Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to deploy
Release from the U.S. Navy Office of Information
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The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group will depart on a regularly scheduled deployment, Oct. 13.
The flagship aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) are scheduled to depart from Naval Station Norfolk. USS Mason (DDG 87) will depart from Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
Along with the surface ships, the IKECSG is comprised of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2 staff, the squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 staff and the Information Warfare Commander. In total, the strike group is a force of more than 5,000 Sailors, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe.
Squadrons of CVW-3 include the “Gunslingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, the “Fighting Swordsmen” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, the “Rampagers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, the “Wildcats” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, the “Screwtops” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, the “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, the “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7, the “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 and the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.
HII is Awarded $347 Million U.S. Navy Lionfish Small UUV Contract
Contract includes initial build of nine UUVs with potential for up to 200
MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that its Mission Technologies division was awarded a contract to build nine small unmanned undersea vehicles (SUUV) for the U.S. Navy’s Lionfish System program. The contract has the potential to grow to as many as 200 vehicles over the next five years with a total value of more than $347 million.
The Lionfish System, based on HII’s REMUS 300, is a highly portable, two-person SUUV with an open architecture design and versatile payload options. In early 2022, REMUS 300 was chosen as the Navy’s official program of record for the next-generation SUUV.
Administered by Naval Sea Systems Command, this contract provides for the delivery and support of the Navy’s next generation SUUVs, as well as afloat and auxiliary support equipment and engineering services. The vehicles, incorporating the latest in autonomous and unmanned technology, will conduct critical undersea missions for the Navy.
“Lionfish provides increased capability and interoperability that aligns with the Navy’s undersea priorities, and we look forward to delivering next-generation vehicles that can readily adapt to and support a variety of mission needs,” said Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of Mission Technologies.
“We are pleased with the Navy’s decision to support a combat-proven technology, essential to the Navy’s undersea mission,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of Mission Technologies’ Unmanned Systems business group. “Our team is committed to delivering fully capable vehicles that will enhance the effectiveness of the warfighter against emerging threats.”
The Lionfish System was developed through an innovative process with the Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit and the Navy that incorporated feedback from multiple user groups to uniquely meet the needs of the warfighters.
HII is the largest producer of unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV) worldwide. Serving customers in more than 30 countries, HII provides design, autonomy, manufacturing, testing, operations and sustainment of unmanned systems, including UUVs and unmanned surface vessels (USV).
Navy Hospital Ship Departs for Pacific Partnership 2024-1
San Diego (Oct. 11, 2023) – The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) departed San Diego, marking the beginning of Pacific Partnership 2024-1, Oct. 10.
The U.S. Navy will join allied and partner nation forces for the 19th iteration of Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multilateral disaster response preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific region. This annual maritime humanitarian and civic assistance mission focuses on improving disaster response preparedness, resiliency and capacity while enhancing partnerships with participating nations and civilian humanitarian organizations throughout the region.
For this year’s mission, medical and dental practitioners will be embarked on the 1,000-bed hospital ship. Aboard the Mercy, a combined 800 military and civilian personnel will support the multi-month mission led by U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Quin, PP24-1 mission commander, and Rear Adm. Mark A. Melson, PP24-1 executive agent under U.S. Pacific Fleet, and commander, Task Force 73.
“The Pacific Partnership mission teams work collectively each year with host and partner nations to strengthen existing regional interoperability, and increase disaster-response-capacity,” said Melson. “I am honored to be part of this year’s mission because this annual mission helps increase security and stability in the region, while fostering new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Pacific Partnership mission team aboard the Mercy will make stops in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Experts in the fields of engineering, medicine and disaster response will partner with each host to conduct civic-action projects, community health exchanges, medical symposiums, and disaster response training activities.
“This mission reflects the continued commitment to the region and dedication to disaster-response-readiness from the United States, our partners and allies, and the host nations,” said Quin.
Engagements between Pacific Partnership participants and host nations ensure the international community is better prepared to function together when responding to a disaster emergency by increasing capacity, enhancing regional partnerships, and increasing multilateral cooperation for disaster preparedness.
