ARLINGTO, Va. — The U.S. Navy has issued a Request for Information for concepts for an attritable unmanned mother ship to “cost-effectively deliver large numbers of UxVs (unmanned systems) to forward locations in a contested environment,” the published notice of the request said. 

The Attritable UxV Mother Ship (AUMS) Program stressed in the Oct. 31 announcement that the ship should cost as minimal as possible so that loss of such a ship would be acceptable. 

The program office also said the AUMS concept “should explore modular open system approaches to have the ability to quickly insert the latest technology into a midlife upgrade.” 

The RFI listed the following operational parameters for the AUMS: 

• Open-ocean transit distance of 1,500 nautical miles (may vary from 1,000 to 2,000 depending on cost) 
• Top speed from 12 to 20 knots 
• Survivability in Sea State 5; full mission capability in Sea State 4 
• Five days of operation without onboard human intervention 
• Support of a 20-foot container (either towed or onboard, with capability to push it over the side); upon drop off, the container will be self-sustaining 
• Be unmanned, capable of navigating via waypoints with GPS  
• Have Over-the-Horizon and Line of Site Communications. 
• Feature capability for resistance to boarding and tampering  
• Self-scuttling capability upon remote order 
• System will only traverse in the open ocean, will never operate less than three nautical miles from any shoreline untended. 
• Minimum service of the vessel would be five years, with longer service life desired if obtainable for a small cost increase 

Government furnished equipment initially would include the command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) suite and a modularized 20-foot ISO container with UxVs. 

The Navy is aiming to award a design and construction by mid-2026, with delivery of the first AUMS withing 24 months of contract award. 

The RFI was issued by the Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office of the Program Executive Office (PEO) Unmanned and Small Combatants (USC). Responses must be received by Dec. 15.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division hosted a keel authentication ceremony Nov. 19 for Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800), the company said in a release. 

The ship’s sponsors are the six women of the historic group known as the Little Rock Nine, the first African American students to attend all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas during desegregation. NNS honored all nine members, including the three men, during Saturday’s ceremony. 

The Little Rock Nine made history in 1957 with their response to the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Faced with shouting mobs, threats of violence and hostile state leaders who blocked their way, the teenagers were escorted into the school by federal troops at the direction of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

“Their courageous spirit will forever inspire Arkansas and her crew. This group forever changed our nation’s history and their submarine will help ensure their legacy continues,” NNS President Jennifer Boykin said. “The bravery and resilience of the Little Rock Nine sparked a fire of change and demonstrated the strength of blending different perspectives and backgrounds. We harness this strength in the shipyard every day. Our diversity allows us to extend beyond our own limits, to reach new heights and build each boat even better than the one before it. Arkansas will be proof of this power.” 

During the ceremony, NNS welders etched a historic six sets of initials of the Little Rock Nine onto metal plates, signifying the keel of SSN 800 as being “truly and fairly laid.” The metal plates will remain affixed to the submarine throughout its life. 

“(Former Navy) Secretary Ray Mabus asked us to be supporters of the ship and its crew. I signed on to be a foster grandmother,” said Elizabeth Eckford, a member of the Little Rock Nine, who spoke on behalf of the group during the ceremony. “President Eisenhower sent 1,000 paratroopers to Little Rock to disperse a mob, bring order and they made it possible for us to enter Central High School. From that point, I’ve had very high regard for specially trained forces.” 

Arkansas is the 27th Virginia-class fast attack submarine being built under the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat. 

“With advances in sound silencing, acoustic sensors and weapons delivery systems, Arkansas will traverse the world’s oceans and seas as an apex predator. Representing our asymmetric advantage in the undersea domain, the Arkansas will have no equal,” said Vice Adm. William Houston, commander, Naval Submarine Forces. 

“It is an incredible honor for the crew to begin to establish the relationship with our namesake state of Arkansas as well as with the ship’s sponsors,” said Cmdr. Adam Kahnke, commanding officer of the pre-commissioning unit. “The story of the Little Rock Nine demonstrates the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. I find the relationship with the ship’s sponsors very appropriate due to the fact that perseverance is an essential attribute to success in the art of submarine warfare.”   

NNS is one of only two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines. The advanced capabilities of Virginia-class submarines increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth. 

This milestone on Arkansas comes following the delivery of USS Montana (SSN 794), the launch of New Jersey (SSN 796) and continued progress on Massachusetts (SSN 798) at NNS earlier in 2022, as the shipyard continues to invest in its workforce and facilities to make steady progress on delivering these important assets to the Navy.

