From Naval Air Systems Command, June 5, 2925 

NAS PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The U.S. Marine Corps received its final MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 Extended Range (ER) Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) Gray Butte flight operations facility in California in June 2025, marking the successful completion of a three-year acquisition campaign. 

With 18 MQ-9As field to date, and now two more on the way, this final delivery represents a major milestone for Marine Corps aviation and reflects the effective collaboration between industry partners and the U.S. Air Force. 

“This program has been a model of how to do things right,” said Capt. Dennis Monagle, program manager for Multi-Mission Tactical UAS (PMA-266), whose office managed the acquisition effort. “We leveraged a strong relationship with industry and the Air Force to move quickly, stay on schedule, and deliver advanced capability to the fleet with minimal friction. It’s been a very smooth process, proof that when the right teams align, we can move at the speed the Marines need.” 

The program team continues to integrate advanced capabilities onto the platform with the upgraded MQ-9A with the SkyTower II airborne network extension pod on track to achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) later this year. The system will expand the Corps’ long-range mission in support of Force Design 2030 priorities and distributed maritime operations. 

The MQ-9A is a multi-role, medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS designed to support a variety of missions including ISR and maritime domain awareness. The Marine Corps’ adaptation of the system represents a leap in expeditionary capability, enabling operations across contested and distributed environments. 

PMA-266 oversees the MQ-9 Marine Air-Ground Task Force UAS, Expeditionary Family of Systems and is also responsible for emerging group 4 an 5 vertical lift platforms. 

June 5, 2025 | By Cindy Pray, Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Public Affairs  

The Defense Logistics Agency Maritime Mechanicsburg, located in Pennsylvania, recently awarded a $5 billion contract to six small businesses, expediting support for Virginia-class submarines and active surface ships, in a move that will significantly enhance the nation’s maritime advantage.  

The Maritime Acquisition Advancement Contract is designed to accelerate DLA’s procurement of integrated weapons systems equipment and services. The awardees will play a vital role in providing essential resources for the Navy’s latest class of advanced capability nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines.    

With five one-year options, each valued at $1 billion, the MAAC could potentially reach a total of $10 billion.   

At an April 8, 2025, hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Navy leaders emphasized that strengthening supply chain capacity is crucial to achieving the goal of building two Virginia-class submarines per year. The submarines will replace the aging Los Angeles-class fleet.  

“This contract supports a mission that’s a top priority at the highest level,” said Elizabeth Allen, DLA Maritime Mechanicsburg’s deputy director, underscoring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s emphasis on the Virginia-class program.  

The MAAC, a yearlong endeavor, culminated in a competitive acquisition process that yielded nine offers. Contracting Officer Brian Stevens said it will propel DLA’s support for the Navy into the future and highlighted its alignment with the Defense Department’s guiding principle of “speed over process.”  

“We created this vehicle to do more with less — we can do larger contracts faster, which coincides perfectly with the Virginia-class initiative,” Stevens said. “I’m very proud of the work we’ve done.”  

Allen further explained that the multi-award structure was essential to handle the sheer volume and requirements.  

“There are significantly long lead times the Navy faces … this contracting vehicle streamlines and reduces our end of the administrative lead time,” she noted, adding that “it leverages innovative methods to get items into contract quickly.”  

Timothy McCloskey, acquisition director for DLA Maritime Mechanicsburg, explained the contract’s widespread impact is broad in scope.  

“It’s not just a benefit for DLA here in Mechanicsburg; it’s a benefit for any other buying activity that wants to use it,” he said.  

Nestled within Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, DLA Maritime Mechanicsburg is responsible for procuring depot-level repairable assets, directly supporting Naval Supply Systems Command’s surface, submarine and aircraft carrier operations. The detachment falls under Columbus, Ohio-based DLA Land and Maritime, which manages the supply chains for thousands of land-based and sea-based weapons systems.  

