WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s top official was mum on details of the recently completed Integrated Force Structure Assessment (IFSA), but he said the Navy needs a more distributed fleet to counter peer competitors. “There are going to be a lot of…
MH-60S Seahawk Helicopter the First Navy Aircraft Loss of 2020
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter lost in the Philippine Sea on Jan. 25 is the first loss of a Navy aircraft in calendar 2020 and possibly fiscal 2020 as well. The MH-60S, assigned to the command ship…
Navy’s MQ-4C Triton UAV Deploys, Reaching Early Operational Capability
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, with this initial deployment marking the achievement of early operational capability (EOC), the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a release. Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP) 19, the…
Marine Squadron Completes F/A-18 Phase-Out
ARLINGTON, Va. — The next U.S. Marine aircraft squadron scheduled for transition to the F-35 Lightning II strike fighter made its last flight in an F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter Jan. 23. The flight by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (All-Weather) 225 (VMFA(AW)-225), based at Marine Corps…
Coast Guard Expedites ScanEagle ISR Services for National Security Cutters
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Coast Guard is so bullish on the Insitu-built ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that it is moving up the schedule of installing it on its Legend-class national security cutters (NSCs). The Coast Guard awarded Insitu…
Blackjack UAS Fielding Complete for Navy, Marine Corps
ARLINGTON, Va. — The fielding of the RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial system achieved full operational capability in 2019, Navy’s program manager said. Col. John Neville, the Blackjack’s program manager for the Program Executive Office-Unmanned and Strike Weapons, told Seapower at…
Navy Carriers to Receive Unmanned Aviation Warfare Centers
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is installing control centers for unmanned aerial vehicles on its aircraft carriers as the ships go through overhauls and maintenance periods, a Navy official said. Capt. Chuck Ehnes, the Navy’s program manager for in-service…
USS Gerald R. Ford Set for 11 At-Sea Periods for Tests and Trials
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier will go through a rigorous period of tests and trials over the rest of fiscal 2020, a Navy official said. Speaking Jan. 16 at the Surface Navy Association gathering here, Capt….
Navy Studying Single-Phased Delivery for JFK
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s program manager for the next three aircraft carriers said the sea service is considering the business case for a single-phased delivery of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). Speaking Jan. 16 at…
Navy Ready to Accept First Block V Tomahawk from Raytheon
ARLINGTON, Va. — Raytheon Co. has completed the first recertificated Tomahawk cruise missile, one that it modified to the Block V configuration, a Navy official said. The missile is one of the first five Block VI Tactical Tomahawk missiles that…
