WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s plan to procure only eight battle force ships in the 2021 budget came under expected fire from lawmakers during a Feb. 26 hearing on Capitol Hill. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley testified at…
Navy E-2 Hawkeye Squadrons Renamed to Reflect Expanded Capabilities
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has given its E-2 Hawkeye squadrons a new designation to more accurately reflect the aircraft’s expanded capabilities and missions. The service has changed the name from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron to Airborne Command and Control Squadron, effective Jan….
Second Virginia-Class Sub in Fiscal 2021 Tops Navy’s Unfunded Priority List
ARLINGTON, Va. — A Virginia-class attack submarine heads the U.S. Navy’s fiscal 2021 unfunded priorities list, according to Feb. 19 letter to Congress from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday. Three types of aircraft and one logistics proof-of-concept ship round out the top…
NAVAIR Orders Six VH-92 Presidential Helicopters From Sikorsky
ARLINGTON, Va. — Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Sikorsky a second production contract to build VH-92A helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps, the company said in a release. The VH-92A has been selected to provide transport for the president of the United…
MARAD’s Buzby: National Maritime Strategy ‘a Matter of National Will’
WASHINGTON — A National Maritime Strategy is soon to be released, the U.S. Maritime Administrator said. Maritime Administrator Mark H. Buzby, speaking Feb. 20 at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Analysis, a Washington think tank, said that a “National…
2021 Coast Guard Budget Seeks Second Polar Security Cutter
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Coast Guard plans to fully fund the second polar security cutter (PSC) and the third offshore patrol cutter (OPC), according to the proposed fiscal year 2021 U.S. Department of Homeland Security budget. The Coast Guard overall is seeking $12.3 billion for fiscal 2021, $77 million more than the $12.2 billion in the enacted 2020 budget. The 2021…
Navy 2021 Budget Relatively Flat; Only 8 Ships Funded, Ship Retirements Accelerated
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S Navy’s 2021 budget seeks funding for only eight battle force ships, financed by $19.9 billion of a $207.1 billion Department of the Navy budget that is only slightly larger than the $205.2 billion budget enacted for fiscal 2020. The Future Years Defense Plan also forecasts some accelerated retirements or reductions…
Navy Orders Two MQ-4C Triton UAVs Plus Operating Base
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has ordered another two MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles from Northrop Grumman Corp. According to a Feb. 6 Defense Department contract announcement, Naval Air Systems Command awarded a $172.4 million contract modification for the two…
Navy Transfer of Space Operations to U.S. Space Force Still Up in the Air
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s shift of its assets in space to the U.S. Space Force is still to be determined, a Navy spokesman said. The U.S. Space Force was established on Dec. 20 as the Defense Department’s fifth…
U.S. 2nd Fleet Flexes Expeditionary Command and Control
WASHINGTON — The U.S. 2nd Fleet exercised its ability to operate expeditionary maritime operations centers in its run-up from initial to full operational capability, achieved in December, the fleet commander said. Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis, commander of the 2nd Fleet, who spoke here Feb. 4 at Maritime Security…
