APOPKA, Fla. — Northrop Grumman Corp. has been selected to build prototype Next Generation Handheld Targeting Systems (NGHTS) for the U.S. Marine Corps. These handheld systems will enable forward observers to quickly and efficiently acquire and designate targets with a high level of precision. 

“Our latest solution, based on our decades of experience in delivering handheld targeting systems, will provide the mobility and precision that forward observers need,” said Bob Gough, vice president of land and avionics C4ISR for Northrop Grumman. “Combined with network connectivity, these capabilities will enable more informed and rapid targeting decisions.” 

The systems developed under the second phase of the NGHTS program are designed to replace three legacy systems, incorporating their separate target location, laser spot imaging and laser target designation capabilities into a single, lightweight system. 

Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 20,000 man-portable target location and designation systems to the Department of Defense.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Northrop Grumman Corp. successfully operated the AQS-24 mine-hunting sonar at depths greater than 400 feet during testing off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to a company release. 

Embarked on the M/V Richard Becker, the Northrop Grumman test team demonstrated reliable AQS-24 system operations with excellent sonar performance at all tested depths while using the system to classify bottom objects of interest. 

“The AQS-24 mine-hunting system performed superbly at tow depths up to and beyond 400 feet,” said Alan Lytle, vice president of undersea systems for Northrop Grumman. “This latest internal research and development effort underscores our commitment to provide the most innovative, affordable and operationally proven capabilities to meet the Navy’s littoral combat ship mine countermeasures mission package requirements and future expeditionary MCM needs.” 

Earlier this year, Northrop Grumman demonstrated an autonomy upgrade path for the mine-hunting system by integrating and successfully testing the company’s image exploitation suite, incorporating state-of-the-art machine learning for automatic target recognition ATR using multiple ATR algorithms. Following this successful demonstration, the U.S. Navy plans to incorporate this new capability into existing AQS-24 mine-hunting systems. 

The success of the deep tow is now followed by the recently commenced in-water testing of Northrop Grumman’s AQS-24 system on the Navy’s MCM unmanned surface vessel (USV) at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City. This is in preparation for user operated evaluation system testing aboard littoral combat ships next year. The AQS-24’s newly doubled depth capability is planned for integration and test with the MCM USV system. 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s program for its next-generation ballistic-missile submarine (SSBN), the Columbia class, is on track to start construction on time, but the program has a tight schedule with little margin for delay, the program manager said. 

“Our biggest risk today is the supplier base,” said Capt. Jon Rucker, program manager for the Columbia SSBN, speaking Oct. 8 at the eighth annual TRIAD Conference in the Washington, D.C., area.  

Rucker pointed out that when construction of the current Ohio class began, a supplier base of 17,000 companies contributed to the materiel and systems for the boat. Today, the Columbia program is pressing forward with only 3,000 suppliers. 

The supply of skilled shipyard workers also is a concern to Rucker. He noted that General Dynamics Electric Boat, the prime contractor for the Columbia, is increasing its workforce to 20,000 from 17,000 workers. But the hiring is drawing skilled workers from naval shipyards that routinely maintain subs and carriers. 

Rucker said that robots have been used in building the Common Missile Compartment for the Columbia class and the U.K. Royal Navy’s Dreadnought-class SSBN. Robots used in welding the missile tubes to the bottom of the hull section took 44 minutes and 8 seconds, compared with 4 days for a human worker. 

Electric Boat has invested $1.8 billion in facilities to build the Columbia class and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division is spending $800 million to $900 million to support the construction, Rucker said.  

About 10 percent of the construction of the lead boat, Columbia, already has begun but its formal start is scheduled for Oct. 1, 2020. The first Columbia SSBN needs to be on patrol by the beginning of fiscal 2031, on Oct. 1, 2030. The program goal is to build each of the following boats of the class in 84 months.  

“We will deliver at least 12 Columbia-class SSBNs by 2042,” Rucker said, with emphasis on “at least.” 

The Navy operates 14 Ohio-class missile submarines, which are scheduled for an extended service life of 42.5 years. The last Ohio-class boat built, USS Louisiana, recently entered its final refueling period to extend its life. The Ohio class is scheduled to begin retirement in 2027. 

“We can’t extend them anymore,” Rucker said. 

Rucker noted that the Columbia program has a high design maturity, with a design that will be 83% at construction start. By contrast, the Ohio design was only 2% complete at construction start.  

