ARLINGTON, Va. — Congress rejected the U.S. Navy’s 2023 budget proposal to deactivate five electronic attack squadrons (VAQs) that operate the Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack jet in the defense policy bill recently signed into law by President Joe Biden. Instead,…
French Warship Seizes Illegal Drugs in North Arabian Sea
MANAMA, Bahrain — A French warship seized illegal drugs worth a total estimated U.S. street value of $24 million from a fishing vessel transiting international waters in the North Arabian Sea, Dec. 27, Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs said in…
Cohesion at Sea: Maritime Deterrence and Defense throughout 2022
Naples, Italy — In the Baltic Sea, Estonian troops and U.S. Marines rehearse amphibious assault drills, storming the beach and quickly seizing objectives in concert as the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) patrols the horizon. Farther south, in…
Coast Guard Leverages Aviation Workhorse to Overcome Challenges in Cutter Logistics in Oceania
SANTA RITA, Guam — Guam is home to three 154-foot fast response cutters commissioned in 2021. These ships are built in Lockport, Louisiana. After initial workups, they sailed from Key West through the Panama Canal, more than 10,000 miles to…
Navy Orders Fourth Lot of TH-73A Thrasher Training Helicopters
ARLINGTON, Va.—The U.S. Navy has exercised a contract option to order a fourth lot of Leonardo TH-73A Thrasher training helicopters. Leonardo said in a Dec. 24 release that it was awarded a $110 million firm, fixed-price contract modification through AgustaWestland…
U.S. Navy Approves Full-Rate Production for Sikorsky CH-53K Helicopter
Stratford, Conn. — The U.S. Navy declared full rate production of the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter, a decision that is expected to increase production to more than 20 helicopters annually in the coming years, Lockheed Martin said in a Dec. 2…
NSW Forces Wrap Up SOF Engagement with Indian Navy Marine Commandos
GOA, India – Naval Special Warfare forces deployed to U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific concluded a joint combined training exercise with the Indian Navy Marine Commando Force on Dec. 22, said Petty Officer 1st Class Alex Smedegard in a Dec….
Navy Successfully Demonstrated Unmanned Cargo Delivery Systems for Ship at Sea
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) recently demonstrated multiple unmanned systems in a first-of-its-kind mission to move supplies to ships at sea without the use of manned aircraft during an event at Naval Air…
USS Paul Ignatius Completes First Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe Patrol
ROTA, Spain – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) returned to Rota, Spain, Dec. 20, marking the completion of her first Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, Lt. j.g….
SECNAV Names Future Oceanographic Survey Ship USNS Robert Ballard
WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro announced Dec. 21 that a future Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship will be named USNS Robert Ballard (T-AGS 67). The future USNS Robert Ballard will honor Dr. Robert Ballard, a retired…
