WASHINGTON — The Navy’s air warfare director told Congress that some of the service’s experienced aviators are “ready” to leave the service, citing fewer flying opportunities and quality-of-life issues. Rear Adm. Scott D. Conn, testifying April 10 before the Seapower…
Navy Air Warfare Director: Strike Fighter Shortage Easing, Readiness Improving
WASHINGTON — The Navy and Marine Corps’ strike fighter inventory shortfall is easing even as the Navy slows its aircraft procurement to pay some bills to improve readiness, the Navy’s director of air warfare told Congress. Rear Adm. Scott D….
Army Gen. Milley Formally Nominated to Be Next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
ARLINGTON, Virginia — President Trump has formally nominated two generals to serve as the next chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In an April 9 announcement, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan said that Army Gen….
Coast Guard Commandant: Some Cases of ‘Sanctuary’ Localities Inhibiting Cooperation
WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard’s top officer told Congress that there have been some cases of “sanctuary” localities failing to cooperate on a law-enforcement case, but that such events are “anomalous.” Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl L. Schultz testified April…
Marine Corps May Extend AV-8B Harrier Service to 2028
WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps’ fleet of AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft may serve until 2028, the Corps’ aviation chief told Congress, a two-year extension of the previous plan. “We will continue to be a fourth-gen/fifth-gen [tactical aircraft] fleet out…
Navy’s Triton UAV Expected to Deploy in Summer 2019
WASHINGTON — The Navy’s director of air warfare said the service expects to deploy the MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, high-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle later this year. “The Triton is going forward this year, probably later this summer,” Rear Adm. Scott D….
Navy Air Warfare Director: Report on Next-Generation Fighter Due in Summer
WASHINGTON — The Navy’s analysis of alternatives (AoA) for its next-generation air-dominance fighter aircraft is almost finished, a Navy admiral told Congress. “That AoA will be complete this spring,” Rear Adm. Scott D. Conn, director of air warfare in the…
Marine Corps Sees Cargo UAVs as the Future of Logistics in Distributed Operations
WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps plans to continue experimentation with its two K-Max cargo unmanned aerial vehicles (CUAVs) and hopes to procure more to add to experimentation in logistics for distributed operations. “We see this as the future of distributed…
Navy Awards Two Contracts for MQ-4C for Upgrades, Advance Acquisition
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has awarded two contracts to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. to advance the fielding of the new MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on April 1 awarded a $12.8 million…
Marine Pilots Killed in AH-1Z Helicopter Crash; First Naval Aviation Loss of 2019
ARLINGTON, Va. — The loss of a Marine Corps AH-1Z helicopter March 30 was the first crash of a U.S. naval aviation aircraft since the beginning of the calendar year. Two Marine pilots were killed when the AH-1Z Viper helicopter…


