ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is sailing full speed ahead on its Columbia ballistic-missile submarine (SSBN) program with a $9.47 billion contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat for the full construction of the future USS Columbia (SSBN 826) — the lead ship of the class — and for advance procurement, advance procurement, and coordinated material buys for the second boat of the class, the future USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827).

The Naval Sea Systems Command contract, announced Nov. 5 in a virtual press conference with reporters by James F. Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, was ready in waiting for the execution of the fiscal 2021 defense budget, but the Navy obtained authority from Congress to make the award as an exception to the limitations of the current continuing resolution.  

The Columbia program, a recapitalization of the Navy’s strategic deterrent nuclear submarine force, is the service’s No. 1 acquisition priority. The Navy plans to build “at least 12” Columbia SSBNs to replace its fleet of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, according to Rear Adm. Scott Pappano, program executive officer for the Columbia program, also speaking at the conference. The Columbia will carry the same Trident D5LE ballistic missile type as the Ohio class. 

Geurts said the Columbia program was on track and stressed the importance of keeping it that way. He praised the efforts of Electric Boat and the Navy’s program team and their workers for the hard work in keeping the program on schedule. 

Pappano said the Columbia will be delivered in fiscal 2027 and will be on patrol early in fiscal 2031. The SSBN likely will serve into the 2080s.  

Capt. Scott Rucker, the Columbia program manager who also spoke at the conference, noted that the last start of a new SSBN occurred in the 1970s. He said the Columbia, over the last decade, has gone through numerous design reviews and production reviews and is in a high state of design completion.   

Rucker said the Columbia program had more than 5,000 suppliers in 48 states. 

Geurts, noting that the Columbia design was more mature “than any other sub we’ve ever done,” said that the next major program event would be the full construction contract for the Wisconsin in 2024. 

He said that early efforts had “burned off” much of the technological risk but that the Navy was hawking the program continuously to protect the margin in the schedule. 

Pappano said the program used large-scale land-based prototyping and construction prototyping to shake out the design and processes and reduce risk. Some advance construction he noted included the missile tube compartment, with 13 tubes delivered to date, 11 of which have been completed for the Columbia and the Royal Navy’s new class of SSBN. He and that he was confident of the boat’s new nuclear reactor and permanent magnet motor.   

Rucker said the cost for the lead boat would be $7.44 billion in calendar 2017 dollars. Congress has set a threshold of $8 billion in 2017 dollars for the average cost of subsequent boats, noting that the cost includes government-furnished equipment. He said congressional authorities in the National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund were leveraged for the program.  

Rucker said the first quad pack of missile tubes for the Columbia would be competed in February 2021. Huntington Ingalls’ Newport News Shipbuilding has started construction on the stern, which will “come out” in spring 2021 and “the bow will go in.” He said that large sections of the ship already are in construction. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) is now in full production mode for the propulsion sections of the U.S. Navy’s Mk48 submarine-launched torpedo, a company official said. The company also plans to bid on components for an upcoming Foreign Military Sales contract for the torpedo. 

In a Nov. 4 interview with Seapower, Steve Rigdon, vice president for Programs at SAIC, said the company currently is building and delivering 260 after-body tail cones for the torpedoes, which contain the propulsion system and the propeller. In August 2020 the Navy exercised the fourth and final option of the contract for $84.8 million for the torpedo’s production, which includes torpedoes for Australia and Taiwan. Deliveries under this option are scheduled to begin in October 2022 and be completed by October 2023. 

The Navy has restarted procurement of the Mk48 torpedo to shore up its inventory for its submarine force. Earlier production of the torpedo — originally built by Gould — had ceased in the mid-1990s. SAIC received a contract to build the after-body tail cones. Lockheed Martin builds the guidance-and control section. The Navy is providing the fuel tanks and warheads for this production run of weapons. 

Rigdon said the Naval Sea Systems Command has issued a Request for Proposals for a new seven-year contract for procurement for both after-body tail cones and fuel tanks for the Mk48. 

