ARLINGTON, Va. — The search continues for five Marines whose KC-130 Hercules transport/refueling aircraft collided Dec. 6 with a Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet strike fighter over the Pacific Ocean. The two Marines in the F/A-18D apparently ejected; one was rescued…
Navy Must Be ‘Agile’ but ‘Sustainable’ in the Arctic
WASHINGTON — Sustainability is the key issue for U.S. naval operations in the Arctic, a Navy official said. “The Navy has to be agile [in its Arctic operations],” Jeffrey Barker, a deputy branch head for Policy and Posture in the…
First Heliborne AOEW Pod for Navy Expected in Late 2019
WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin expects to produce the first engineering development model (EDM) of a heliborne electronic warfare pod by late 2019, a company official said. Orders for materials for the ALQ-218 Advanced Offboard Electronic Warfare (AOEW) pods began last…
Commander, 2nd Fleet, Exploring Headquarters, Command Ship Options
WASHIGNTON — The commander of the newly established U.S. 2nd Fleet said he is looking at various options for a new headquarters and the possibility of having a command ship. “We are looking at options to equip the 2nd Fleet…
ESM System on Navy E-2 Aircraft Set for Digital Upgrade in 2022
WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin is developing a digital upgrade of the analog electronic surveillance measures (ESM) system installed on the Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye carrier-based early warning aircraft and plans to complete development by 2022. The current ALQ-217 is the…
Vice Adm. Merz: New Round, Gun Removal Options for Zumwalt DDG
WASHINGTON — The Navy is looking at options for the Advanced Gun System (AGS) on the Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer (DDG) as it completes mission systems installation, options that include developing a new round or removing the guns all together. The…
Navy Awards Contract to VT Halter for New Oceanographic Survey Ship
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has awarded a contract to shipbuilder VT Halter Marine toward advance work for the eighth Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship (T-AGS). The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded to VT Halter Marine a “not-to-exceed $9 million undefinitized…
Naval Strike Missile System Planned for Installation on LCS 27
ARLINGTON, Va. — Lockheed Martin is in the process of integrating the Over-the-Horizon (OTH) Weapon System on its Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) and has identified the ship to be built ready for the missile system. The first Freedom LCS…
Navy Orders F-35s Under Contract Modification
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $22.7 billion contract modification for 255 F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighters, the Defense Department said in a Nov. 14 release. Of the order, 42 aircraft are for the Navy…
Navy Super Hornet Crashes in Philippine Sea; Crew Rescued
PHILIPPINE SEA — A Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) F/A-18F experienced a mechanical issue that resulted in the crew ejecting while conducting routine operations in the Philippine Sea Nov. 12, Task Force 70 public affairs said in a release. “The…
