ARLINGTON, Va. — The fielding of the RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial system achieved full operational capability in 2019, Navy’s program manager said. Col. John Neville, the Blackjack’s program manager for the Program Executive Office-Unmanned and Strike Weapons, told Seapower at…
The Fighting Marlins Return: The Navy’s Last Active-Duty P-3 Squadron Completes Its Final Deployment
On Oct. 10, 2019, the last of nine P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron 40 (VP-40) returned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, after more than six months deployed to the other side of the world….
Alternative Ships for the Future Fight: Commandant, Others Call for More and Different Classes of Ships for ‘Great Power’ Showdown
The growing military capabilities and escalating belligerence of China, Russia and Iran are increasing the possibility that the U.S. Navy’s unarmed and thin-skinned support and supply ships — and even U.S. commercial cargo vessels — could face hostile action for…
Expanding Partnership Shields Shipping in Critical Persian Gulf Region
The Persian Gulf is one of the most important commercial shipping regions in the world — and also one of the most fraught with danger for shippers in recent years. While most people think of the U.S. Navy alone in…
In and Out on Time: Navy Tackles Maintenance Backlog With New Initiatives in Contracting and at Shipyards
The U.S. Navy is taking some new initiatives to sustain the ships of its busy fleet, including additional oversight, new contracting strategies, shipyard workload stability and capital investment in shipyard infrastructure. The initiatives are focused on getting ships and submarines…
Smooth Sailing for the Columbia Class?: Navy Working to Keep Sub on Track for 2028 Delivery
At well north of $100 billion for 12 vessels, the Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine will be the most expensive new undertaking for the U.S Navy since the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier program. And everyone is hoping development and production goes…
Ensuring Friendship, Cooperation and a Shared Doctrine: U.S Southern Command Checks in With Central, South American Partners
A delegation from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) embarked on a three-nation, 10-day tour in South America at the end of August, traveling along Brazil’s coast for multi-nation military exercises, then cutting across the continent to observe military training in Paraguay…
Alerts Sound on Maritime Logistics: Several Experts See Seriously Lacking Sealift Capability
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are aggressively changing course and refocusing their resources and training to prepare the fleet and expeditionary forces for a “Great Power Competition” with China and Russia. But a growing number of Navy officers and…
Osprey’s Readiness Struggles: 4 Out of 10 MV-22s Aren’t Available for Combat — But Initiatives Are Underway to Improve the Unique Aircraft’s Dependability
Ever since the V-22 Osprey entered service for the first time in 2007 — nearly two decades after its first flight — the tilt-rotor aircraft has been in heavy use by the U.S. Marine Corps and has seen action in…
Latent Lethality: Offensive Mine Warfare Sees Renewed Focus in Era of ‘Great Power Competition’
The focus of the U.S. Navy’s efforts in mine warfare over the last two decades has been mine countermeasures (MCM) — locating and neutralizing hostile mines. New airborne systems such as the Airborne Laser Mine-Detection System and the Airborne Mine…