JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — The Department of Defense submitted on Sept. 7 its updated plan to defuel the Red Hill Bulk Underground Storage Facility to the Hawaii Department of Health, Commander Navy Region Hawaii public affairs said in a release.

Under the analysis completed as of the submission of Supplement 1.A, DoD projects completion of defueling by July 2024.  

The new timeline reflects the DoD’s commitment to defuel Red Hill safely while consolidating and accelerating work at every opportunity. A team of experts from DoD, Navy and Defense Logistics Agency worked together over two months to refine and improve the defueling plan. The team condensed the repair timeline, determined certain activities could be conducted in parallel, and reduced the duration of the final phase of defueling from 8 months to approximately 5 months.   

The DoD Red Hill Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A includes information on the DoD unpacking plan, infrastructure repairs and enhancements, training updates, schedule updates, and general comments addressing DOH feedback. Moving forward, DoD will continue to identify opportunities to accelerate timelines without sacrificing safety.   

“This plan represents considerable work by our DoD and Navy team along with the regulators, and we remain completely focused on the safe and expeditious defueling of the facility,” said Rear Adm. Steve Barnett, commander, Navy Region Hawaii. “As we move forward, we will continually refine and improve this plan, and keep stakeholders and the community informed throughout the process. Every action we take must protect the environment and the community.” 

The DoD plans to provide the Department of Health with an additional defueling plan supplement later this month. The next supplement will incorporate analysis from recent and expected studies that DoD did not receive in time to address in Supplemental 1.A, and which may identify additional infrastructure modifications to support defueling. If the incorporation of the above reports and their findings affect the defueling plan and its timelines, the next supplement will provide supporting details. 

Throughout execution of this plan, DoD will coordinate with DOH and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to meet the requirements of and timelines established in the State’s Emergency Order, ensure compliance with environmental safeguards and defuel Red Hill in accordance with applicable federal, state and local regulations. 

More information on the defueling work, including the updated plan, can be found here: www.navy.mil/jointbasewater. 

PACIFIC OCEAN — Independence-variant littoral combat ships USS Jackson (LCS 6) and USS Oakland (LCS 24) deployed to the Oceania region with embarked U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team detachments to conduct maritime law enforcement operations in support of U.S. and Pacific Island nations fisheries laws, August 2022, Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One Public Affairs Office said Sept. 7. 

The Oceania Maritime Support Initiative (OMSI) is a secretary of defense program that leverages Department of Defense assets transiting the region to improve maritime security and maritime domain awareness, ultimately supporting regional stability and partnerships in Oceania. 

“The joint Navy and Coast Guard OMSI mission capitalizes on the agility and mission adaptability LCS was designed for,” said Cmdr. Derek Jaskowiak, commanding officer of Oakland. “It is our privilege to support our partner nations through presence in Oceania and to ensure continued security, stability, and prosperity throughout the region.” 

Finishing up their OMSI patrol in late August, Oakland operated alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, a detachment from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 35, and partners throughout the region to suppress illicit maritime activities like illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing and transnational crime. 

“Partnering with the U.S. Navy in support of the OMSI mission enables the Coast Guard to extend our reach into and throughout Oceania as the tyranny of distance when operating in the Pacific is exceptionally vast,” said Lt. C.K. Williams, chief intelligence officer of USCG Sector Honolulu. 

Jackson will continue the OMSI mission through September 2022. 

ROTA, Spain — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departed the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, marking the end of its time as a Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) Destroyer, Sept. 6, said U.S. 6th announced Sept. 7. 

USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), named after Paul Ignatius who served as the secretary of the Navy from 1967 to 1969, replaced Ross in the third of four scheduled homeport shifts to occur in support of the U.S. Navy’s long-range plan to gradually rotate the Rota-based destroyers. USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) replaced USS Carney (DDG 64) in the first homeport shift and USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) replaced USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) in the second.   

“Ross and her crew performed admirably while operating as a FDNF-E destroyer,” said Capt. Ed Sundberg, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 60 and Task Force 65. “For eight years, the entire Ross team stood shoulder to shoulder with our allies and partners building interoperability and bolstering capabilities by playing critical roles in exercises and operations.” 

Ross joined USS Donald Cook in June 2014 as the first two Rota-based FDNF-E destroyers under Commander, Task Force 65. Upon arrival to C6F, Ross executed its first patrol in the Baltic Sea participating in Sea Breeze with Ukraine. 