MANAMA, Bahrain — Senior U.S. government officials from the Department of Defense and Department of State visited U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, Nov. 18, to learn about the ongoing integration of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence across the fleet, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs said in a release. 
 
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl visited with Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara A. Leaf and Dana Stroul, the deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, as well as other U.S. officials. 
 
U.S. 5th Fleet’s unmanned systems and artificial intelligence task force, Task Force 59, displayed unmanned surface vessels on the pier after a tour of the Robotics Operations Center. 
 
“The pace of technological change offers tremendous opportunities for upgrading how the U.S. military contributes to security and stability in the Middle East, and how we advance cooperation with partners,” said Dr. Kahl. “Task Force 59 is doing incredible work innovating and leading coalitions that ensure freedom of navigation in some of the world’s most critical waterways.” 
 
In addition, the group toured RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009), a British Royal Navy vessel stationed in Bahrain in support of the United Kingdom’s regional naval headquarters. Royal Navy headquarters in the Middle East are co-located with U.S. 5th Fleet’s, reflecting strong collaboration among longstanding maritime partners. 
 
The interagency delegation also visited U.S. 5th Fleet’s headquarters for discussions on regional maritime operations with Vice Adm. Brad Cooper and his staff. Cooper commands U.S. 5th Fleet as well as two major multinational maritime partnerships, which include the Combined Maritime Forces and International Maritime Security Construct. 
 
The U.S. 5th Fleet operating area includes 21 countries, the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb and Suez Canal. 

MIAMI — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Northland (WMEC 904) offloaded approximately 5,363 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $101 million in Port Everglades, Nov. 18, along with 11 suspected smugglers who were apprehended to face prosecution in federal court by the Department of Justice, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. 

The drugs were interdicted, during five separate cases, in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea by crews from: 

• Royal Netherlands Navy Ship HNLMS Holland (P840), embarked USCG Law Enforcement Detachment 408 and a USCG Helicopter Interdiction Squadron helicopter  
• U.S. Navy ships USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) and USS Wichita (LCS 13), and embarked USCG Law Enforcement Detachments 104 and 107  
• USCGC Valiant (WMEC 621)  
• USCGC Venturous (WMEC 625) and embarked USCG Helicopter Interdiction Squadron helicopter  

“We are proud of the drug seizures the crews of our sister ships recently completed. We are honored to share a role in helping remove narcotics from U.S. streets and delivering justice to those attempting to bring illicit substances to U.S. shores,” said Cmdr. Andrew Dennelly, commanding officer of Northland. “We are always ready to protect those on the sea, protect America from threats delivered by the sea, and protect the sea itself.” 

Northland’s 57-day patrol of the Windward Passage, Old Bahama Channel and South Florida Straits primarily focused on deterring dangerous and irregular maritime migration. 

Initially, a suspect vessel is detected and monitored by allied, military or law enforcement personnel coordinated by Joint Interagency Task Force-South based in Key West. Once an interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard during throughout this phase. Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, headquartered in Miami. 

Northland is a 270-foot Famous-class medium-endurance cutter. The cutters primary missions include law enforcement, search and rescue, drug interdiction, fisheries enforcement, migrant interdiction, homeland security and defense operations and international training. Northland patrols the offshore waters from Maine to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Valiant (WMEC 621) returned to their homeport at Naval Station Mayport Nov. 7, 2022, following a 35-day Caribbean Sea patrol, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area said in a Nov. 7 release.  

While underway in the Coast Guard Seventh District’s area of operations and in support of Joint Interagency Task Force – South, Valiant conducted counterdrug and migrant interdiction operations.  

Within the first week of patrol, Valiant’s crew boarded a vessel suspected of carrying illegal narcotics and seized just under 900 pounds of cocaine worth approximately $8 million. 

Valiant’s crew also patrolled off the coast of Haiti as a deterrent to dangerous and irregular maritime migration events occurring because of continued instability in the country. 

Prior to patrol, Valiant completed a 7-month dry-dock period in Tampa where the 55-year-old cutter completed extensive maintenance and preservation work.  

“The past eight months have certainly been very busy for Valiant’s crew, and we are glad to finally be back in Jacksonville,” said Cmdr. Jacob McMillan, commanding officer of Valiant. “The crew’s remarkable ability to quickly transition from maintenance to operations has been impressive. I’m very proud of the crew and I’m honored to be serving at sea with them.”  

Valiant is a multi-mission, 210-foot medium-endurance cutter. Its primary missions include search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, homeland security and national defense operations.  

MONS, Belgium — Five Allied aircraft carriers will be operating in the Atlantic Ocean and the North and Mediterranean Seas in November, as part of their regularly scheduled activities, SHAPE Public Affairs said in a Nov. 17 release. 