The Pacific Partnership began in response to one of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters, the December 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia. The mission has evolved over the years from emphasis on direct care to an operation focused on enhancing partnerships through host nation subject matter expert and civil-military exchanges.
TAMPA, FLORIDA (Oct. 7, 2023) – Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jack H Lucas (DDG 125) was commissioned at Tampa, Florida, Oct. 7.
DDG 125 is named for Pfc. Jack Lucas, who served in the U.S. Marines during World War II, earning the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Iwo Jima, when he was just 17 years old. He is the youngest Marine, and the youngest service member in World War II, to be awarded the United States’ highest military decoration for valor. In 1961, he returned to military service as a captain in the U.S. Army and trained younger troops headed for Vietnam. Lucas passed away on June 5, 2008, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
During the ceremony, guest speaker Under Secretary of the Navy, The Honorable Erik Raven wished the crew of Jack H Lucas fair winds and following seas as the ship begins its commissioned service.
“Commissioning the Jack H. Lucas means we continue to deliver fast, agile, and networked surface combatants to the Navy. The Jack H. Lucas is built to fight. It is a fast, maneuverable, versatile, and lethal ship – capable of tackling any mission it is given,” said Raven. “It will keep the Navy and Marine Corps adaptive and ready, and also uphold our commitment to maintaining the free flow of commerce, deterring military aggression, and facilitating quick responses to natural disasters across the globe.”
Ruby Lucas, one of the ship’s sponsors, and Jack’s wife at the time of his death, emotionally thanked the audience for coming to honor her husband before giving the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!” alongside co-sponsor, philanthropist Catherine B. Reynolds.
On behalf of the President of the United Sates and for the Secretary of the Navy, the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz, USMC, placed the USS Jack H Lucas into commission.
“Something inside Lucas’ souls said, ‘I need to get to the fight.’ And fight he did,” Ruiz reflected. “The Navy and the Marine Corps team – our destinies are intertwined. The Navy, the ship, represents the perseverance of Americans. This beautiful ship represents the grit, the determination, of enlisted Marines, enlisted Sailors, and all of us that we will not give up until we win.”
“My charge to you and your team is to keep that tenacity, that toughness, and grit going because the challenges will keep coming,” Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command counseled Oster and his crew. “It will be hard, but I know that you and the 330 of the Navy’s finest Sailors are the team to do it. Your namesake, 17-year-old Medal of Honor recipient, Jack H Lucas, carried that same fiery passion.”
Capt. Brett Oster, Jack H Lucas’ commanding officer, recognized the driving force behind the ship’s namesake, and how his crew reflects that memory.
“There is something you can never, ever deny about Jack H Lucas. That man loved this country. That is why we’re here, because we love this country. You can never take that away – his dedication,” said Oster. “When you have a purpose, and you have dedication, and you have vision, and you have teamwork, anything that you set your sites on can come together.”
To cap off a week of special memories, three Sailors were meritoriously promoted at the close of the commissioning ceremony, Petty Officer First Class Boatswain’s Mate Victor Mejia, Petty Officer Second Class Boatswain’s Mate Lloyd Tillman, and Petty Officer Third Class Damage Controlman Ruben Rubio.
Today’s commissioning ceremony is the culmination of five years of work from everyone involved in the construction of Jack H Lucas, its operations, and all those involved in bringing the ship to life.
The city of Tampa and its residents welcomed the ship and its crew with events throughout the week. Along with other residents, family, and friends, the Tampa Lightening toured the ship to see the new technology aboard the first Flight III Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer. In turn the Lightening invited the crew on the ice not only to present their ship’s color guard, but to introduce the Jack H Lucas’ first, new chief petty officers. Local restaurants opened their kitchens to the ship’s culinary specialists, teaching the Sailors advanced techniques used for the chef’s dining rooms.
Honoring the whole of Lucas’ life, his widow Ruby, The Trail of Honor Foundation, and Flags of Honor Escort presented the ship with a vest adorned with his Medal of Honor. The vest traveled to Jack’s gravesite in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; numerous locations and Memorials to include the United States Marine Corps War Memorial and the World War II Memorial; the Never Forget Flag travelled to or thorough 20 states and the District of Columbia, amassing a total of 11,325.8 miles as part of Jack’s Vest Run before the presentation earlier this week.
