ARLINGTON, Virginia — The Marine Corps commandant has issued his plans for a major redesign of the Marine Corps’ force structure by 2030, with substantial reductions in some venerable weapon systems and increases in new systems. For example, traditional tube…
Marine Corps to Double UAS Squadrons, Reduce Rotary Squadrons by 2030
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps is planning to change its aviation community significantly as part of a long-range effort to align its force structure more with the National Defense Strategy, including doubling the number of unmanned aerial system (UAS) squadrons and…
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…
NAVAIR Orders Six VH-92 Presidential Helicopters From Sikorsky
ARLINGTON, Va. — Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Sikorsky a second production contract to build VH-92A helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps, the company said in a release. The VH-92A has been selected to provide transport for the president of the United…
Oshkosh Defense Receives $407.3 Million Order for JLTVs
OSHKOSH, Wis. — Oshkosh Defense said the U.S. Army Contracting Command-Detroit Arsenal has placed an order for 1,240 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and associated kits. The U.S. Marine Corps also will use the JLTV. In addition to the Marines, this order includes…
Marine Corps to Shift Acquisition Strategies, Training for China Rivalry, Commandant Says
WASHINGTON — To meet the pressing needs of the National Defense Strategy (NDS), the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are discarding development measures that have slowed the production of new amphibious ships and other platforms, Marine Commandant Gen. David H….
Navy’s 2021 Budget Cuts Marines Corps Funding, End Strength
The U.S. Navy is seeking to shave $1.4 billion from the Marine Corps fiscal year 2021 budget request and to reduce the active-duty force by 2,100, according to new Defense Department budget documents. The Marines’ piece of the Navy Department’s…
Marine Squadron Completes F/A-18 Phase-Out
ARLINGTON, Va. — The next U.S. Marine aircraft squadron scheduled for transition to the F-35 Lightning II strike fighter made its last flight in an F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter Jan. 23. The flight by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (All-Weather) 225 (VMFA(AW)-225), based at Marine Corps…
New Shotgun-like Ammo Could Shield LCS from Drones
ARLINGTON, Va. – Naval ordnance experts will be testing heavy weapons precision ammunition, that could hit enemy drones “like a shotgun blast,” offering a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) shield for littoral combat ships (LCS). Rogue civilian drones and enemy attack…
Blackjack UAS Fielding Complete for Navy, Marine Corps
ARLINGTON, Va. — The fielding of the RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial system achieved full operational capability in 2019, Navy’s program manager said. Col. John Neville, the Blackjack’s program manager for the Program Executive Office-Unmanned and Strike Weapons, told Seapower at…
