By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s fiscal 2025 budget request proposes only six battle force ships, which, combined with planned ship retirements, would reduce the size of the battle force from 296 ships to…
Navy Reserve Receives Its First P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The first Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for the Navy Reserve has been delivered to Patrol Squadron 62 (VP-62). In March 6 ceremonies at the Boeing Military Delivery Facility in…
Navy Opens Second Triton UAV Forward Deployment Site
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy squadron that operates the MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle has opened its second deployment site, with this one located at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, Sicily. During…
STRATCOM Commander Affirms Need for Sea-Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va.—The operational commander of the nation’s nuclear arsenal has reiterated to Congress the requirement for a sea-based nuclear-tipped cruise missile. Testifying Feb. 29 before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Air force General Anthony…
Raven Warns of CR Impact on Navy Department Budget
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The Department of the Navy (DON) is facing a reduction of $12 billion of buying power if the Defense Department has to operate through fiscal 2024 under a continuing resolution (CR)…
SURFACE WARFARE: The Nucleus of American Naval Power
By Bryan McGrath The U.S. Navy is too small for what is asked of it, and what is asked of it is insufficient to meet the nation’s needs. We have too few ships, submarines, aircraft, aircraft carriers, people, sensors, weapons…
Houthi Explosive USV Detonated in Red Sea Attack
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va.—An uncrewed surface vessel (USV) was detonated in the international shipping lanes Jan. 4 in the latest attack launched from Yemen by Houthi rebels. “Fortunately, there were no casualties, and no ships were…
Coast Guard Upgrades Two Detachments to Full Bases
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The Coast Guard has upgraded two of its land-based detachments stations to full bases, according to two Coast Guard directives. The Coast Guard’s Operational Logistics Command formally established Base St. Louis,…
Stand-off Offensive Sea Mine Capability Needed, Former Vice Chairman Said
***** By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor WASHINGTON — The United States needs a more capable and expanded offensive sea mine capability in order to deter China and defend Taiwan, said a retired former admiral who served as vice chairman…
Coast Guard to SLEP, Expand MH-60T Helicopter Fleet as Sikorsky Delivers First New Airframe
***** By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va.—The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed plans to expand is MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter fleet and make it the standard service-wide helicopter. The service life-extension of the current MH-60T fleet is being highlighted…
