ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps’ cyber networks are being defended and upgraded even as the COVID-19 pandemic forces ad hoc adaptation in their operation, a senior Marine Corps official said. “Our networks are good, and they are operating at a good capacity…
Navy Awards Ship-to-Shore Connector Contract to Textron
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has awarded a contract for the fiscal year 2017-2020 procurement of ship to shore connector craft, the Navy’s Program Executive Office (PEO)–Ships said in an April 16 release. Ship to shore connectors are the evolutionary replacement for the existing fleet of landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vehicles and will primarily transport weapon…
Marine Corps Makes First Operational MQ-9A Flight in Middle East
SAN DIEGO — U.S. Marine Corps pilots and sensor operators from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) conducted their first operational flight of an MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aircraft system in the Middle East on March 20, according to an Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) release. …
HII Begins Fabrication of Amphibious Transport Dock Harrisburg
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division recently started fabrication of the U.S. Navy’s newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Harrisburg, the company said in an April 16 release. The start of fabrication signifies that the first 100…
Ford Weapons Elevators Set for Completion by Summer 2021 Shock Trials
ARLINGTON, Va. — The installation and turnover of the advanced weapons elevators on the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is proceeding well, with the goal to complete the work by summer 2021, a top U.S. Navy official said. “We need to get all of the elevators up and running…
In Perhaps a First, USS Delaware Commissioned Underwater
ARLINGTON, Va. — The COVID-19 pandemic is driving the U.S. Navy to adapt some of the ways it conducts business, but the commissioning of a submarine underwater is likely to be a first. The Virginia-class attack USS Delaware was commissioned into the Navy on…
Navy, Marine Officials: AI Will Augment — Not Replace — Humans
ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. Navy and Marine Corps officials close to the effort to develop artificial intelligence in machines say the technology is advancing rapidly and will be used where it can add value. Discussing AI in an April 16 webcast of the Navy…
Space, the Hostile Frontier: Panel Explores Defense of Earth Orbit
Space is not benign — no longer just the domain of unmanned scientific probes and occupied by astronauts in capsules or space stations exploring and conducting research, panelists stressed during a webcast that was aired on April 16 as part of the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space 2020: Virtual Edition. “Space, internationally, is very important to our way of life. It’s of strategic importance. We see our adversaries starting to…
SUPSHIP Turns to Fusion for Facemasks
WASHINGTON — When Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair Newport News’ supply of protective facemasks to combat COVID-19 dwindled to 30 by the morning of April 9, SUPSHIPNN’s commanding officer, Capt. Jason Lloyd, turned to his staff for a solution, according to Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). An order for…
2nd Fleet Keeps Truman Strike Group at Sea as Ready Carrier Amid Pandemic
NORFOLK, Va. — The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group remains at sea in the western Atlantic as a certified carrier strike group force ready for tasking to protect the crew from the risks posed by COVID-19, following their deployment to the U.S. 5th…
