ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps is planning to change its aviation community significantly as part of a long-range effort to align its force structure more with the National Defense Strategy, including doubling the number of unmanned aerial system (UAS) squadrons and…
First Marine Corps F-35C Squadron One Step Closer to Deployment
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps’ first squadron to operate the F-35C Lightning II strike fighter has achieved certification as “safe for flight,” a major milestone toward eventual combat readiness and deployment. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314), based at Marine Corps Air Station…
Hospital Ship Mercy Deploying to Los Angeles
ARLINGTON, Virginia — The secretary of defense said the Military Sealift Command’s hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) is deploying to Los Angeles to relieve the city’s hospitals of some of their non-COVID-19 patient burden as they deal with the virus…
Navy’s Top Doctor: No Active COVID-19 Transmissions Aboard Ships Yet
ARLINGTON, Va — The U.S. Navy’s top medical officer said that no COVID-19 cases have been detected on board Navy ships at sea. “Because of those enhanced measures that were undertaken weeks ago, we have not seen active transmission,” Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham, surgeon…
112 Congressmen Call for Second Virginia-Class Sub in 2021
WASHINGTON — The congressional push for reinstatement of a second Virginia-class submarine in the 2021 defense budget has attracted the support of 112 congressmen. A letter from three congressmen on the Seapower subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee — sent to the House Appropriations Committee…
Esper Orders Navy to Ready Hospital Ships to Take Pressure Off U.S. Hospitals
ARLINGTON, Va. — The secretary of defense said March 18 that he has ordered the U.S. Navy to prepare its two hospital ships for activation to take pressure off the nation’s hospitals battling the COVID-19 virus pandemic. At a Pentagon news conference, Secretary Mark T. Esper referred…
CNO Calls Unmanned MQ-4C Triton ‘Game-Changing’
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s top officer said the high-altitude, high-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is providing support to the fleet on its first deployment that was not available before. “We’re still committed to the [MQ-4C Triton],” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said, responding to…
Navy Assumes ‘Balanced’ Risk of Strike Fighter Inventory with Super Hornet Curtailment
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is working to manage its strike fighter inventory by focusing on restoring grounded fighters while curtailing future procurement of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet after 2021, Navy officials said. The Navy is requesting 24 Super Hornets in the fiscal…
Keel-Laying of Coast Guard’s First OPC Set for April
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard plans to celebrate the keel-laying of the first Heritage-class offshore patrol cutter (OPC) next month in Panama City, Florida. Testifying March 10 before the House Homeland Security Committee, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl L. Schultz said the keel of…
Wittman: DDGs Still Needed as Cruisers Retire; Go Slow on USVs
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy still needs a large fleet of guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) to replace the guided-missile cruisers (CGs) being retired, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) said. Speaking March 9 at the Hudson Institute, a Washington…
