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…
Richardson Prepares Sailors to Out-Learn and Be Ready to Out-Fight Adversaries
Adm. John M. Richardson began serving as the 31st chief of naval operations on Sept. 18, 2015, and he’s in his last year at the helm of the U.S. Navy. During the intervening years, Richardson has focused the Navy on…
Navy Awards Raytheon Contract for Next 3 SPY-6 Radars for Destroyers
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has ordered three shipsets of the Raytheon-built SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) for installation on three Arleigh Burke Flight III guided-missile destroyers (DDGs). Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems has been awarded a $402.6 million…
CNO Richardson: Technology Agility a ‘Strategic Achilles’ Heel’
WASHINGTON — The Navy’s top officer said that he is concerned about the agility of the Navy to outpace its potential adversaries in the current era of great power competition. “This is a strategic Achilles’ heel for us,” Chief of…
Wittman: Third SSN in Budget Helps Reduce Risk for Columbia SSBN
WASHINGTON — The addition of a third Virginia-class attack submarine (SSN) in the proposed 2020 defense budget is a long-sought goal of the leaders of the Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. If approved, the…
Navy Requests $205.9 Billion Fiscal 2020 Budget
The Department of the Navy (DoN) is requesting $205.6 billion for fiscal 2020 — $159.7 billion for the Navy and $45.9 billion for the Marine Corps. The 2020 request represents a significant increase over the fiscal 2019 budget of $196.1…
Surge Sealift Force in Need of Urgent Recapitalization, Officials Say
WASHINGTON — The nation’s seaborne logistics capability is atrophying and in need of rejuvenation, senior government officials said in testimony before Congress. Maintaining older ships is proving more costly than anticipated, driving officials to seek new or used ships to…
Navy Awards AARGM-ER Development Contract to Northrop Grumman
ARLINGTON, Va. — The extended-range version of the AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) is proceeding into engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) with the March 7 Defense Department contract announcement of a contract award to Northrop Grumman….
