NORFOLK — Adm. Christopher Grady was relieved by Adm. Daryl Caudle as commander, U.S. Fleet Forces in a ceremony aboard aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Dec. 7, the command said. 

Dozens of civilian and military guests gathered to bid fair winds and following seas to Grady as he departs after more than three years in command, and to welcome Caudle as the new commander. Speakers included commander, U.S. Strategic Command Adm. Charles Richard and commander, U.S. Northern Command Gen. Glen VanHerck. 

Richard presided over the ceremony and said, “Adm. Grady’s leadership and innovation have brought to bear the full capability of the U.S. Navy in support of deterring our adversaries and assuring our allies and partners like never before. His visionary strategic approach is exactly what we need as we posture the joint force to meet today’s global challenges. I have full confidence that Adm. Caudle will pick up the ball and move it down the field.” 
   
“As the commander of Naval Forces Northern Command, Adm. Grady remained laser focused on the persistent proximate threats and the homeland defense challenges our nation faces during this period of increased global strategic competition with peers and near peers,” said VanHerck. “Adm. Grady’s numerous command tours have defined the standard across the fleet and throughout the Department of Defense for operational capability, mission success and a relentless approach to readiness.” 
   
Grady has been nominated by the White House to serve as the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Grady expressed his immense appreciation and pride to the Fleet Forces staff for the accomplishments they achieved under his charge. 
   
“Fleet Forces command is involved in nearly every aspect of the force-force generation, force development, force employment and in generating readiness to provide combatant commanders the resources that they need to defend our national interests at home and abroad,” said Grady. “Truly, the actions of every service member, government civilian, and contractor here at Fleet Forces, and across the waterfront, have played a critical role in supremely preparing the Navy and, to fight and win in today’s strategic environment.” 
   
Caudle joins the USFFC team after wrapping up his tour as the commander, U.S. Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Caudle is the 43rd commander of USFFC. 
   
“Admiral Grady’s warfighting vision at Fleet Forces transformed our approach to fleet readiness, operationalized our team to support two combatant commanders and protected our homeland in the maritime domain,” said Caudle. “I’m truly honored to continue to build on the successes of the Fleet Forces team, continuing to ensure our fleet is ready to bring lethality and integrated deterrence anytime, anywhere across the globe.” 

FAIRFAX, Va. — Newberry, a privately held professional services firm, announced Dec. 9 it has been selected for the SeaPort Next Generation contract by the U.S. Navy. The contract includes engineering support services for the research and development of new naval systems, improvements to existing systems, and environmental engineering of U.S. Navy systems and base-related infrastructure.  

SeaPort NxG is a multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract holding a total value of $5 billion and includes a base period of up to five years with one five-year option.  

Under the contract, Dewberry will have the opportunity to work for various divisions of the U.S. Navy, including the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Facilities Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Office of Naval Research, Military Sealift Command, Strategic Systems Programs, and the U.S. Marine Corps.  

On the previous SeaPort contract, Dewberry provided on-site geographic information systems support for data analysis, visualization, and data integration services,” says Phil Thiel, executive vice president for Dewberry.  

“We are excited about continuing to serve the Navy’s growing needs and expanding opportunities to collaborate with small business partners on task order work,” he said.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest guided-missile destroyer, USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), Dec. 8 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, according to U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs. 

More than 1,000 guests including service members, veterans, and their families witnessed as the Navy’s 69th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer joined the fleet. 
 
The ship honors the local hero and statesman, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, a U.S. senator from Hawaii who served in Congress from 1962 until his death in 2012. During World War II, Inouye served in the U.S. Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat Team, one of the most decorated military units in U.S. history. For his combat heroism, which cost him his right arm, Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor. 

Guest speakers for the included David Ige, governor of Hawaii, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, and Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Paparo and Del Toro spoke about the Inouye’s capabilities as a warfighting vessel in the Pacific fleet.
 
“This ship, the USS Daniel Inouye, will join the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the Indo-Pacom joint team,” said Paparo. “This ship and its crew are ready to assume its critical mission: The defense and safeguarding of the well-being and interests of our nation.” 
 