“We also recently won a fuel tank contract from NUWC [Naval Undersea Warfare Center] Keyport, [Washington], and that is for FMS purposes,” he said. “We’re currently building fuel tanks as well.” 

Navies other than the U.S. Navy that have procured the Mk48 include those of Australia, Canada, Brazil, Taiwan, and Turkey.   

Rigdon said that has been one of the biggest challenges has been reinvigorating the supply chain. 

“We were working off of a [technical] data package that was pretty old and there were some technical challenges as well as getting the supply chain back up and delivering the assemblies and components that we need,” he said. “It’s been an engineering challenge; it’s a challenge we’ve been up to.” 

He also said his facility has maintained full-rate production despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the program management and engineering staff have been working remotely.  

SAIC has received accelerated funding under the CARES Act for the torpedo program, receiving 90 percent of incurred cost rather than the pre-pandemic arrangement of 80 percent. 

SAIC is building the torpedo assemblies with about 25 production workers at its facility in Bedford, Indiana, located adjacent to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, The final assembly and testing of the torpedoes is conducted by the NUWC Keyport. 

“Every single one [after-body tail cones] will go through multiple in-water runs before it’s deemed a war-shot [torpedo],” Rigdon said, noting that the Navy’s Intermediate Maintenance Activity in Keyport completely disassembles, cleans, and re-assembles the tail cones after every in-water run.  

“A lot of the success in this program is because of the partnership between the Navy and SAIC,” He said. “Our singular focus is delivering these after-bodies to the best submarines in the world so that they have the best weapons in the world.” 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy on Nov. 2 announced F-35C modifications to the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) under a contract structure now in place to deliver the second USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) aircraft carrier, employing a single-phase acquisition strategy, instead of two-phase, as originally planned. 

“Shifting to single phase and incorporating the F-35C modifications will enable the delivery of a more capable and lethal carrier,” said James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. “Initiating this work now will build on the lessons learned from USS Gerald R. Ford to maintain the optimal construction timeline for the shipyard and to avoid inefficiencies. 

“From the shipbuilder’s and Navy’s perspective, this is the most efficient and effective way to get this capability quickest into the hands of our warfighters,” Geurts added. 

In early February, Geurts approved a request by the program executive officer for aircraft carriers, Rear Adm. James P. Downey, for a single-phase delivery strategy that would deliver CVN 79 from the current construction period with its warfare system and F-35C capability. 

When future USS John F. Kennedy entered construction in June 2015 at Huntington-Ingalls Industries–Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) the Navy pursued the two-phase delivery approach to align construction with development of the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) suite. The EASR is replacing the dual-band radar deployed on the lead ship of the class, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). 
 
Progress on the ship’s warfighting system supports the single-phase contract — as well as a path to fleet operations that meets warfighting requirements outlined in the National Defense Strategy. 

“Everyone, from shipyard workers to the design engineers to the crew, is looking forward to fully incorporating the new warfare system and the F-35C modifications,” said Capt. Philip E. Malone, program manager for the John F. Kennedy. “The U.S. Navy and the shipbuilder have made a commitment to deliver JFK in 2024, and the team is delivering on that promise every day.” 

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded a modification to the construction contract for the second ship in the Ford class of aircraft carriers to HII-NNS Nov. 2.  The award delivers the CVN 79 from the current construction period with its warfare system installed and incorporates F-35C Joint Strike Fighter modifications. 
 
This contract modification supports legislative requirements for CVN 79 to be capable of deploying with the F-35C Lightning II strike fighter before the ship completes its post-shakedown availability. Congress had mandated the change in Section 124 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-92). 

USS John F. Kennedy was christened and launched last December and is completing system construction, outfitting, and testing pierside in Newport News. 

AT SEA — The Independence Class Littoral Combat Ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) is conducting enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the U.S. Fourth Fleet area of operations and has seen great success since arriving on station in October, the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet Public Affairs Office said in a Nov. 4 release.