The ship’s motto, “Indestructible” is reflection of Lucas’ survival, first on Iwo Jima and later from several other traumatic events after the war that rivaled his exploits as a Marine.
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security providing a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface. The Flight III upgrade is centered on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and incorporates upgrades to the electrical power and cooling capacity.
USS Jack H Lucas is the first AEGIS Weapon System, Baseline 10, to be commissioned. It integrates air and missile defense capability with the new AN/SPY6(V)(1) air and missile defense radar to provide significantly greater detection and tracking capacity among its warfighting capabilities across mission areas. Flight III also incorporates upgrades to the electrical power and cooling capacity, plus additional associated changes to provide enhanced warfighting capability to the fleet.
The mission of CNSP is to man, train, and equip the Surface Force to provide fleet commanders with credible naval power to control the sea and project power ashore.
Teledyne FLIR Defense Unveils New Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance System
Release from Teledyne FLIR Defense
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Next gen nano-drone builds on battle-proven Black Hornet 3 legacy;
Delivers improved range, endurance, signature and imagery data while providing covert situational awareness to warfighters
WASHINGTON, DC, October 10, 2023― Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), is introducing its new Black Hornet® 4 Personal Reconnaissance System at this week’s Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) conference in Washington D.C.
Black Hornet 4 represents the next generation of lightweight nano-drones, building on its predecessor to deliver enhanced covert situational awareness to small units. A new 12-megapixel daytime camera with superior low-light performance, plus new high-resolution thermal imager, deliver crisp video and still images to the operator. At just 70 grams, Black Hornet 4 has a flying time of more than 30 minutes, range greater than two kilometers, and can fly in 25-knot winds. Flight performance has been augmented by new obstacle avoidance capabilities and an advanced battery.
Compared to small quad-rotor drones, the single rotor Black Hornet 4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has an extremely low visual and audible signature, enabling it to identify threats day or night without being detected. Able to launch in less than 20 seconds and well suited for missions in GPS-denied environments, the Black Hornet 4 UAV can be used to rapidly identify targets beyond visual line-of-sight and assess weapon effects in real-time.
“Black Hornet 4 takes the features and capabilities that made Black Hornet 3 world renowned to the next level,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “We’ve worked closely with customers and end users to make this system even more valuable for dismounted soldiers in need of situational understanding or engaged in covert operations, where precise and immediate intel is crucial.
“Black Hornet 4 is future-proof nano-drone technology,” Lei added.
FLIR Defense has delivered more than 20,000 Black Hornet PRS systems to military and security forces in over 40 countries. Black Hornet drones are currently being used in Ukraine through donations made by the British and Norwegian governments, where they have performed successfully in numerous missions under the harshest of environments.
The U.S. Army began acquiring Black Hornets five years ago as part of its Soldier Borne Sensor program and since then has placed orders totaling more than $125 million. In July, the Army awarded Teledyne FLIR a five-year contract worth up to $94 million for additional Black Hornet systems.
General Dynamics Electric Boat and the Metal Trades Council Agree to a New Contract
Release from General Dynamics Electric Boat
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GROTON, Conn. (October 6, 2023) – General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), and the Metal Trades Council (MTC) announced today union members ratified a new, five-year collective bargaining agreement. The MTC represents more than 3,400 employees in the skilled trades at the company’s Groton shipyard which includes welders, electricians, machinists, pipefitters, laborers, painters, transportation services and administrative support.
The agreement provides for significant increases in compensation and benefits, including:
General wage increases for all MTC members totaling 21.4% over the term of the contract.
Retention and sign on bonuses with the opportunity to earn up to $6,000.
A one-time, $2,500 contribution to the employee’s 401k retirement savings account.
Continuation of a comprehensive, competitive medical plan with modest premium and deductible increases.
Increases to vacation days and paid sick time for most members.
The contract is effective as of September 30, 2023.