After 12 patrols while assigned to U.S. 6th Fleet, Ross wrapped up its final patrol in the Mediterranean while operating alongside NATO allies and regional partners during the onset of the Russian invasion into Ukraine. Ross’s contribution as an FDNF-E ship has demonstrated the U.S.’s enduring commitment to its NATO allies and partners. 

Ross’ commitment to NATO Allies and regional partners extended well beyond the Mediterranean. During its eight years sailing from Rota, Spain, Ross frequented exercises and operations with allies in the Black Sea, Baltic Sea, Barents, Artic Circle and off the coast of Africa and visited numerous countries. 

“Today’s challenges require strong alliances and partnerships that demonstrate our integration and interoperability capabilities. I am extremely grateful for for the opportunities Ross has had, and humbled to have the privilege serving overseas with such a phenomenal crew,” said Cmdr. Scott Jones, Ross’ commanding officer. “Our experiences in 6th Fleet have been priceless, and we will not soon forget the lessons we have learned, or the friendships we have made, as we set sail to Norfolk.” 

Throughout Ross’ time in U.S. 6th Fleet, the ship participated in previous iterations of Exercise Sea Breeze, Breeze, African Lion, FOST, BALTOPs, Formidable Shield and other multi-lateral maritime training opportunities with partners to include Cyprus, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Norway, Romania, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Mission sets during these exercises included surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare, anti-air warfare, and strike warfare scenarios that focus on maintaining maritime stability and security. 

Ross completed one final underway to the Baltic Sea to ensure freedom of navigation of the high seas by establishing its presence and working with NATO allies in the region. 

Named after Medal of Honor recipient Donald Kirby Ross for his action during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Ross is scheduled to return to its former homeport of Norfolk, Virginia. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — As fiscal 2022 approaches its close, the Navy and Marine Corps are set to reach their recruiting goals, the Navy Department’s undersecretary said. But the department is not resting, looking ahead to future years to sustained campaigning in the face of demographic challenges. 

“The latest information that I have is that both the Navy and Marine Corps are set to meet their targets for this year,” said Erik Raven, undersecretary of the Navy, speaking Sept. 7 at the Defense News Conference in Arlington.  

“We are looking very carefully at what the next fiscal year — 2023 — will mean,” Raven said. “There are some challenges there. Secretary [of the Navy Carlos] Del Toro has directed that we have an organized campaign to make sure that we are able to meet our recruiting goals, not just in ’22 but in ’23 and beyond. That means keeping very close track. I’ve made some really good friends at the recruiting commands because we’re talking almost all the time about where we are on our numbers, what we’re hearing from recruiting stations across the nation. I’ve talked with recruiters and understand the headwinds that they’re facing.” 

Raven said the headwinds involve several issues. 

“When unemployment is low, recruiting is more challenging,” he said. “We’re also seeing the propensity of Americans to serve — and the ability to serve — has been declining over time.  

“We really to engage with the public in a new way to help explain what the value of military service is to our nation, not just as a Navy and Marine Corps equity, but in terms of the career opportunities young people can pursue, what the compensation benefits of military service are, and what we can provide for, not just a career in the military, but outside the military,” he said.  

“We’re pulling out all the stops to be able to do that, and a lot of this will also be engaging with schools,” he said. “We need to make sure that our recruiters have access to schools, to just have that conversation and offer up opportunities to young Americans who may be looking at their options as they graduate.”   

Also speaking at the conference was Gen. Eric Smith, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, who was asked by an attendee what keeps him up at night. 

“As a father of a Marine, what keeps me up at night is people and recruiting,” Smith said. “We are at a point now where recruiting is a challenge and I think we are all collectively not doing a good enough job of explaining the virtue and value of military service. … Military service is not just a good thing. It is an honorable thing. 

“There’s this narrative out there that you come in, you’re going to leave broken, you’re going to leave damaged,” the general said. “A small percentage, yes. We put our lives on the line, as you know for certain, when we go to war. But in the main, you come in, and you leave four to 35 years later, with a skill that you didn’t have. What keeps me up at night is trying to remind people, is that we are warfighters, we bring lethality, that’s what we do: we defend the Constitution. … the value of military service is that you defend your Constitution, defend your nation, gain a skill, and return to civil society as, hopefully, a better person than we found you.  

“But that narrative seems to be getting lost, and that concerns me, because we do have to recruit and retain our people, because people are the most valuable thing,” he said. “That’s who fight and win wars. Machines don’t do that; it’s people.” 

ORANJESTAD, Aruba — The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10) arrived in the port of Oranjestad on the island of Aruba, Aug. 7, during its deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations, the fleet’s public affairs office said Sept. 3. 
 
