ARLINGTON, Va. — An AV-8B Harrier II based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, crashed May 20 near Cherry Branch, according to May 20 and May 21 releases from 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Strategic Communications. The pilot…
Navy, Boeing Studying Block II Version of EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack Aircraft
ARLINGTON, Va. — Boeing is in the wrap-up stages of a trade study and architecture assessment of an upgrade — called Block II — to the Navy’s EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. The upgrade is an effort to enable the…
RE2 Robotics Receives $3 Million to Develop Dexterous Underwater Robotic Hand for U.S. Navy
PITTSBURGH — RE2 Robotics, developer of human-like robotic manipulator arms, has received $3 million from the Office of Naval Research to develop a dexterous, underwater robotic hand with tactile feedback, the company said in a release. The program, called Strong…
Coast Guard Cutter Resolute Returns Home From 60-Day Deployment
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute (WMEC-620) returned home on May 19 following a 60-day patrol in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. Upon getting underway, Resolute patrolled…
Boeing Garners Second U.S. Navy Contract for F/A-18 Service Life Modification
ST. LOUIS — Boeing has received a one-year contract to continue modernizing the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 fleet under the Service Life Modification (SLM) program, the company said in a May 17 release. The $164 million contract for fiscal 2019, which…
Romanian Navy Chief Warns of ‘New Iron Curtain’
According to Vice Adm. Alexandru Mîrşu, chief of the Romanian naval forces staff, efforts to improve security and stability in the Black Sea region have taken a step back, thanks to the aggressive activities of the Russian Federation. The Black…
Contract Awarded to Sikorsky for 12 CH-53K Heavy-Lift Helos
WASHINGTON — Naval Air Systems Command has awarded a $1.3 billion contract to Sikorsky for 12 U.S. Marine Corps CH-53K King Stallion helicopters, the command said in a release. “The Marine Corps is very appreciative of the efforts by the…
Navy Secretary Says Maritime Logistical Force is Inadequate to Support the New National Defense Strategy
The Navy’s current and planned maritime logistical force “is inadequate” to support the new National Defense Strategy and major military operations against China or Russia, and failure to correct that deficiency “could cause the United States to lose a war,”…
Navy Mk38 Gun Systems Gaining Co-Axial Small-Caliber Machine Gun
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy is installing a co-axial 7.62 mm machine gun on the mounts of its Mk38 chain gun systems, a Northrop Grumman official said. The Mk52 7.62 mm is gas-operated and uses recoil to eject spent cartridges…
Former Pacific Fleet Intel Director Warns of Widening Gap Between Chinese, U.S. Fleet Buildup
The Chinese navy already is larger than the U.S. Navy and is building ships four times as fast, with a firm goal of achieving sea control by 2030 and naval superiority by 2039, a former Pacific Fleet director of intelligence…


