — Defense Secretary Mark Esper has directed that U.S. military personnel assignments in some Middle East countries be unaccompanied, with families now in place ordered gradually withdrawn by 2022. The Pentagon policy, however, does not affect U.S. Navy crews forward-deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain, a Navy official said. In a June 2 announcement, Esper directed…
Navy’s Advanced Aerial Sensor Deployed on P-8As to Western Pacific
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s Advanced Aerial Sensor (AAS) has been deployed to the western Pacific, according to a release from the squadron that deployed the AAS on its P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol reconnaissance aircraft. Patrol Squadron 45 (VP-45), based out of Naval Air…
Ford Air Wing Ready to Arm Up for Training From Carrier
ARLINGTON, Va. — The carrier air wing assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford is working up on its flight deck and conducting air operations with inert ordnance, the wing commander said. Speaking June 1 to reporters by teleconference while…
Navy Exploring Options for Multi-Engine Training Aircraft to Replace T-44
ARLINTON, Va. — Naval Air Systems Command is looking at options for an aircraft to replace the T-44C Pegasus multi-engine training aircraft, but the ultimate choice may not be “new.” The Navy is exploring options for adapting an existing aircraft…
State Department OKs Possible Sale of Torpedoes to Taiwan
WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale to Taiwan of submarine-launched torpedoes, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a release. DSCA said that Congress has been notified of the potential sale of torpedoes to the Taipei Economic and Cultural…
BAE Systems Expanding Riptide UUV Manufacturing Capacity
ARLINGTON, Va. — BAE Systems has expanded its capacity to manufacture its Riptide family of autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) a year after the company acquired Riptide Autonomous Systems. The company also has been integrating its sensor packages on the…
Ford Prepares to Integrate Carrier Air Wing
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier is progressing through its post-shakedown workload and is preparing to integrate its assigned air wing, Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8). Although the Ford has conducted more than 3,000 catapult launches and arrested landings, those have been performed by test…
BAE to Install Infrared Countermeasures on Marine KC-130J Aircraft
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps’ KC-130J Super Hercules tanker/transport aircraft is getting an infrared countermeasures system at last. The U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Aircraft Prototyping Systems Division has awarded BAE Systems a prime position on…
Navy Issues 100-Meter Standoff Warning in Central Command AOR
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has issued a formal notice that it is setting a standoff distance of 100 meters for other ships approaching its vessels — and the sea service is warning armed adversaries that it could consider crossing that line as a threat. In a May 20 “notice to mariners” broadcast to shipping, the Navy said…