This occurrence presents an opportunity for Allied nations to coordinate credible combat power throughout the Euro-Atlantic Area and showcases NATO cohesion and interoperability. 

Participating forces comprise the Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) formed in support of the French Navy Charles De Gaulle, the Italian Navy ITS Cavour, the United Kingdom Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth and the United States Navy’s George H.W. Bush and Gerald R. Ford. 

Although each nation’s forces are operating in support of their own mission objectives, the advanced cooperation shows unity towards the collective defence of the Alliance. Ships and assets from various allies and partners are included in the groups, and the activity is coordinated with the Standing NATO Maritime Groups 1 and 2. 

“NATO routinely demonstrates its cohesion, coordinating with multiple international maritime assets at once,” said Commander, NATO Allied Maritime Command Vice Adm. Keith Blount. “This opportunity demonstrates our ironclad commitment to the stability and security of the Euro-Atlantic Area and the strength of our collective capability.” 

“Five carriers within our operating area presents a further opportunity to consolidate our approach to air defense, cross-domain cooperation and maritime-land integration,” he said. 

There is a continuous presence of Allied aircraft carriers around the NATO area of operations, and it is common for multiple CSGs to be deployed simultaneously. The multi-carrier deployment is an opportunity to test the cooperation and practice NATO’s Deter and Defend concept as it leverages a deliberate rhythm of military activity across all geographic areas of the Alliance, as well as across all operational domains and functional areas. 

Allied maritime forces and NATO Maritime Groups regularly patrol the waters around Europe to assure Allies of the maritime commitment to collective defense. 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the next generation landing craft, Ship to Shore Connector (SSC), Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 106 on Nov. 17, Team Ships Public Affairs said in a release. 

LCAC 106’s delivery follows the completion of Acceptance Trials with the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey to test the readiness and capability of the craft and to validate requirements. 

“We are excited to deliver this next generation craft to the Navy and Marine Corps team,” said Capt. Jason Grabelle, program manager, Amphibious Assault and Connectors Programs, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. ”LCACs are providing our Navy and partners with the speed and agility essential to our missions.” 

LCACs are built with similar configurations, dimensions and clearances to the legacy LCAC, ensuring the compatibility of this next-generation air cushion vehicle with existing well deck-equipped amphibious ships. 

The LCAC program is in serial production, with an additional 11 craft currently being built at Textron Systems. 

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew departed Seattle Nov. 16 and is in transit to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, the Coast Guard Pacific Area said in a Nov. 17 release.   

Operation Deep Freeze is an annual joint military mission to resupply the United States Antarctic stations in support of the National Science Foundation, the lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program. This marks the 26th year for the Polar Star to render support. 

Each year, the Polar Star crew breaks a navigable channel through ice, sometimes as much as 21-feet thick, to allow fuel and supply ships to reach McMurdo Station, which is the largest Antarctic station and the logistics hub of the U.S. Antarctic Program. 

“This is a unique and important mission that the Coast Guard undertakes each year,” said Capt. Keith Ropella, commanding officer of the Polar Star. “It takes a special crew to make the 20,000 nautical mile round trip through some of the most remote locations and arduous conditions on the planet to get the job done, and perhaps more significantly, to prepare this 46-year-old cutter for the challenge. I am overwhelmed and immensely proud of the tireless work this crew and our shore side support partners have done since returning from the last Operation Deep Freeze back in April to get us ready to go, and I am incredibly excited to make this once in a lifetime journey with them.” 

The U.S. Coast Guard is recapitalizing its polar icebreaker fleet to ensure continued access to the Polar regions, project U.S. sovereignty and protect the country’s economic, environmental and national security interests.   

“As the Nation’s most active and visible maritime presence in the high latitudes, the Coast Guard maintains a vital leadership role in Antarctica and deeply values its relationship as a trusted partner to the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program,” said Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, commander Coast Guard Pacific Area. “Polar Star’s continued support of Operation Deep Freeze exemplifies the Coast Guard’s unique blend of operational capability, regulatory authority and strategic leadership in the polar regions. It is an honor to ensure uninhibited access to the region, and join together with our international allies and Department of Defense sister services to support essential scientific research and the preservation of a safe, secure and cooperative environment on the Antarctic continent.” 

Through Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. Coast Guard provides direct logistical support to the National Science Foundation and maintains a regional presence that preserves Antarctica as a scientific refuge.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Boeing is executing a series of executive leadership changes and reorganizations aimed at accelerating operational discipline, first-time quality and performance while streamlining senior leadership roles and responsibilities, the company announced in a Nov. 17 release. 