“As a former destroyer captain, I know firsthand about the ability, versatility and distributive power this ship will add to our deterrent capabilities,” said Del Toro. “There is absolutely no more of a fitting name for this ship than Sen. Inouye.” 
 
Prior to her passing on April 7, 2020, Inouye’s wife, Irene Hirano Inouye, executed her duties as the ship’s sponsor by establishing a strong bond with the crew during traditional shipbuilding milestones at Bath Iron Works. At the keel laying in 2018, she welded her initials into the keel of the ship. In 2019, she broke a bottle of champagne on the bow in a christening ceremony bestowing the name on the ship. During a “mast stepping” ceremony, she placed items special to the senator in the ship’s mast. 
 
During the ceremony, the senator’s granddaughter and ceremonial maid of honor, 11-year-old Maggie Inouye, gave the traditional order, “Man our ship and bring her to life!” 
 
After reporting the ship ready for duty, the ship’s commanding officer, Cmdr. DonAnn Gilmore recognized her crew’s hard work. 
 
“No captain could ask for more. You have embodied the motto ‘go for broke’ at every challenge,” said Gilmore. “I have to look no further than the rails of the ship behind me to renew my faith in humanity and to maintain my confidence in our country’s future.” 
 
The commissioning ceremony coincided with 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Remembrance commemoration events and caps a weeklong series of events celebrating the ship and its namesake. On December 7, 1941, Inouye was a 17-year-old senior at Honolulu’s McKinley High School, and rushed to a Red Cross aid station to help civilians and Sailors wounded in the attack. 
 
USS Daniel Inouye, the first U.S. warship to bear its name, is nearly 510 feet in length and has a navigational draft of 33 feet.
   

SAN DIEGO — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. is unveiling the new unmanned aircraft system Mojave, named for one of the harshest and most austere areas the world, where deadly rattlesnakes and horned lizards adapt to survive the extreme forces of nature, the company said Dec. 9. 

Mojave is based on the avionics and flight control systems of MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle-ER but is focused on short-takeoff and landing capabilities and increased firepower. It features enlarged wings with high-lift devices, and a 450-HP turboprop engine.  

Mojave provides options for forward-basing operations without the need for typical airport runways or infrastructure. It can land and takeoff from unimproved surfaces while also retaining significant advantages in endurance and persistence over manned aircraft. These innovations make Mojave the perfect UAS to perform armed overwatch, attack and armed reconnaissance missions, the company said. 

 A prototype aircraft first flew this summer and is continuing to demonstrate exceptional short-field performance and other unique qualities.  

“We’re proud to bring these extraordinary capabilities to our Predator line of UAS,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue. “We are providing the ground force with a long-endurance, armed overwatch UAS that can quickly reload weapons at austere sites, located close to the conflict zone. This revolutionary design, based on seven million flight hours of UAS experience, increases expeditionary employment options, making Mojave a real game changer.”  

STOL capability increases the number of employment options available to Mojave, potentially including aircraft carrier-based options, unlocking naval missions or sea-based support for special operations forces. 

Payload capacity is 3,600 pounds and Mojave can carry up to 16 Hellfire or equivalent missiles. Mojave can be equipped with a sensor suite including electro-optical/infrared, synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indicator and signal intelligence to support land or maritime missions.  

BELOIT, Wis. — Fairbanks Morse Defense, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has acquired Welin Lambie Ltd., a U.K.-based leading designer and manufacturer of davits used specifically for the launch and recovery of all types of craft from ships or shore-based installations. 

The acquisition further expands FMD’s capabilities and service solutions for shipyard, defense, and commercial marine customers, including the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Canadian Coast Guard. Additionally, FMD’s acquisition of Welin Lambie enhances its product and service offerings for future uncrewed ship programs, as davits that launch and recover craft and mission packages are expected to be increasingly critical in uncrewed environments. 

“As naval forces around the world upgrade existing vessels and expand their fleets, the demand for local, high-quality aftermarket services is greater than ever before,” said George Whittier, CEO of FMD. “Our acquisition of Welin Lambie brings Fairbanks Morse Defense one step closer to becoming a full-service provider for our core marine customers so we can better support their mission-critical operations. Welin Lambie’s products and services easily align with our service solutions, and we’re excited to have them join the FMD brand.”  