“This is the largest wage package in more than 30 years and demonstrates the value we place on the skills and experience necessary to build the world’s finest submarines,” said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. “This investment in our people complements investments by General Dynamics in our facilities and infrastructure and is a key element of our strategy to grow our production rate to deliver more submarines faster to the U.S. Navy.”
“Ratification of this robust contract is a five-year ironclad guarantee of economic security for the Electric Boat metal trades workforce, which they richly deserve. It also sends a powerful message to the Navy and Congress, who fund their work, that the Groton waterfront is in for the long haul as our nation grows its undersea fleet, a decades-long enterprise. Kudos to Peter Baker and the Metal Trades Council team, and Shawn Coyne from Electric Boat Human Resources who spent months hammering out the many details of this historic contract,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02).
“This new agreement will help attract and retain new employees while providing for the current membership,” said Peter Baker, president of the Metal Trades Council. “This will also provide Electric Boat with a stable workforce that will continue to build our nation’s defense. We want to thank the membership for their support throughout the negotiations process.”
Electric Boat is in the midst of an unprecedented expansion to increase production of Virginia-class fast-attack submarines and the Columbia class of ballistic missile submarines. The company is the prime contractor for the Columbia class, designated by the U.S. government as the nation’s number one defense priority. Electric Boat plans to hire 5,750 new employees in 2023. Interested applicants should visit EBCareers.com to see available positions.
U.S. 5TH FLEET ENHANCES MIDDLE EAST MARITIME SECURITY WITH UNMANNED CAPABILITIES
MANAMA, Bahrain – Last month, naval forces in the Middle East region successfully integrated unmanned platforms with traditionally crewed ships and aircraft to conduct enhanced maritime security operations in the waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula.
Seven task forces falling under U.S. 5th Fleet integrated 12 different unmanned platforms with manned ships for “manned-unmanned teaming” operations, tracking Iranian Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) ships and small boats over several days during routine patrols in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
This operation bolstered presence in and around a critical chokepoint that in recent months has seen Iran unlawfully seize internationally flagged merchant ships.
Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were involved in the operation.
“We have been operating UAVs and UUVs in the region for years,” said Capt. Joe Baggett, Director of Maritime Operations for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet. “Adding our new USVs, and then integrating all of these platforms into fleet operations, is how we expect to fly and sail well into the future.”
Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, ships and aircraft from Task Force 51/5 (Amphibious/Marine), Task Force 52 (Mine Countermeasures), Task Force 53 (Logistics), Task Force 55 (Surface Warfare), Task Force 56 (Expeditionary), Task Force 57 (Patrol/Reconnaissance) and Task Force 59 (Unmanned/Artificial Intelligence) conducted the operations.
“The integration of new, multidomain unmanned platforms into routine fleet operations provides more ‘eyes on the water,’ enhancing maritime domain awareness and increasing deterrence in the region,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet.
Cooper added that collectively, these platforms support the safe navigation and free flow of commerce through vital regional chokepoints, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.
“This enhanced maritime security serves as a deterrent against malign activity and strengthens regional stability, which is good for everybody,” he said.
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprising 21 nations, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb.
PASCAGOULA, Miss., Oct. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division announced the successful launch of the Navy’s third America-class amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA 8) from its floating dock into the Pascagoula River on Saturday.
“This launch is a significant accomplishment for our entire LHA shipbuilding team, and we are honored to be building such a versatile ship for our Navy and Marine Corps partners,” Ingalls Shipbuilding Amphibious Ship Program Manager Gene Miller said. “It is also a testament to the outstanding teamwork we see every day as our shipbuilders continue the critical work of preparing Bougainville for delivery.”
On Sept. 9, Bougainville was translated from land to the company’s floating dry dock using translation railcars to support the ship. While in the dry dock, the Ingalls team completed final prep work for launch.
Bougainville is the first ship in the America class to be built with a well deck. The ship will retain aviation capabilities while adding the surface assault capability of a well deck and a larger flight deck configured for F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft. These large-deck amphibious assault ships also include top-of-the-line medical facilities with full operating suites and triage capabilities.
The America class is a multi-functional and versatile ship that is capable of operating in a high density, multi-threat environment as an integral member of an expeditionary strike group, an amphibious task force or an amphibious ready group.