Effective immediately, Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) will consolidate its eight divisions into four, including: 

• Vertical Lift, led by Vice President and General Manager Mark Cherry. 
• Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers, led by Vice President and General Manager Dan Gillian, which will include KC-46, SAOC, E-7, VC-25B, P-8, Bombers, AWACS/AEW&C, 777X components and all executive transport programs. 
• Air Dominance, led by Vice President and General Manager Steve Nordlund, which will include classified programs; the F/A-18, F-15, T-7, MQ-25 and MQ-28 programs; and the non-space Phantom Works portfolio, including the Virtual Warfare Centers. Steve will also become the senior site executive for the St. Louis region. 
• Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems, led by Vice President and General Manager Kay Sears, which will include space exploration and launch programs, satellites, munitions, missiles, weapon system deterrents, maritime undersea, Phantom Works Space and subsidiaries (BI&A, Millennium, Insitu, Liquid Robotics, Spectrolab, Argon and DRT). Between now and Feb. 4, 2023, Jim Chilton, senior vice president for Space and Launch, will continue to manage space exploration and launch programs, satellites and Phantom Works Space. On Feb. 5, 2023, Chilton will become a senior advisor to Ted Colbert, president and chief executive officer of BDS, focusing on future space ventures. 

These changes build upon a consolidation of Manufacturing and Safety, Total Quality, Supply Chain and Program Management, and the appointment of Steve Parker as BDS chief operating officer. 

“I am confident this reorganization will drive greater and more simplified integration and collaboration across Boeing Defense, Space & Security,” said Colbert. “These changes will help accelerate operational discipline and program quality and performance, while stabilizing our development and production programs. These are necessary steps to put BDS on the path to stronger, profitable growth.” 

Additionally, Tim Peters, currently vice president and general manager of Mobility and Surveillance, and Cindy Gruensfelder, currently vice president and general manager of Missile and Weapon Systems, will be retiring after assisting with the transitions. 

“Over the past three decades, Tim and Cindy have played an integral role in delivering critical capabilities for our customers and developing top talent across the enterprise,” Colbert said. “The Boeing Executive Council and I are grateful for their leadership and years of service.” 

Coinciding with these changes, Boeing Global Services (BGS) will integrate all government services — domestic and international — into one organization, led by Torbjorn (Turbo) Sjogren, vice president and general manager of BGS Government Services.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), lead ship of its three-ship class, completed a short deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean on Nov. 11, marking the first operational employment the class as part of the fleet integration process. 

The Zumwalt, which departed Naval Station San Diego on Aug. 1, operated in the U.S. 3rd Fleet and U.S. 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. The deployment involved a wide variety of training, testing and evaluation of operational concepts, fleet integration, crew size and ship systems, said Capt. Shea Thompson, commodore of Surface Development Squadron One, and Capt. Amy McInnis, commanding officer of USS Zumwalt, in a Nov. 16 media roundtable. 

The deployment, which concentrated on fleet integration, was termed “very successful” by Thompson who called it an important milestone for the DDG 1000 class and for the Navy” and that it marked “significant strides in learning how to employ, integrate and sustain Zumwalt as she operated forward” and a “significant step forward for the future of this class.” 

During the deployment, the Zumwalt operated and trained in joint simulated fires training with a Japanese destroyer and a U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber; mine countermeasures proof of concept work with a forward-deployed explosive ordnance detachment; operations with fleet maritime operations centers, and the staff of the 7th Fleet’s Task Force 71; and operations with U.S. Army aviation. The ship also conducted expeditionary maintenance in Pearl Harbor — a location outside of home port — with contractor maintenance support, which Thompson said was by design for the Zumwalt class.  

McInnis, who joined the crew as executive officer in January 2020 and fleeted up to command of the ship in November 2021, said that during a year of work-ups with the crew of 171 the ship practiced integrated and advanced scenarios, as well as radar, acoustic, thermal and magnetic signature testing.  

She said the ship did not carry a helicopter detachment during the deployment but did carry two rigid-hull inflatable boats for mine countermeasures exercises. 

Thompson said the Zumwalt exercised all of its mission areas typical for a DDG. He also said the ship took advantage of the deployment for testing and assessment of signature management, about which he was not at liberty to detail because of classification.   

“We expect to capitalize on those lessons learned as we continue to employ the ship forward and integrate that platform into fleet operations and exercises,” Thompson said. 

Thompson said that in his assessment, Zumwalt achieved Initial Operational Capability “today.” 

The commodore said the Zumwalt had no direct interaction with Chinese navy ships during the deployment. 

The Zumwalt will be modified during 2024-2025 with Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile launchers for its primary strike mission, he said.