“We make sure we keep stable requirements,” he said. 

“We own this platform cradle to grave,” Rucker said, noting that the program office will be responsible for sustainment in addition to construction. 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutters Joseph Tezanos and Heriberto Hernandez repatriated 82 migrants from the Dominican Republic and five Haitians to a Dominican navy vessel on Oct. 7 following the interdiction of five illegal migrant voyages in Mona Passage, according to a Coast Guard release. 

Eight other Dominican migrants remain in Puerto Rico to face possible federal prosecution for trying to illegally re-enter the United States. 

The interdictions were a result of ongoing efforts in support of operations Unified Resolve and Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG). Since Oct. 1, 2018, the Coast Guard and CBIG federal and state partner agencies have interdicted 2,078 migrants at sea near Puerto Rico. 

“The Coast Guard, along with our partners in the Caribbean Border Interagency Group, remains postured with cutters and aircraft to stop illegal maritime migration in the Mona Passage and the Caribbean,” said Capt. Eric King, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan. 

The first interdiction took place on the morning of Oct. 4, after a U.S. Customs and Border Protection air and marine operations DHC-8 patrol aircraft crew sighted a migrant boat just off Mona Island. The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk diverted to the scene and interdicted the 17-foot migrant vessel with 13 Dominican men aboard. Hours later, the crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft detected a second migrant boat near Mona Island. Mohawk interdicted that vessel, which had another 20 Dominican men aboard. 

The third and fourth interdictions took place Oct. 5 after a HC-144 and the crew of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen detected two illegal voyages in Mona Passage. Heriberto Hernandez interdicted one of the vessels, which carried 14 Dominican migrants, 12 men and two women, and the other with 34 migrants, including five Haitians, a woman and four men, and 29 Dominicans, 27 men and two women. 

The fifth interdiction took place Oct. 6 after an Ocean Sentry aircraft detected an illegal migrant voyage transiting Mona Passage. The cutter Joseph Tezanos diverted and interdicted a 25-foot makeshift vessel with 14 Dominican migrants aboard, 13 men and a woman. 

Ramey Sector Border Patrol agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, assumed custody of the eight migrants awaiting federal prosecution. 

Middletown, R.I. — Rite-Solutions recently was awarded a five-year, $16.8 million contract with Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport to support delivery of a new early warning and electronic support training capability to U.S. submarines, the company said in an Oct. 8 release. 

The company will conduct hardware and software development, including design, analysis, prototyping, integration, test, training and installation services.  

“It is exciting to able to play such a critical role in upgrading the training opportunities for the fleet,” said Ken Haner, senior vice president and director of engineering services at Rite-Solutions. “Together with our teammates, SEA CORP, Northrop Grumman and SIMVENTIONS, we know we have the correct level of expertise and capability to deliver and integrate this new capability in the Submarine Multi-Mission Team Trainer.” 

“This award confirms that Rite-Solutions’ investment in becoming just one of six companies in the United States who are appraised CMMI V2.0 Maturity Level 3, providing a clear value to the Navy,” said Mike Coffey, executive vice president and general manager at Rite-Solutions. 

The emergence of more capable missile threats — more precise
and maneuverable ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles — requires more
capable sensors in space and total integration of all missile defense systems
and sensors in space, on land and at sea, the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) director
said.

That systems integration is particularly important to the
national defense network because “we are running out of islands” in the Pacific
and “there is a lot of space to cover,” Vice Adm. Jon Hill said Oct. 7 at a
Center for Strategic and International Studies forum.

Looking at the Pacific theater, Hill said MDA has been
testing integration of the U.S. Army’s land-based THAAD and Patriot missile
defense systems. “If you tie in the ships that are off the coast, you can
defend against all sorts of threats,” he told the forum.

Hill noted that in the original MDA charter, “we’ve always
been focused on the North Korean threat, focused on the growing Iranian threat.
Now we’re moving to these other threats and different adversaries,” he said, an
apparent reference to Russia and China.

“What we’re finding as we move into the future, our
adversaries are taking a different path” in missile capabilities, with more precision
guidance, hypersonic and cruise missile, he said. “Then you get into the
unpredictability of maneuverability. It’s very challenging. It challenges your
architecture, your fire control, challenges the methods by which you engage.”

“I do believe we are at an inflection point, for our forward-deployed
forces and our friends and allies.

We have to think differently,” Hill said.

