MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Marine Corps Systems Command’s program manager for infantry weapons (PM IW) has begun a modernization project to increase the lethality of the infantry squad, the command said in a release. PM IW strives to equip and sustain the…
Coast Guard Repatriates 5 of 9 Migrants Following Interdiction in the Mona Passage
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bernard Webber, working alongside their Caribbean Border Interagency Group partners on the night of May 12, interdicted an illegal migrant voyage in the Mona Passage off Puerto Rico,…
Coast Guard Cutter Diligence Will Change Homeport to Pensacola
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Diligence will shift homeport from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Pensacola, Florida, on May 25, the Coast Guard 5th District said in a release. “Diligence is scheduled to depart the city of Wilmington on [May 25] to conduct…
Navy Launches Newest Yard Tug
ANACORTES, Wash. — The U.S. Navy’s first Yard Tug (YT) 808-class vessel was successfully launched at Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) shipyard on May 16, the Program Executive Office-Ships (PEO-Ships) said in a release. The YT 808 vessels are designed after the Navy’s existing YT 802 Valiant-class tugs and built…
Navy Awards General Atomics Sustainment Contract for Ford-Class Launch, Landing Systems
SAN DIEGO — Naval Air Systems Command has awarded General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems a contract for engineering and logistics sustainment of Gerald R. Ford-class Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) systems, the company announced May 18. General Atomics will provide engineering, technical, configuration management and…
Meggitt Wins Marine Corps Contract for More Wireless Virtual Weapons
SUWANEE, Ga. — Meggitt Training Systems has been awarded a $2.6 million contract for additional BlueFire wireless virtual weapons to be used by the U.S. Marine Corps on its Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer (ISMT), also delivered by the company as a…
VAW-120 Completes First Fleet Hawkeye-F/A-18 Aerial Refueling
NORFOLK, Va. — The “Greyhawks” of Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 120 successfully conducted on May 11 the first fleet aerial refueling dry-plug certification between an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and an F/A-18F Super Hornet, according to a release from commander, Naval…
Yard Patrol 686 Craft Completes Service Life Extension
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Navy recently completed a service life extension program (SLEP) on Yard Patrol 686 and returned the modernized craft to the U.S. Naval Academy on May 14, according to the Navy’s Program Executive Office-Ships (PEO-Ships). The SLEP for the vessel began in August 2019 and was executed in partnership with the…
Hospital Ship Mercy Bids Farewell to Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — The hospital ship USNS Mercy left Los Angeles on May 15 after supporting COVID-19 response operations in the greater Los Angeles area, the U.S. Northern Command said in a release. “We came to Los Angeles to be the relief valve for local hospitals in…
Boeing Delivers 100th P-8A Poseidon Built for the U.S. Navy
SEATTLE — The U.S. Navy received its 100th P-8A aircraft from Boeing on May 14 as the global fleet, which also includes the Indian navy and the Australian and U.K. air forces, approaches 300,000 flight hours of hunting submarines and…