The ship has proven to be an invaluable asset through strengthening partnerships while also improving interoperability with U.S. forces in the region. 

“U.S. Fourth Fleet is refining globally relevant processes supporting forward deployment,” said Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, commander U.S. 4th Fleet/U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command. “This team is partnered across the Navy testing new approaches that can refine and improve LCS operations.  These concepts are expanding LCS operational reach, increasing operational availability, and enhancing engagement with our partners.” 

Gabrielle Giffords recently completed a routine Planned Maintenance Availability executed by 24 Sailors from the Maintenance Execution Team deployed onboard the USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), an afloat staging base deployed as a testbed to support new concepts for expeditionary LCS maintenance and support.  Several concepts show promise. 

“We are able to demonstrate our capabilities on a daily basis,” said Cmdr. Rion Martin, USS Gabrielle Giffords’ commanding officer. “I’m extremely proud of our efforts. This week, we were able to demonstrate our advance warfighting capabilities with the use of our Mk110 57mm gun when we conducted a sinking exercise on an unmanned vessel that was determined to be a hazard to navigation.” 

To date, Gabrielle Giffords, with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment team, has seized over 2,200 of suspected cocaine worth an estimated wholesale value of $83.2 million dollars supporting enhanced counter-narcotics operations. 

Additionally, Gabrielle Giffords conducted at-sea replenishment with a partner nation oiler, and a cooperative deployment with five ships from the Salvadoran Navy in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Their operations enhanced maritime domain awareness and warfighting partnership. 

Gabrielle Giffords also worked with the “Winged Warriors” of 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment to complete MH-60L Black Hawk flight deck landing qualifications in support of Joint Task Force-Bravo’s mission, ready to support humanitarian and civic assistance, counterdrug, contingency and disaster relief operations in Central America. 

Both Gabrielle Giffords and Burlington will participate in the upcoming UNITAS LXI exercise hosted by Ecuador, the longest-running multinational maritime exercise in the world, building and exercising regional maritime readiness.  UNITAS brings together like-minded nations to hone warfighting skills and ensure readiness to quickly assemble an effective team in a crisis.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded L3Harris Technologies a five-year, $88 million ceiling, single-award IDIQ contract — with an initial delivery order of $21 million — for a small, lightweight satellite terminal that delivers extremely reliable high-bandwidth voice, video and data, the company said in a Nov. 4 release.  

L3Harris will provide its Panther II Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) as part of the Marine Corps Wideband Satellite-Expeditionary (MCWS-X) program. The MCWS-X terminal consists of the 96cm Panther II VSAT in a tri-band configuration with multiple modular modems and power options.  

A custom backpack is provided that allows any combination of band and modem to be carried in a lightweight single mission configuration.  

“The L3Harris Panther II answers the Marine Corps’ need for an extremely capable, light weight, easily deployable satellite terminal that meets the demand for reliable high bandwidth voice, video and data,” said Chris Aebli, president, Global Communication Systems, L3Harris. “Our leadership in designing and delivering innovative satellite terminal solutions, and continued investment in emerging technology, ensures our forces are always able to connect through the chaos with our family of SATCOM products.”  

The modular design of the Panther II allows the system to quickly adapt to varying missions. The operator can easily change modems, RF band, aperture size and acquisition method. To enable access to global service, the system is certified on a wide range of commercial and government satellite networks.  

WASHINGTON — Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday and Mrs. Linda Gilday visited Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, Nov. 3, to meet with Sailors and civilians and see their work first-hand, the CNO’s public affairs office said in a Nov. 3 release. 

NAS Paxtuxent River, home to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) headquarters, is known as “where the future of Naval Aviation begins.” 

“The men and women here are absolutely shaping the future of naval aviation,” said Gilday. “No doubt, focused investments in unmanned platforms and advanced technologies are what will ensure we stay ahead of great power competitors and others who seek to harm U.S. interests.” 

