PANANA CITY, Fla. — Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) began to cut steel for the second offshore patrol cutter (OPC), the Chase, on April 27, ESG said in a release. The cutting of steel starts the fabrication and assembly of the cutter’s hull, and ESG is to complete keel-laying of the Chase next year. Additionally, ESG has started the…
Geurts: Urgency, Discipline Hallmarks of Frigate Selection Process
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s top acquisition official praised the government team that selected and the industry teams that submitted proposals for the design of the Navy’s next-generation small combatant, the FFG(X) guided-missile frigate, the first of which is scheduled to…
Marinette Marine Wins Guided-Missile Frigate Contract
WASHINGTON — Marinette Marine has won a coveted contract from the U.S. Navy to design and produce the next-generation small surface combatant, the guided-missile frigate (FFG(X), the public affairs office of the Navy’s Program Executive Office-Unmanned and Small Combatants said in an April 30 release. The Marinette Marine deal is good for detail design and construction (DD&C) of…
DoD’s Lord: Potential for 3-Month Slowdown in Defense Acquisition
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department’s top acquisition official said the department is working closely with the industrial base to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic but said there is the potential for a three-month slowdown in procurement and sustainment. …
Hospital Ship Comfort Departs NYC, Prepared for Future COVID-19 Response
NEW YORK — The hospital ship USNS Comfort departed New York City on April 30 after supporting the Pentagon’s COVID-19 response assistance to New York and New Jersey residents during the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to a U.S. 2nd Fleet news release. The Comfort has been at Pier 90 in New York City for a month, providing…
U.S. Coast Guard, Australia to Begin Officer Exchange Program
HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard and the Australian Department of Home Affairs on April 27 signed an agreement for a system of mutual officer exchange from their offices in Hawaii and Canberra, the Coast Guard 14th District said in a release. Rear Adm. Kevin Lunday, commander of…
Pacific Fleet to Host At-Sea-Only RIMPAC Exercise in August
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — The U.S. Navy will sponsor the 27th Rim of the Pacific exercise, from Aug. 17 to Aug. 31, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a release. Hosted by the commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, this biennial maritime exercise will be an at-sea-only event in light…
Navy Opens Deeper Inquiry Into Theodore Roosevelt; Move Delays Decision on Captain’s Reinstatement
ARLINGTON, Va. — Acting U.S. Navy Secretary James McPherson has directed Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday to conduct a second deeper investigation of the events surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt that has claimed the life of a Roosevelt Sailor, hospitalized others and…
Triton Deploys at Last: The Navy Takes Its New UAV to the Western Pacific
In January, the U.S. Navy’s newest surveillance aircraft, the Northrop Grumman-built MQ-4C Triton, a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), embarked on its first deployment, a move to demonstrate what the Navy calls early operational capability. Two MQ-4Cs assigned to…