Its mission is to provide expeditionary maintenance to deployed littoral combat ships operating in the region, conduct theater security cooperation engagements to maintain access, enhance interoperability with the Dutch military, and build enduring partnerships in the Caribbean, Central and South American areas of responsibility. 
 
“Theater security cooperation events are important because every single one of our allies and partners brings a unique perspective and background to the table,” says Lt. Christopher Martinez, the officer-in-charge of the military detachment aboard the Burlington. “It increases each of our capabilities as a whole as we learn from each other.” 
 
The crew aboard Burlington invited the Dutch Marines and military police to tour the vessel to demonstrate some of the capabilities the ship possesses. Events like these help reaffirm the United States’ commitment to its allies and partner nations with tangible actions and assets. 
 
While aboard the Burlington, the Dutch military police performed active shooter response drills with the U.S. Navy embarked personnel. 
 
“Working with the Dutch proves there’s more than one solution to a problem,” says Chief Master-At-Arms Robert Abreu. “We both approached the problem a bit differently, and after coming together to talk a bit more, we came up with some techniques that we were both satisfied with.” 

MANAMA, Bahrain — The U.S. Navy intercepted an Iranian warship that seized and detained two U.S. unmanned surface vessels operated by U.S. 5th Fleet in the Red Sea, Sept. 1, two days after Iran was unsuccessful in seizing a similar vessel in the Arabian Gulf, the fleet said Sept. 2.

Jamaran (FFLG 76), an Islamic Republic of Iran Navy ship, seized two Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessels operating near one another in international waters before returning the vessels to the U.S. Navy the next day. 
 
The unmanned surface vessels were unarmed and taking unclassified photos of the surrounding environment while loitering in an assigned patrol area at least four nautical miles from the nearest maritime traffic lane. The vessels posed no risk to naval traffic and had been operating in the general vicinity of the Southern Red Sea for more than 200 consecutive days without incident. 
 
At around 2 p.m. (local time) on Sept. 1, U.S. 5th Fleet detected the Iranian ship approaching both unmanned vessels and removing them from the water. U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94) and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) were operating nearby and immediately responded. Nitze and Delbert D. Black also each launched an MH-60R Sea Hawk from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 48. 
 
Nitze and Delbert D. Black remained on scene communicating with the Iranian warship to deescalate the situation and recover the seized Saildrones. The Iranian warship released the Saildrones at 8 a.m. on Sept. 2. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — Adm. Lisa Franchetti was sworn in as the 42nd Vice Chief of Naval Operations when she assumed duties from Adm. William Lescher in a ceremony at the Pentagon, Sept. 2, the Navy said in a release. 

“I am grateful for all that Adm. Bill Lescher has done for our Navy and our nation,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday. “Bill always led by example, ensuring our warfighting culture is one focused on continuous improvement and teamwork. His leadership, guidance and initiatives will positively impact the maritime balance of power for years to come.” 

“The Navy and the nation are grateful for you and your family’s service,” Gilday added. 

Lescher, who served as VCNO from May 2020 to now, is retiring after 42 years of naval service.  

“It has been a privilege to serve as Vice Chief. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead, and serve alongside, so many exceptional Sailors throughout my time in the Navy. Our focus has always been on accelerating the Navy’s warfighting advantage by unleashing the power of our people,” said Lescher. “I know that Adm. Lisa Franchetti is the right leader to help guide our Navy to further advantage in this critical decade. She will be exceptional.” 

Franchetti was promoted to the rank of admiral by Gilday prior to the change of office. 

“Adm. Franchetti is a true leader with unrelenting commitment to the Fleet,” said Gilday. “She demonstrates operational excellence, strong character, diverse perspectives and resilience in all she does — and I look forward to working together to ensure our Navy remains the world’s premier maritime force.” 

“It continues to be an honor to serve as a leader in our Navy,” Franchetti said. “My focus remains on supporting the most powerful Navy in the world, ready for the future fight.” 

In her previous position, Franchetti served on the Joint Staff as Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5). As the Joint Staff J5, she was responsible for strategy, plans, and policy recommendations to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to support his provision of military advice across the full spectrum of national security concerns to the President and other national leaders. 

PHILIPPINE SEA — The U.S. Navy’s next-generation subsonic aerial target, the BQM-177A, reached full operational capability during a successful standard missile launch and intercept while participating in Pacific Vanguard 2022 in the Philippine Sea on Aug. 28, U.S. 7th Fleet said Sept. 1. 
 