Allen said the team has already engaged with other DLA detachments and naval shipyards and is planning roadshows to reach other commands that may want to utilize the contract vehicle. She stressed the MAAC’s inherent flexibility and responsiveness to the dynamic needs of the Navy and its warfighters.  

“It’s one team, one fight,” she said. “We’re working together with the Navy — they’re excited about this contract vehicle, and we’re engaged with industry. They’re seeing the benefits. They know the need, they know the criticality of the items and they’re ready to go.”  

June 4, 2025 | By C. Todd Lopez, D0D News 

The joint force alone can’t defend against the threats the United States faces today; it’s going to need help from the community of innovators responsible for driving America’s efforts on artificial intelligence, said Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the AI+ Expo in Washington today.  

“We cannot do this alone. We have to do this … together. And frankly, my friends, the joint force needs your help,” he said.  

Right now, Caine said, the U.S. is dealing with an array of threats on the global stage, including the growth and increased activity of China’s military, events in the Middle East, the war between Russia and Ukraine, North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and counterterrorism activities.  

He added that the country is facing an “axis of aligned powers” that have differing views from those of the U.S.  

“Our adversaries are working together, sharing technologies and intelligence at unprecedented levels — decreasing the time required for them to field advanced technologies,” he said, noting the U.S. must produce its technology faster while working with private industry.  

The general also acknowledged that working with the government can be a challenge for the private sector, and the federal government must make it easier for them to bring technology to the warfighter.  

“Together, we’ve got to be focused on fighting the next war, not fighting the last war,” he said. “We need entrepreneurs, both in the private sector and in government.”  

Caine said the joint force must continue to evolve to meet the needs of the president, the defense secretary and the nation, and noted that there are a handful of things it will need to do so.  

“We’ve got to be properly armed,” he said. “We owe it to our nation’s warfighters to have the right combat capability with the right capacity, at the time that commanders in the field are contemplating plans and activities — not at the point of crisis or conflict.”  

Accomplishing that, he said, means bringing in the right technology, including weapons, capabilities and decision-making tools. It also means having an acquisition process that allows the department to get those things.  

“We’ve got to do some work on the requirements process, and I acknowledge that there are times, oftentimes, that the [U.S. government] needs to be better buyers,” he said. “I know this from my time in the private sector, where I tried to sell things to the government when I was an entrepreneur — it’s hard; it’s not easy.” 

Secondly, Caine said, the Defense Department must be globally integrated. Combatant commands, geographical and functional commands and military services must be connected with other agencies, allies and partners.  

The department must also integrate with technology innovators, he said. “[We must] scale that capability in order to meet the challenges that we need to. We’re doing awesome, but we can do more.”  

Finally, Caine said, the military must be ready for what comes next.  

“We’ve got to be clear-eyed that the joint force of the future needs to be organized, trained, equipped and rehearsed to be able to go not when we might want to, but to be able to go when we need to,” he said. “Our systems need to be built for the war of the future, not the war of the past — and this means using technology and innovation at the tactical edge.”  

Caine called on the private sector for assistance. “Your nation needs you with a sense of urgency,” he told industry partners.   

“We need your creative, innovative, patriotic and diabolical minds, 24/7, 365,” he said. “Peace in our nation will not be won by the legacy systems that we’ve had or the legacy thinking. It will be determined by the entrepreneurs and innovators and leaders, both in government and out of government, that create overwhelming strength.”  

Innovations in AI, cyber, autonomy, space, energy, advanced manufacturing, data and computing power are what the chairman outlined as the most needed.  

“We need your help with this,” he said. “I need you inspired to help us. You’ve got the agility, the boldness, the culture and spirit to do these big things, and we welcome your ideas.” 

From the Department of Defense, June 4, 2025 

ARLINGTON, Va. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the President has nominated Navy Vice Adm. Charles B. Cooper II for appointment to the grade of admiral, with assignment as commander, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Cooper is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. 