Hill showed graphics and explained the latest test of the
Ground-Based, Mid-Course system, which is the main national missile defense
capability with sensors in space, radars on the west coast and in the Pacific
and interceptors in Alaska and California. The March 25 test involved a
simulated ballistic missile with decoys. The simulated warhead and a decoy were
destroyed by two interceptors, guided by a TPY-2 radar on Wake Island, the
sea-based X-band radar and an Aegis-equipped U.S. Navy ship in the Pacific.

The interceptors in that test used the old kill vehicle. Hill
said MDA is still working on detailed requirements before issuing a request for
proposals to industry for the next-generation kill vehicle, after cancelling
the previous attempt at a new interceptor.

He described a recent visit to the Aegis Ashore site in
Romania, where construction is completed and is manned by U.S. Sailors and
Romanian personnel but is not yet operational. When completed, it will join the
Poland-based Aegis-Ashore site and the four Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke-class
destroyers based in Rota, Spain, as part of the missile defense of NATO allies.

Recently retired Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M.
Richardson advocated getting the Navy out of the dedicated BMD mission, to free
the four destroyers for broader missions.

Hill said MDA recently made the final production decision
for the new SAM-3 Block IIA missile.

He declined to answer questions about the recent
North Korean launch of what may be a submarine-capable missile and the new
missile systems displayed in China’s 70th anniversary parade, referring those
issues to intelligence agencies.

PHILADELPHIA — The V-22 fleet of tilt-rotor aircraft built by Bell Textron Inc. and Boeing has topped the milestone of 500,000 flight hours. More than 375 Ospreys logged the hours, including the U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 and the Air Force CV-22, Bell and Boeing said Oct. 7 in a joint statement. 

“The V-22 provides unmatched capability for the U.S. Marines and U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command,” said Marine Col. Matthew Kelly, the V-22’s joint program manager. “The platform’s influence on our nation’s defense is seen through its extensive operational and humanitarian impact across the globe.” 

The V-22 Osprey is the world’s only production tilt-rotor aircraft, enabling servicemen and women to conduct diverse missions throughout the most difficult operating environments. Most recently, the aircraft deployed to join relief efforts in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian. 

Bell and Boeing support V-22 readiness through a sustainment effort that includes maintenance, training, on-site field representatives and data analytics. The companies also are working with the V-22 program office on several efforts to improve V-22 readiness. The Marines’ Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization program, the Air Force’s configuration reducing modification plan, and nacelle wiring and structure improvements are expected to increase readiness. 

“V-22 is one of the highest demand platforms in the Department of Defense. This achievement is a great testament to the Marines and Air Commandos operating this platform in all environments,” said Chris Gehler, Bell V-22 vice president and Bell-Boeing deputy program director. 

“We are committed to providing unparalleled support to our partners by steadily improving Osprey readiness and capabilities now and in the future.” 

Since 2007, the V-22 has served the Marines as well as Air Force special operations. A third variant, the CMV-22, is set to join the U.S. Navy next year.

MIAMI — The Coast Guard interdicted 13 migrants and one suspected smuggler on Sept. 25 miles east of Miami, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. 

The Coast Guard Cutter William Trump crew detected a westbound 21-foot cabin cruiser about 25 miles east of Miami heading towards southeast Florida. Upon detection, the cabin cruiser crew reversed their course to go east toward the Bahamas. William Trump’s crew stopped the vessel and discovered six Jamaican migrants, six Haitian migrants, one Guyanese migrant and the suspected smuggler, a Bahamian national, aboard. 

The crew of a Coast Guard Station Miami Beach 45-foot response boat-medium transferred the 11 migrants and the suspected smuggler ashore to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for further investigation and the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell crew transferred only two of the Haitian migrants to the Bahamian Immigration Department. 

“The Coast Guard continues to maintain a focused and coordinated effort with multiple agency assets to interdict any attempt to dangerously and unlawfully immigrate by sea to the United States,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Cobb, Coast Guard Sector Miami chief of enforcement. “These illegal migrant smuggling ventures are extremely dangerous, especially during the hurricane season, and place families in danger of being lost at sea.” 

NORFOLK, Va. — After a quarter-century of worldwide operations, the guided missile cruiser USS Hué City was inducted into the cruiser modernization program on Sept. 30 at Norfolk Naval Base, entering a period of major overhaul, according to a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) release. 

