WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s controversial decision to propose one Virginia-class attack submarine (SSN) instead of two in the fiscal year 2021 budget was a matter of budget priorities — not a concern over shipyard or program capacity to start construction of the Columbia ballistic-missile sub, the Navy’s…
Geurts: Navy Looking at Money-Saving Strategies in Procurement of Four Amphibs
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is looking at acquisition strategies for procuring four amphibious warfare ships over the next few years to achieve economies, the Navy’s top acquisition official said. During March 4 testimony about the fiscal 2021 shipbuilding proposal before the Seapower subcommittee of the…
Construction Begins on Bath Iron Works’ First Flight III Arleigh Burke Destroyer
BATH, Maine — Construction of the future USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126) officially began at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard on March 3. The milestone was marked by a ceremony at BIW’s structural fabrication facility in Brunswick, Maine, the…
U.S. Lacks Ice Hardened Ships, Repair and Refueling Ports for Arctic Ops
WASHINGTON – Unlike the South China Sea and other contested areas, the U.S. Navy does not have the capability to conduct freedom-of-the-seas operations in the icebound waters of the Arctic, a key Pentagon official conceded. With only one heavy and…
Navy Strategic Systems Director: New W93 Warhead Needed to Pace Threat
WASHINGTON — The admiral in charge of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear weapons arsenal said the new warhead in development is needed to modernize the arsenal. Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director of Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), testifying on March 3 in Washington before the Strategic Forces subcommittee of…
NAVAIR Orders One UC-12W Utility Transport
ARLINGTON, Va. — Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has ordered another UC-12W Huron utility transport aircraft from Textron Aviation. NAVAIR awarded Textron Aviation Inc. $14.3 million to fund the production and delivery of one King Air 350C Cargo Slick aircraft modified to…
Lockheed Delivers 500th F-35 Aircraft; Strike Fighter Surpasses 250,000 Flight Hours
FORT WORTH, Texas — Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office have delivered the 500th F-35 Lightning II strike fighter, the company said March 3. The F-35 surpassed 250,000 flight hours last month. The 500th production aircraft is a U.S. Air…
Cutter Munro Returns After Counter-Drug Patrol; $115 Million in Cocaine Seized
ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Coast Guard Cutter Munro returned home on March 1 after a 78-day deployment, during which the crew seized an estimated $115 million worth of cocaine from suspected smugglers in the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to a Coast Guard Pacific Area release. The crew patrolled known drug-transit…
NAVAIR Extends Life of F-16 Adversary Aircraft
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The Specialized and Proven Aircraft program office (PMA-226) recently completed a modification on several U.S. Navy F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft to increase readiness and service life, according to Naval Air Systems Command. The FalconUp modification improves F-16A readiness by extending their fatigue…
NAVAIR Orders Two MV-22B Osprey
ARLINGTON, Va. — Naval Air Systems Command has ordered two MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft and provided funds to continue the modernization of the Osprey fleet. According to the Feb. 28 Pentagon contract announcement, NAVAIR awarded Bell-Boeing a $165.3 million contract under the fiscal…