Ingalls has delivered 15 large-deck amphibious ships to the U.S. Navy. The shipyard delivered the first in the new America class of amphibious assault ships (LHA 6) in 2014. The second ship in the America class, USS Tripoli (LHA 7), was delivered to the Navy in early 2020. In addition to Bougainville, Fallujah (LHA 9) is also under construction, and the company authenticated the keel during a ceremony in September 2023.
Navy to Commission Future Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas
Release from the U.S. Department of Defense
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OCT. 6, 2023
The Navy will commission the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) as the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at Port Tampa Bay, Berth 150, Tampa, Florida.
The Honorable Erik Raven, under secretary of the Navy, will deliver the commissioning ceremony’s principal address. Remarks will also be provided by the Honorable Kathy Castor, U.S. representative, Florida’s 14th District; Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps; the Honorable Jane Castor, mayor of Tampa, Florida; and Ms. Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding and executive vice president, HII. The ship’s sponsors are Ruby Lucas, widow of the ship’s namesake, and philanthropist Catherine B. Reynolds.
DDG 125 is the 73rd Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer to be commissioned and the first in the Flight III configuration. She is the first naval warship to bear the name of USS Jack H. Lucas. USS Jack H. Lucas received its name on Sept. 17, 2016. DDG 125 is named for Pfc. Jack Lucas, who served in the U.S. Marines during World War II, earning the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Iwo Jima, when he was just 17 years old. Lucas was the youngest Marine and youngest serviceman in World War II to be awarded the United States’ highest military decoration for valor. In 1961, he returned to military service as a captain in the U.S. Army and trained younger troops headed for Vietnam. Lucas passed away on Jun. 5, 2008, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The selection of Jack H. Lucas is a constant reminder of the immense impact that actions taken by any sailor or marine can truly have.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct various operations, from peacetime presence to national security. DDGs provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface environments.
USS Stethem (DDG 63), USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Dewey (DDG 105), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Paul Ignatius (117), USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), and USS Momsen (DDG 92) are currently deployed overseas. These deployed Arleigh Burke-class destroyers contribute to various manned, unmanned, joint and maritime operations in support of operational commanders’ strategic vision.
The ceremony will be live streamed at https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32606. The link becomes active approximately ten minutes prior to the event (9:50 a.m. EDT)
U.S. Navy Selects Lockheed Martin to Develop Integrated Combat System
Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Combat System is a scalable combat management system for the U.S. Navy that uses common software and computer infrastructure to rapidly field capability across all domains to the surface fleet. Rendering: Lockheed Martin.
MOORESTOWN, N.J., Sept. 28, 2023 – The U.S. Navy selected Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) as its Integrated Combat System (ICS) Systems Engineering and Software Integration (SESI) agent. Lockheed Martin will design integrated warfare system architecture and capabilities so that software updates can be delivered in real time across the Navy’s surface fleet of Aegis destroyers, cruisers, and frigates, plus carriers and amphibious ships.
“Our 21st Century Security strategy is delivering capabilities like the Integrated Combat System, a next generation of combat management system capabilities to give decision-makers the tools needed to determine a course of action and then execute their critical missions,” said Joe DePietro, vice president and general manager for Multi-Domain Combat Solutions at Lockheed Martin. “By leveraging the best of industry, we are creating the environment to quickly develop and field capabilities that will keep the Navy ready for current and future threats.”
Lockheed Martin continues to support the U.S. Navy’s vision to transform into a fully cohesive ICS by connecting multi-domain assets and driving to a common architecture across the surface fleet.
Digital Transformation and Innovation
In support of the ICS, Lockheed Martin is utilizing a digital thread that encompasses the entire ecosystem, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), DevSecOps and model-based engineering to manage new upgrades and cyber security considerations from the beginning of the development cycle through sustainment.
The ICS SESI program is formerly known as the Surface Combatant Combat Systems Engineering Agent role. Lockheed Martin has over five decades of experience providing the Aegis Weapon System to the Navy and international navies, and as the current provider of the Ship Self Defense System on large deck amphibious ships.
