ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has been selected to lead the Defense Department’s new Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), the Pentagon said in an Aug. 14 release. “On Aug. 4, 2020, Deputy Secretary of Defense David L. Norquist approved the establishment of…
Boeing Inducts 20th U.S. Navy F/A-18 Into Service Life Modification
ST. LOUIS — Boeing has inducted its 20th F/A-18 Super Hornet into service life modification (SLM), supporting U.S. Navy readiness needs for mission-capable aircraft, the company said in an Aug. 17 release. Two SLM jets already have been returned to the Navy. Initially, SLM will extend…
BAE to Build Prototype for New, Innovative Wargaming Center for Marine Corps
MCLEAN, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth about $19 million to develop a prototype design for a new state-of-the-art wargaming center to be built at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, the company said in an Aug. 13 release. …
Coast Guard Announces Offshore Patrol Cutter Homeport
WASHINGTON — Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, will be home to future offshore patrol cutters, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters announced Aug. 12. “I am excited to announce the homeporting of two offshore patrol cutters at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island,” Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Karl L. Schultz said….
Coast Guard Interdicts, Repatriates 18 Migrants to Dominican Republic
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard repatriated 18 migrants to the Dominican Republic between Aug. 8 and Aug. 11, following the interdiction of an illegal migrant voyage off the coast of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, the Coast Guard 7th…
Navy Awards BAE Systems Contract to Modernize Two DDGs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — BAE Systems has received an $83.5 million contract from the U.S. Navy to modernize the guided-missile destroyers USS Carney and USS Winston S. Churchill, the company said in an Aug. 11 release. The modernization work will be performed…
Coalition Task Force Sentinel Moves to New HQ in Bahrain
BAHRAIN — The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 6 on board Naval Support Activity Bahrain to formally open the new operational headquarters for Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel, the command said in a release. The new and improved…
Ike Carrier Strike Group Returns From Deployment
NORFOLK, Va. — The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group returned home to Norfolk Naval Station on Aug. 9 after seven months operating in 5th and 6th Fleet, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, said in a release. Returning ships include the Nimitz-class carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Ticonderoga-class…
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Union Reach Deal
RESTON, Va. — General Dynamics announced Aug. 8 that the negotiating teams from Bath Iron Works and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local S6 reached agreement on mutually acceptable terms to end the ongoing strike by shipyard…
Littoral Combat Ship USS St. Louis Joins the Fleet
MAYPORT, Fla. — The U.S. Navy commissioned the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis on Aug. 8, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 2 said in a release. Due to public health safety concerns and restrictions of large public gatherings related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Navy…
