PHILIPPINE SEA — The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) completed underway return to flight operations of the Navy’s unmanned helicopter, the MQ-8C Fire Scout, in the Philippine Sea on April 20, commander Destroyer Squadron 7 public affairs…
Navy to Adjust F/A-18 Service Life Modernization as Needed to Address Strike Fighter Shortfall
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy is planning to use a “rheostat” approach to adjust the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter Service Life Modernization (SLM) program to mitigate the strike fighter shortfall in the fleet, a senior service official said. The…
Navy Proposes Divestment of Special Ops Helicopter Squadron
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is proposing to retire its only expeditionary helicopter squadron dedicated to support of special operations forces with the service’s 2023 budget request. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC-85), a reserve squadron based at Naval…
SECDEF Announces Flag Officer Nominations
ARLINGTON, Va. — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced April 26 that the president has made the following nominations: Navy Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti for appointment to the grade of admiral, and assignment as vice chief of…
Marine Corps’ New VH-92 Presidential Helicopter Achieves Initial Operational Capability
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps’ VH-92A presidential support helicopter has achieved initial operational capability, according to the Department of the Navy. The VH-92A, built by Lockheed Martin, has been going through testing and crew training and achieved IOC on…
Marine Corps Deactivates Two Helo Squadrons, One Temporarily
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps has deactivated two helicopter squadrons in its march toward Force Design 2030, but one of the squadrons will be reactivated later this year, the service said. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 (HMH-463) —…
GA-ASI Integrates Leonardo Seaspray V2 Maritime Radar Onto MQ-9 RPA
SAN DIEGO — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has integrated the Leonardo Seaspray 7500E V2 multi-mode radar onto an MQ-9A Block 5 remotely piloted aircraft and performed its first test flight on April 14, the company said April 26. The…
NRL Conducts Successful Terrestrial Microwave Power Beaming Demonstration
WASHINGTON — A team of researchers from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory recently demonstrated the feasibility of terrestrial microwave power beaming by transmitting 1.6 kilowatts of power over 1 kilometer, the most significant power beaming demonstration in nearly 50 years,…
Honeywell Demonstrates Alternative Navigation Capabilities in GPS-Denied Environments
PHOENIX — Honeywell has successfully demonstrated several advanced alternative navigation technologies intended to help ensure seamless navigation, even when GPS signals are blocked, interrupted or unavailable, Ahjay Rai of Honneywell said in an April 20 release. Testing took place on…
Marine Corps’ King Stallion Ready to Run
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps’ new CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter achieved initial operational capability on April 22, Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lt. Gen. Mark Wise said in an April 25 release. The first fleet CH-53K squadron, HMH-461, now…