Below is Cooper’s official biography from the Navy’s website: 

“Vice Adm. Brad Cooper is the son of a career Army Officer. He is a 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and earned a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University. He studied international relations at Harvard and Tufts Universities. Cooper is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. 

A career Surface Warfare Officer, he has deployed on ships to every combatant command theater of operation and served a tour on the ground in Afghanistan. He most recently served for nearly three years in Bahrain as commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, FIFTH Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. Other command tours include service as commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic; commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 in Okinawa, Japan; and, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea. His ship commands include USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64). 

Ashore, he served as the Navy Chief of Legislative Affairs and Director, Surface Warfare Officer assignments (Pers-41). He has also served in a variety of executive and military assistant roles in the White House, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Pacific Fleet headquarters. 

Cooper is a recipient of the Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Award for Visionary Leadership. 

He is particularly proud of the thousands of extraordinary men and women with whom he has served at sea and ashore all around the world. His amazing Sailors on USS Gettysburg earned the Battenberg Cup as the best ship, submarine or aircraft carrier in the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet.” 

From Honeywell, June 3, 2025 

PHOENIX, June 3, 2025 – Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) has been selected by L3Harris Technologies to support its development of custom tactical jamming pods designed to modernize the U.S. Navy’s airborne electronic attack capability. The contract win comes on the heels of Honeywell’s acquisition of CAES Systems Holdings, LLC, completed in September 2024. 

The U.S. Navy awarded L3 Technologies Inc., Communication Systems-West a $587.4 million contract for the engineering and manufacturing development of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band system. Honeywell’s portion of the work will take place at its Lansdale, Pennsylvania facility. 

“Honeywell’s world-class manufacturing facilities and specialized capabilities enable us to provide reliable solutions for some of today’s most critical missions,” said Brad Westphal, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies president of Electromagnetic Defensive Solutions. “As we work together to bring the latest technologies to our Armed Forces, we look forward to continuing to be a trusted partner of L3Harris and the Navy.” 

“Honeywell’s Lansdale site has a proven history of developing, producing, and delivering reliable electronic warfare technology,” said Clayton McClain, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies general manager, Mission Systems division. “We’re proud to support the Navy and L3Harris as they remain on the forefront of advanced technology to stay ahead of adversaries.” 

The Next Generation Jammer Low Band system is part of a larger system that will augment and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System on the EA-18G Growler aircraft. Using the latest software and active electronically scanned array technologies, the Next Generation Jammer will provide enhanced airborne electronic attack capabilities to disrupt, deny, and degrade enemy air defense and ground communication systems. This latest increment will counter a larger capacity of adversary systems in the low-frequency electromagnetic spectrum. 

Honeywell is a premier supplier of advanced electronic systems that enable customers to fully utilize the electromagnetic spectrum by combining decades of experience with electronic warfare systems and advanced technology. Learn more about Honeywell’s electronic warfare capabilities here.  

From U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, June 4, 2025 

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis (WAGB 21), the Coast Guard’s first polar icebreaker acquired in more than 25 years, departed on its initial voyage to safeguard U.S. sovereign interests in the Arctic and conduct Coast Guard missions.  

Storis’ departure marks an early milestone in the service’s transformation through Force Design 2028 (FD2028), which includes reforming Coast Guard acquisitions to rapidly deploy capabilities to execute the Coast Guard’s missions. 

The motor vessel Aiviq, acquired Dec. 20, 2024, from an Edison Chouest Offshore subsidiary, was renamed Storis following modifications to enhance communications and self-defense capabilities. The vessel will expand U.S. operational presence in the Arctic and support Coast Guard missions while the service awaits the delivery of the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) class. The Coast Guard will continue evaluating the cutter’s condition and requirements to achieve full operational capability. 

Storis is commanded by Captain Keith M. Ropella who currently serves as chief of cutter forces at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C., and previously commanded Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10), from July 2022 to July 2024. 