During the visit, CNO visited several NAWCAD labs, the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system, met with students at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and presented awards to two Sailors for their recent actions. Gilday also met with NAVAIR and NAWCAD leadership as well as toured other facilities at the installation.   

“From their work with unmanned technology like Triton, to live, virtual, constructive trainers and cyber defense, it is clear what they are doing today will take the Navy far into tomorrow,” said Gilday. 

Mrs. Gilday also had the opportunity to discuss the challenges of getting childcare, including exceptional family members, and the status of privatized military housing improvements at NAS Pax River, with several spouses. 

“Taking care of our Sailors and their families is absolutely the Navy’s top priority,” she said. “Ensuring we understand issues that most affect them – childcare, housing and spouse employment – is vitally important to the strength of our Navy.” 

This was CNO Gilday’s first trip to Pax River since he assumed office in August 2019. 

KODIAK, Alaska — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley returned to homeport in Kodiak, Alaska, Thursday, following an 85-day deployment throughout the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea, the Coast Guard 17th District said in a Nov. 3 release. 

The crew patrolled more than 11,000 miles for approximately three months and safeguarded a $5.9 billion fishing industry, and enabled search and rescue coverage in an area spanning 890,000 square miles. 

During the patrol, the Alex Haley crew conducted 20 boardings in partnership with six different fisheries. 

In addition to patrolling the Maritime Boundary Line, the Alex Haley crew joined the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel, Kashima, for a high-latitude exercise in early September. The two vessels completed tactical formation maneuvering and visual communication exercises in a show of international cooperation and goodwill.  

On Aug. 26, Russian Naval vessels and aircraft participating in the Russian military exercise Ocean Shield without authority directed U.S. fishing vessels that were legally fishing within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to depart the area. Alex Haley was sent to the exercise area within the EEZ to provide U.S. military presence, gather information on the incident, and educate the fishing fleet on U.S. sovereign rights.  Alex Haley boarded four of the five fishing vessels known to have interacted with the Russian Navy. The information Alex Haley collected was critical to developing an appropriate diplomatic response to the Russian military interaction with the fishing fleet.  

The Alex Haley is a 282-foot medium-endurance cutter that has been homeported in Kodiak since 1999. The crew of the Alex Haley performs a multitude of the Coast Guards missions.  

“Despite the extraordinary challenges imposed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the crew of the Alex Haley displayed remarkable perseverance throughout the duration of the patrol,” said Capt. Benjamin Golightly, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley. “While nearly three months away from home can be daunting, the enthusiasm, maturity, and dedication from all hands made this patrol a resounding success.” 

WASHINGTON – Naval Facilities Engineering Command changed its name to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Nov. 3 to more accurately reflect its well-established nature and mission as the naval shore facilities, base operating support, and expeditionary engineering systems command that delivers life-cycle technical and acquisition solutions aligned to Fleet and Marine Corps priorities, the command’s public affairs office said in a Nov. 3 release. 

In addition to NAVFAC’s alignment with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations & Environment) as the Navy and Marine Corps real estate acquisition, management, and disposal authority, NAVFAC also aligns with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development & Acquisition) as the Navy and Marine Corps acquisition and technical authority for construction and facilities engineering programs, developing, procuring, and sustaining shore facilities and environmental solutions in order to enable warfighter lethality. 

“This change better reflects the full spectrum of critical work that NAVFAC does to enable warfighter lethality, and it helps current and potential future supported activities understand the technical and procurement authority assigned to NAVFAC,” said Rear Adm. John Korka, commander of NAVFAC and chief of Civil Engineers. “In addition, this name change brings NAVFAC in line with the naming convention of other Navy systems commands, including Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Marine Corps Systems Command, and their associated warfare centers and field activities.” 

The name change commenced Nov. 3 with an official announcement to the command’s leadership and is being implemented as quickly as possible across the enterprise. 