Over many decades, Welin Lambie has established strong relationships with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. Its products are installed on a wide variety of vessels stationed worldwide, including U.S. Navy amphibious vessels, LCS vessels, CVN aircraft carriers, USCG cutters, and frigates for the Royal Saudi Navy currently under construction at Marinette Marine.   

Since 1901, Welin Lambie has been rooted in maritime history, having designed and built integrated davit systems for several world-renowned ships, including the 1912 original “unsinkable” White Star Liner Titanic and for the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic. Operating from its facility in Brierley Hill, West Midlands, United Kingdom, Welin Lambie serves customers in the United Kingdom, North America, and worldwide.  

“Welin Lambie has established strong marine defense customer relationships because of our ability to seamlessly adapt to changing regulations and requirements,” said Welin Lambie Managing Director Norman Rose. “These qualities will be an asset to Fairbanks Morse Defense customers as our products and services are integrated into their offerings. We’re looking forward to expanding our presence under the Fairbanks Morse Defense brand.” 

In recent years, FMD has expanded its capabilities, inventory, and geographic presence with several key acquisitions to better serve the defense industry. So far this year, FMD acquired Hunt Valve, a specialty naval valve manufacturer, and Ward Leonard, a motor and control solutions provider. FMD also acquired diesel engine repair and rebuilding service provider BRECO International in November 2020. 

RESTON, Va. — Science Applications International Corp. has been awarded a $1.1 billion contract to produce, assemble, test and deliver the U.S. Navy’s Mk48 Mod 7 torpedo afterbody tailcones and Mk29 Mod 0 warshot fuel tanks, the company said Dec. 6.  

Under the contract from the Program Executive Officer, Undersea Warfare Systems, Undersea Weapons Program Office (PMS 404), SAIC will provide all necessary facilities, resources and management necessary to meet the contract’s integration, production, test and delivery requirements. The afterbody tailcone is the section of torpedo containing propulsion and navigations systems, with 26 major sub-assemblies requiring the integration of greater than 500 pieces and parts in each. 

“SAIC is proud of our expanded work on integration, production, assembly, test and delivery contracts that support the Mk48 heavyweight torpedo system for the U.S. Navy,” said Bob Genter, president of SAIC’s Defense and Civilian Sector. “We are confident that our proven performance on the Mk48 will continue to provide the Navy with the sea-dominance weapon it requires.” 

BRISBANE, Australia — Insitu Pacific has been awarded a three-year contract extension by the Royal Australian Navy for the sustainment of its ScanEagle unmanned aircraft, the company said Dec. 6. 

The extension allows the Australian navy to continue to experiment and develop knowledge using the ScanEagle maritime UAS, leveraging the foundation capability developed during embarked operations on HMAS Newcastle in the Gulf of Oman in 2017. 

“Insitu Pacific is proud to continue to support [the Royal Australian Navy] in their ongoing [unmanned aircraft] experimentation and testing work over the next three years,” said Andrew Duggan, managing director of Insitu Pacific. “This contract extension provides us with an opportunity to deepen our existing sovereign capability and supply chains in Australia, and partner with RAN to offer up new capabilities for testing in the coming years.” 

ScanEagle has been in service with the Australian navy for experimentation and testing since 2014. 

The navy operates several ScanEagle systems at 822X Squadron in Nowra, and the contract extension enables continuation of MUAS training, tactics development and payload evaluation activities. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy will commission the future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, during a 10:00 a.m. (HST) ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham on Dec. 8. 

The future USS Daniel Inouye is named in honor of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who served as a Hawaii representative in the Senate from 1963 until he died in 2012.   

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro will deliver the keynote address at the ceremony. Remarks will also be provided by Hawaii Gov. David Ige; Rep. Kaiali’i Kahele (D-Hawaii); Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi; Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Ken Inouye, son of Sen. Inouye; and Ed Kenyon, director of new construction programs, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.  

“The late Sen. Daniel Inouye spent his entire life in public service, both in uniform and out,” said Del Toro. “Sen. Inouye’s life is one to be emulated and the crew of this warship will not only be inspired by his legacy, but will stand the watch with the honor and dignity deserving of a ship bearing his name.” 