The vessel is manned with a hybrid crew consisting of military cuttermen and civilian mariners. This is the second vessel in Coast Guard history to bear the name Storis. The original Storis, known as the “Galloping Ghost of the Alaskan Coast,” had a storied history conducting 64 years of icebreaking operations in Alaska and the Arctic before being decommissioned in 2007. 

Storis will be commissioned this August in Juneau, Alaska, which will eventually be the vessel’s permanent homeport. Until the necessary shore infrastructure improvements are completed in Juneau, Storis will be temporarily berthed in Seattle, Washington, with the Service’s two other polar icebreakers. 

The acquisition was made possible through the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 and fiscal year 2024 appropriations. It does not affect the ongoing procurement of PSCs and is not part of the PSC program of record. 

The Coast Guard operates the United States’ fleet of icebreakers to assure access to the polar regions to protect U.S. sovereignty. To fulfill this mission and meet operational needs in the polar regions, the Coast Guard requires a fleet of eight to nine polar icebreakers. In support of the President’s intent to acquire at least 40 new icebreakers, the Coast Guard is working to replace, modernize and grow its aging fleet of icebreakers, which currently includes three polar icebreakers, 21 domestic icebreakers and 16 ice-capable buoy tenders. As the United States’ third polar icebreaker, Storis will provide near-term operational presence and support national security as a bridging strategy until the full complement of PSCs is delivered. 

Announced by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on May 21, FD 2028 is a blueprint to transform the Coast Guard into a stronger, more ready and capable fighting force. This initiative will include campaigns focused on people, organization, contracting and acquisition, and technology. You can read more about FD 2028 here: Force Design 2028. 

From RTX, June 04, 2025  

Award represents largest production contract to date 

TUCSON, Ariz., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, was awarded a $1.1 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to produce AIM-9X Block II missiles. This is the largest contract awarded for the program and will increase production to 2,500 missiles per year. 

“This award represents a historic milestone for the AIM-9X program, further emphasizing its importance to the U.S. and partnered nations,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. “Through our partnership with the U.S. Navy, we are well-positioned to support this increased demand.” 

AIM-9X is the most advanced infrared-tracking, short-range, air-to-air and surface-to-air missile that is combat proven in several theaters around the world. It is configured for easy installation on a wide range of modern aircraft and provides proven layered defense with ground-launched capabilities, including the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS. 

A U.S. Navy-led joint program with the U.S. Air Force, AIM-9X is used by over 30 allied and partner nations and continues to gain international interest. 

From U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs, June 4, 2025 

SAN DIEGO – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) departed Naval Base San Diego, June 3, 2025, to support operations in the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) area of responsibility. 

Sampson is relieving littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), continuing the Navy’s role in maritime operations that support national security priorities. 
Sampson will conduct operations in direct support of USNORTHCOM’s mission to protect the homeland by enhancing maritime domain awareness and deterring illicit activities in coordination with U.S. interagency and law enforcement partners. 
 
The deployment is part of the Department of Defense’s support to national objectives along the U.S. southern border, following Presidential directives and ongoing interagency efforts to improve border security and homeland defense. 
 
During this deployment, Sampson will operate with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET). This joint presence strengthens the ship’s ability to conduct maritime interdiction operations, contribute to border security, and support counter-narcotics efforts and humanitarian missions as needed. 
 
As a surface combatant assigned to Destroyer Squadron 9, Sampson brings robust multi-mission capabilities to the task of defending U.S. sovereignty and supporting homeland defense operations in coordination with USNORTHCOM. 
 
USFFC is responsible for manning, training, equipping and employing more than 125 ships, 1,000 aircraft, and 103,000 active-duty service members and government employees, and providing combat-ready forces forward to numbered fleets and combatant commanders around the globe in support of U.S. national interests. 
 
