MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. — The CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter now equips an operational Marine heavy helicopter squadron, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing said Jan. 25. A Jan. 24 ceremony at New River marked the transition…
Turkish frigate serving as flagship for NATO Operation Sea Guardian in Mediterranean
MEDITERRANEAN SEA — NATO is continuing its Operation Sea Guardian with its first focused patrol for 2022. Turkish frigate TCG Barbaros is currently deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and is serving as flagship for NATO’s current OSG focused patrol….
Canadian Coast Guard Conducts Sea Trials of V-BAT UAS
OTTAWA, Ontario — Kongsberg Geospatial has successfully conducted sea trials of the Shield AI V-BAT unmanned aerial system on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, operating from a small cargo vessel far offshore in international waters, Kongsberg announced Jan. 25. The…
Navy Delayed Announcement of First MQ-8C Deployment Five Weeks
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has deployed the MQ-8C version of its Fire Scout unmanned helicopter for the first time but waited five weeks to make the announcement. An MQ-8C, built by Northrop Grumman, was deployed operationally on Dec. 14…
Pilot Ejects as F-35C Lightning II has Landing Mishap on USS Carl Vinson
ARLINGTON, Va. — An F-35C Lightning II suffered a landing mishap Jan. 24 on the flight deck of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) while the carrier was conducting routine flight operations in the South China Sea, the U.S Pacific Fleet…
U.S. Navy Interdicts Stateless Vessel Previously Caught Smuggling Weapons
MANAMA, Bahrain – On Jan. 18, U.S. 5th Fleet ships interdicted a stateless fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman that was caught smuggling illicit weapons off the coast of Somalia last year, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S….
Navy’s Newest Fire Scout UAV Version Apparently on First Deployment
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has not officially announced it yet, but its newest version of the Navy’s Fire Scout unmanned helicopter — the MQ-8C — apparently is on its first deployment, according to Navy photographs. An MQ-8C Fire…
USS George Washington Next Carrier in Line for F-35C Capability
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s next aircraft carrier to receive modifications to operate the F-35C Lightning II strike fighter is the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), according to a Navy official. USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)…
7th Fleet Destroyer Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation in South China Sea
YOKOSUKA, Japan — On Jan. 20, USS Benfold (DDG 65) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law. At the conclusion of the operation, USS Benfold exited the excessive claim and continued…
CNO Visits Stennis Space Center
STENNIS, Miss. — Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday and Vice Adm. Jeffrey Trussler, the deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare and director of naval intelligence, visited Navy commands at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, Jan. 20, the…