The ship’s sponsor Irene Hirano Inouye, Inouye’s wife, established a strong bond with the crew before her passing on April 7, 2020. At the keel laying in 2018, she welded her initials into the ship’s keel and, in 2019, broke a bottle of champagne on the bow in a christening ceremony. During a “mast stepping” ceremony, she placed items special to Inouye in the ship’s mast.

The commissioning ceremony coincides with the 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Commemoration events. On Dec. 7, 1941, Daniel Inouye was a 17-year-old senior at Honolulu’s McKinley High School and rushed to a Red Cross aid station to help civilians and Sailors wounded in the attack. 

On April 21, 1945, while serving with the 442nd Infantry Regiment Combat Team in Italy during World War II, an exploding grenade shattered his right arm during an assault. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation. He remained at the head of his platoon until they broke the enemy resistance and his troops deployed in defensive positions, continuing to fight until the regiment’s position was secured. Later in life, he received the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism during the assault. 

Cmdr. DonAnn Gilmore, of Anniston, Alabama, is the ship’s commanding officer and leads a crew of 329 officers and enlisted Sailors. Gilmore is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University. She previously commanded Mine Countermeasures Crew Exultant. 

“This crew put a tremendous amount of work into preparing to bring USS Daniel Inouye to life on Dec. 8. We all share a deep sense of pride and honor to represent our namesake, the late senator and U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye and those he represented for 53 years in the House and Senate,” said Gilmore. “Through USS Daniel Inouye’s service to our nation, every Sailor aboard will strive to make ours the preeminent ship on the waterfront. We embody the ship’s motto, a battle cry adopted from Sen. Inouye’s Army unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. We will ‘go for broke!’ as Daniel Inouye did on the battlefield and in halls of the Senate.” 

The ship is nearly 510 feet long and has a navigational draft of 33 feet. As a Flight IIA destroyer, DDG 118 is equipped with Aegis Baseline 9, which provides improved, integrated air and missile defense capabilities, increased computing power, and radar capable of quickly detecting and reacting to modern air warfare and ballistic missile defense threats. 

Built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, Daniel Inouye was christened June 22, 2019, and delivered to the Navy on March 8, 2021. USS Daniel Inouye’s homeport is Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. 

The ceremony will be livestreamed at: https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/27385. The link becomes active approximately 10 minutes before the event (9:50 a.m. HST). 

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division officially started fabrication Dec. 6 of the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131), the company said in a release. 

“Start of fabrication is our first opportunity to formally celebrate and reflect on our contributions as shipbuilders,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. “We are very proud of what we do here for the country and endeavor to do our part in building and activating what will be the newest Flight III destroyer.” 

Ingalls has delivered 33 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction include Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129). 

The new destroyer’s name honors a Korean War veteran, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while attempting to rescue a fellow service member. Neal volunteered as crewman to fly in a helicopter deep into North Korean mountains to attempt the rescue of a Marine aviator who had been shot down and was trapped by the enemy. During the rescue attempt, under heavy enemy fire, Neal’s helicopter was disabled and crashed. He assisted his pilot and the rescued aviator in evading enemy forces for nine days before being captured and held as a prisoner of war. Neal was eventually released and returned to the U.S. with more than 320 fellow POWs in 1952. 

RESTON, Va. — CACI International Inc. has been awarded a five-year $80.5 million task order supporting the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s multiple-award contract, the company said in a release. 

CACI will provide advanced engineering research, analysis, and development of mission technology to enhance the capabilities of aircraft mission systems for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems. 

“Backed by the world’s largest threat signals library and more than 1,200 systems deployed globally, CACI offers technology for any C-UAS challenge or mission,” said John Mengucci, CACI president and CEO. “Working with the Navy, we will continue to provide the most advanced capabilities to detect, track and defeat emerging threats to our national security, protecting people and places in any environment.” 

The task order will modernize components and systems on both manned and unmanned platforms — including the EP-3E, P-8A, MQ-8, and MQ-25 UAS — for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. CACI will develop next-generation technology for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and electronic warfare mission systems, and survivability systems while providing all aspects of logistical support required to meet operational demands.