USFFC also serves as the Navy’s Service Component Commander to both USNORTHCOM and U.S. Strategic Command, providing naval forces in support of joint missions as Commander, Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH) and Commander, Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT). USFFC is the Strategic Command Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC STRAT) and executes Task Force Atlantic in coordination with U.S. Naval Forces Europe. 

From BAE Systems, June 4, 2025 

IFF technical refresh positions the Department of Defense to meet future cyber and crypto requirements and eliminates obsolescence 

GREENLAWN, N.Y. — June 4, 2025 — The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems $30 million to refresh the AN/APX-123A(V) Common Transponder (CXP), which provides time-critical insights that help prevent friendly fire incidents. The refreshed CXP will support the U.S. Navy fleet and joint forces for air defense, weapon systems, air traffic control, and range instrumentation. 

The upgrade will serve as a replacement option for currently installed Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders on existing and emerging platforms including unmanned aerial vehicles, ships, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters. As a form, fit, and function replacement, its design will address obsolescence and processing capacity to support future needs. The open-system architecture design and high-density field programmable gate array technology ensures ongoing versatility and future utility through software upgrades, without the risk and cost associated with hardware modifications.  

“Common transponders provide our service men and women with a reliable and secure solution to help them identify friendly forces and make decisions in a variety of threat environments,” said Seth Guanu, Combat Identification Products program area director at BAE Systems. “The level of speed, security, and accuracy matters to support interoperability across U.S. forces. This modernization effort enables us to deliver a critical capability to thousands of existing applications and equip emerging platforms.” 

The AN/APX-123A(V) CXP will be Mark XIIB IFF certified with Mode S and Mode 5 for secure and encrypted data exchange – meeting latest Department of Defense standards. It will also include additional receive channels for passive acquisition of Mode 5 Level 2 and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast In, enhancing situational awareness for warfighters. It will provide high-performance, multi-function capabilities while supporting the latest crypto requirements. 

With more than 80 years of IFF experience, BAE Systems has delivered over 1,500 interrogators, 6,000 combined interrogator transponder systems, and 16,000 transponders. 

The AN/APX-123A(V) CXP technical refresh work will be performed at BAE Systems’ Greenlawn, New York and Austin, Texas facilities. Production hardware is expected to be qualified for flight and delivered to users in 2027. 

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on June 3 released the text of the defense portion of the reconciliation bill, named the One Big Beautiful Bill.

 The defense portion was negotiated by members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees in coordination with the White House and the Department of Defense.

“This bill is a landmark down payment toward the modernization of our military and our defense capabilities,” Wicker said in a statement. “It represents a generational upgrade for our national security with historic funding for Golden Dome, American manufacturing, innovative unmanned technology, and new shipbuilding efforts.”

Among other things, the bill would:

• Approve $9 billion to improve servicemember quality of life, including housing modernization, childcare and education improvements, and health care.
• Authorize $29 billion for shipbuilding to expand the maritime industrial base, build 13 battle force ships, and rapidly grow an unmanned fleet.
• Provide $25 billion for the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system, including space-based missile interceptors.
• Provide $23 billion to re-stock crucial munitions, rebuild U.S. supply chains for critical minerals and expand advanced manufacturing capacity.
• Authorize $16 billion to scale production of innovative low-cost and next-gen weapons like drones, counter-drone tech, cheap munitions, and artificial intelligence.
• Provide $9 billion for air superiority, including accelerating delivery of next-generation aircraft and autonomous systems.
• Authorize $12 billion for Pacific deterrence, including expanding military exercises in the region, building infrastructure to defend forces and conduct military operations in the Western Pacific and improving Taiwan’s defense.
• Provide $3.3 billion for border security and funds Department of Defense personnel and logistics support to help carry out the administration’s border, immigration and counterdrug enforcement agenda.

“The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are committed to implementing President Trump’s peace through strength agenda with a generational investment in our national defense,” said Mike Rogers (R-Alabama), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.