The program shifts administrative control from Commander, Naval Surface  Forces Atlantic, to the Commander, NAVSEA, allowing the ships to undergo modernization to extend their service lives and air-defense commander capabilities. 

The modernization program paces the threat through the installation of the latest technological advances in combat systems and engineering, ensuring these ships remain relevant and viable throughout their entire service lives of 40 operational years. Hué City will undergo extensive structural, mechanical and combat systems upgrades and return to the fleet at peak technical readiness, fully equipped for the Sailors who will take her into harm’s way. 

“The induction of Hué City is a major milestone for the CG Mod program,” said Capt. Kevin Byrne, program manager for surface ship modernization. “Her upcoming overhaul will not only extend the life of this critical capability, but will help the Navy on its mission to grow the fleet and expand our warfighting advantage.”  

Once a ship is inducted into the modernization program, two smaller maintenance availabilities are performed to remove equipment for replacement and to conduct structural repairs. These availabilities lay the foundation for the ship to receive new and upgraded systems during a longer dry-docking.    

“This was a tremendous effort between ship’s force, maintenance team and other stakeholders,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ethan Reber, Hué City’s commanding officer. “From the beginning, lessons learned from ships inducted earlier in the process —  Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Anzio — were incorporated effectively into our planning. Our crew is ready to get started and work alongside the maintenance teams to deliver on her next milestone.” 

Six of 11 cruisers have been inducted into the modernization program and are  in various stages of returning to the fleet with modernized capability. USS Hué City is the seventh cruiser to be inducted and will be equipped with the latest technological advances in combat systems and engineering to ensure she remains warfighting relevant through the 2030s.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s submarine base in Kings Bay, Georgia, will be the first base to be readied for the Navy’s new Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine (SSBN), a Navy admiral said. 

“Kings Bay will come first, so that [construction] will be in [the] 2023 to 2025 period,” Rear Adm. John W. Korka, commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command, said in an interview with Seapower. “About a year later, we will see similar efforts at Bangor [Washington].

See More Coverage of the Columbia Class

“In Kings Bay today, the critical SSBN dry dock facility requires upgrades,” Korka said. “In support of that requirement, next year we will award a project to recapitalize the dry dock. That work is part of a $400 million-plus project.” 

The 12 planned Columbia-class SSBNs will replace the 14 Ohio-class SSBNs in service on ballistic-missile patrols beginning in 2031. The program is on a tight timeline to deliver the new SSBNs in time to assume the patrols, and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command has program officials embedded with Program Executive Office-Submarines to coordinate the infrastructure requirements of the Columbia sub program. 

“Each new class brings a new capability, so that translates to unique training and refitting associated with supporting any new platform,” Korka added. 

“I tell people to keep in mind, though, that as we are bringing the Ohio class offline, we still need to maintain the facilities to support that program and that submarine and, at the same time, we are transitioning to bringing on the Columbia class. Training and maintenance spaces are critical in that arena. I will add that there is an opportunity to use the existing spaces, but there is a requirement for a certain amount of expansion.” 

Korka added: “It’s important to note that we are introducing a new platform while there is still an operational requirement for an existing platform. As such, we need to make sure our team has the requirements right and possesses the agility of being able to change direction without losing the pace of construction. That is going to be critical element to our success — being able to adjust to meet the emerging requirements while keeping the timeline on track. That is where agility plays a key role.”   

Korka’s command also has been heavily engaged in upgrading the infrastructure in Philadelphia to support the Columbia construction. 

“What many people may not know is that the Navy produces the propulsor components and propellers at the Naval Foundry and Propeller Center in Philadelphia,” he said.

“The facilities at the Naval Surface Warfare Center portion of the annex that were part of supporting the Columbia class needed power upgrades. They additionally required construction of the power propulsion facilities primarily designed to do all the testing of components associated with the electrical drive system of the Columbia class. We awarded that project in 2015 and will complete it in the coming months. It has a full-tilt testing cell to characterize and certify the acoustic signature performance. The propulsion system then is barged up to Groton [Connecticut] to Electric Boat, where it will be installed into the submarines. This project is active and progressing along. There are other projects in Philadelphia supporting the manufacturing elements and testing labs as well, and work associated with those projects will continue.” 

“There also is a submarine propulsor manufacturing support facility that is tracking to be awarded this year as well as planning and design efforts for the training and refit facilities in support of the Columbia class,” he said.