NAVFAC is the oldest of the Navy’s systems commands, having been established as the Bureau of Yards and Docks (BuDocks) in August 1842. At its creation, BuDocks supported a shore establishment of seven ship repair yards, four ordnance magazines, and five naval stations. Its officers are commissioned in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps, which came into being in March 1867. During the 1966 reorganization of the Department of Navy, BuDocks became the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. 

The Navy’s systems commands are materiel agencies who are responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of assigned military systems. Systems commands provide full life-cycle support for a specific category of military hardware or software, including research and development, design, procurement, testing, repair and in-service engineering and logistics support. 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant returned to Cape Canaveral Wednesday after completing a counter-drug patrol in the Caribbean, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a Nov. 4 release.   

The crew of Vigilant spent 48 days patrolling the Caribbean, promoting maritime safety and security in support of Operation Southeast Watch and Operation Unified Resolve. The crew’s efforts focused on ensuring the safety of life at sea while also enforcing border security by conducting counter-drug and alien migrant interdiction operations. 

Patrolling the Windward Passage, the waterway located between Cuba and Haiti, as well as the northern coast of Haiti, Vigilant led the execution of Operation Southeast Watch for 13 days. Providing continuous overt presence along the Haitian coast, Vigilant discouraged illegal migrants from attempting the dangerous sea-going voyage in overloaded and unsafe vessels that put their lives at risk.  

While deployed, the crew also worked alongside Coast Guard units and federal law enforcement agencies to disrupt illicit drug and migrant ventures in the Mona Passage as part of Operation Unified Resolve.

Operating in the waterway located between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the crew supported the ongoing multiagency efforts of the Caribbean Border Interagency Group by interdicting, caring for, and repatriating suspected drug smugglers and illegal migrants. The collaborative efforts of the crew with the partner units and agencies enabled the interdiction, repatriation, and disposition of 166 migrants, who were endangered by the unsafe conditions of traveling aboard grossly overloaded and unseaworthy makeshift boats.  

 “I am extremely proud of how well our crew continues to respond to mission needs during these challenging times,” said Cmdr. Fred Bertsch, Vigilant’s commanding officer. “The Coast Guard’s primary responsibilities of protecting mariners on the seas and securing our homeland are vital and continue despite the impacts of the pandemic. Our crew worked together to overcome the hazards presented by the coronavirus so that they could continue to carry out and meet those responsibilities and duties. They are truly remarkable in the sacrifices they make and their devotion to duty.” 

The cutter Vigilant is a 210-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Cape Canaveral. The cutter crew’s primary missions include search and rescue, illegal drug interdictions, alien migrant interdictions ensuring the safety of life at sea and enforcing international and domestic maritime laws. 

MIAMI — The Coast Guard assisted Bahamian authorities in interdicting 22 Cuban migrants at Cay Sal Bank, Bahamas, Oct. 28, the Coast Guard 7^th District said in a Nov. 2 release. 

A Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew located 22 Cuban migrants on land at Cay Sal Bank.  

The Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo (WPC-1112) crew embarked the 21 adult Cuban males and one adult female and safely transferred one migrant to the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered (WPC-1104) crew. 

“Our crew was proud to serve such an important mission,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nick Zieser, commanding officer of the cutter Isaac Mayo. “Rescuing these migrants, who were stranded for 10 days, was challenging but rewarding as we are always ready to protect those in need on the water. We continue to discourage migrants from taking part in illegal voyages at sea. These ventures risk the lives of everyone on board in the dangerous and unforgiving Florida Straits, especially when doing so in overloaded and unseaworthy vessels with inadequate lifesaving equipment aboard.” 

The Isaac Mayo crew transferred 21 Cuban migrants and the Robert Yered crew transferred one migrant to Bahamian authorities in Freeport, Grand Bahama. 

The Coast Guard acted on behalf of Bahamian authorities in keeping with the comprehensive maritime agreement, a bilateral agreement between the United States and Bahamas. 

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction Coast Guard crewmembers were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19.