By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has retired its last EP-3E Aries II electronic reconnaissance aircraft after the type’s 45 years of service to the fleet. In an informal Feb. 12, 2025, ceremony, at Naval…
Marine Corps Updates F-35 Procurement, Transition Plan
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps has adjusted its procurement and transition plan for its F-35 Lightning II strike fighter fleet. While the overall program of record remains at 420 F-35s, the balance…
Lockheed Martin Offers Mk70 Launcher to Increase Lethality of LCS
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — Lockheed Martin has adapted its Mk41 vertical missile launcher into a scalable containerized system than can be deployed on U.S. Navy ships, including the littoral combat ships (LCS) and non-traditional platforms…
Amphibious Coalition Forecasts Benefits of Multi-Ship Amphib Ship Buy
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The industry association for suppliers for the builder of U.S. Navy’s amphibious warfare fleet sees immediate benefits this year and the next one for its member companies, the association’s survey said. …
Lawmakers Introduce SHIPS Act to Revitalize Shipbuilding, Commercial Maritime Industries
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Representatives on Dec. 19 introduced introduced the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act, comprehensive legislation to revitalize the United States shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries. The SHIPS…
Ready to Dive: ROV Pioneer Shares Seafaring Stories in New Book
Curt Newport spent his career as a member of an elite club — as an underwater salvage expert, he has participated in more than 150 undersea operations, ranging from the recovery of astronaut Gus Grissom’s Liberty Bell 7 suborbital spacecraft…
Flag Officer Announcements
Nov. 14, 2024 Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations: Navy Capt. Erin E. O. Acosta for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Acosta is currently serving as…
Paws for Effect: Support Pup Sage is Popular on USS Gerald R. Ford
Captain Rick “Powder” Burgess took command of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) just eight days before it was to sail on its first full-length combat deployment. In putting the new ship through its paces he would…
Operational Commitments Delay VQ-1’s Sundown Homecoming Ceremony
By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor Oct. 8, 2024 ARINGTON, Va. — A planned homecoming ceremony for two U.S. Navy EP-3E electronic reconnaissance aircraft and their crews today has been postponed because of the Navy’s current operational commitments. According to…
Rebuilding a Skilled Workforce, Full Speed Ahead
If you’ve transitioned out of the sea services, you may struggle to chart a course for your future. The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program allows veterans to retrain or uptrain for jobs with military suppliers. This accelerated training…
