WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s plan to procure only eight battle force ships in the 2021 budget came under expected fire from lawmakers during a Feb. 26 hearing on Capitol Hill. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley testified at…
Marine Corps Orders More Amphibious Combat Vehicles From BAE Systems
STAFFORD, Va. — BAE Systems has received a $113.5 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps for an additional 26 Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV) under the low-rate initial production (LRIP) phase of the program, the company said in a release. This award brings the total…
Aerojet Rocketdyne to Develop Advanced Propulsion for Navy’s Advanced Lightweight Torpedo
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Aerojet Rocketdyne has been awarded a $63.2 million “other transaction authority” by the U.S. Navy to develop an advanced propulsion system for the Mk54 Mod 2 Advanced Lightweight Torpedo (ALWT), the company said in a release. “We have developed mission-critical propulsion and power…
Coast Guard Interdicts Illegal Foreign Fishers in Pacific
HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard interdicted several foreign vessels whose crews were fishing inside the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on two separate occasions in the first two months of 2020, according to the Coast Guard’s 14th District. “While we’ve seen incursions into the EEZs of partners and…
Navy E-2 Hawkeye Squadrons Renamed to Reflect Expanded Capabilities
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has given its E-2 Hawkeye squadrons a new designation to more accurately reflect the aircraft’s expanded capabilities and missions. The service has changed the name from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron to Airborne Command and Control Squadron, effective Jan….
USS Delbert D. Black Completes Builder’s Trials
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — The future guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black successfully completed builder’s trials on Feb. 22 after spending three days underway in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Navy’s Program Executive Office (PEO)-Ships. The trials were conducted by the shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Shipbuilding Division. The…
Second Virginia-Class Sub in Fiscal 2021 Tops Navy’s Unfunded Priority List
ARLINGTON, Va. — A Virginia-class attack submarine heads the U.S. Navy’s fiscal 2021 unfunded priorities list, according to Feb. 19 letter to Congress from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday. Three types of aircraft and one logistics proof-of-concept ship round out the top…
12th Expeditionary Fast Transport Launched
MOBILE, Ala. — The U.S. Navy’s 12th expeditionary fast transport (EPF), the future USNS Newport (EPF 12), was launched at Austal USA’s shipyard on Feb. 20, according to the Navy’s Program Executive Office-Ships said. The launching of an EPF is a multistep process. The ship modules are…
As Part of Investment Plans, Coast Guard Creating Major Base in South Carolina
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Coast Guard is expanding its Charleston, South Carolina, station into a major Atlantic base and home to its newest class of cutters. In addition to five 418-foot national security cutters, the Coast Guard’s largest and…
Digital Modernization Among the Money Savers That Could Help Navy Reach 355 Ships, Modly Says
WASHINGTON — Digital modernization of U.S. Navy back-office operations is a largely overlooked activity that can improve readiness, cut costs and deliver educational content and training to personnel, acting Navy Secretary Thomas B. Modly said on Feb. 21. Participating in…