The target drones were launched from the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3) and engaged with missiles launched from Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) and Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth (FFH 157), marking the first time the BQM-177A has been used in the Western Pacific region and highlighting the drones achieving full operational capability. 
 
“Not only am I glad the [Commander, Task Force] CTF 71 team was the first to have a successful missile launch against a brand-new type of target drone, but I am extremely grateful that we got to do it side by side with our allies and partners in the region,” said Capt. Walter Mainor, commander, Task Force 71. “I’m proud of all of the participants who worked hard to make this happen, but I’m especially proud of the crews of USS Barry, USNS Alan Shepard, and our coalition partner HMAS Perth.” 
 
The BQM-177A is an advanced high-subsonic, recoverable aerial target system that imitates advanced subsonic anti-ship cruise missile threats to test the effectiveness of shipboard air defense systems and is used for fleet training. It is unmatched in its performance capabilities when it comes to delivering realistic anti-ship missile threat emulation, according to program managers at Naval Air Systems Command. 
 
“Our primary focus in the targets community is effective, affordable training and test for the U.S. Navy,” said Don Blottenberger, the Navy’s Aerial Targets program manager. “The efforts of the team, including partnership with MSC and the target operations organizations, represents the best of our community. The BQM-177, now fully capable, will provide quality service to our warfighters for decades to come.” 
 
Pacific Vanguard 2022 is the fifth iteration of the quadrilateral exercise series between Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea and U.S. Naval forces. This exercise is focused on improving the capabilities of the countries participating to respond together as a naval force against crises and contingencies in the region. The purpose is for the participating navies to continue to refine their skills operating as an integrated force ready to respond to a changing and complex maritime environment in the Indo-Pacific region. 

WASHINGTON — Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday hosted Commandant in Chief of the National Navy of Uruguay Adm. Jorge Wilson at the Pentagon for an office call on Sept. 1, the CNO’s public affairs said in a release. 

The two leaders discussed their shared vision to advance the bilateral relationship between the two navies, Uruguay’s long-standing partnership in the U.S. Global Peace Operations Initiative, ways to foster innovation and experimentation and the importance of supporting the international rules-based order. 

“Through our like-minded values and professionalism, our relationship with the Uruguayan navy continues to grow,” said Gilday. “This visit is an important opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen and advance our cooperation and interoperability.” 

During his trip to the Washington area, Wilson attended a ceremony in Baltimore where three former U.S. Coast Guard cutters were reflagged as Uruguayan navy ships, the culmination of a government-to-government agreement finalized in December 2021. 

Recently, U.S. and Uruguayan naval forces have worked closely together to conduct peacekeeping operations, assist with disaster response and develop professional education and training. In August, the Uruguayan navy sent maritime planners to participate in PANAMAX 2022 as part of the Combined Force Maritime Component Command Staff hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet in Mayport, Florida. PANAMAX 2022 is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise that focuses on security and stability operations to ensure free flow of commerce through the Panama Canal.  

Later this month, both the U.S. Navy and the Uruguayan navy will operate together as part of UNITAS LXIII, hosted this year by Brazil. UNITAS strengthens maritime partnerships, enhances proficiency and improves interoperability of the participating forces. This year marks the 63rd iteration of the longest-running, multinational maritime exercise in the world.  

This was the first meeting between the two heads of navy. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The construction of the U.S. Navy’s next class of guided-missile frigates officially began Aug. 31 with the first steel for the ship cut in a small ceremony at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. 

The future USS Constellation (FFG 62) will be the lead ship of a class of at least 20 frigates and is slated for delivery in 2026. The hull of the frigate will be based on the Italian FREMM-class frigate and will be equipped with proven weapons and combat systems.  

“There is no doubt that the future USS Constellation and the 19 follow-on ships will bring an out-sized punch to surface warfare patrols with our cruisers, destroyers and littoral combat ships as well as with our allied and partner navies,” said Tommy Ross, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, speaking to reporters in an Aug. 29 roundtable at the Pentagon. “We need the capabilities these ships will bring now, and we will need them for decades.” 

Ross said the frigate program “reflects many hard lessons learned in proven shipbuilding practices, mature designs in combat systems such as Aegis Baseline 10 to modern life-cycle improvements like land-based testing, conditions-based maintenance, and a fully cyber-resilient architecture. The supporting infrastructure also is well developed.” 

The production go-ahead was given by Capt. Kevin Smith, the FFG 62 program manager, after completion of the critical design review in May and the production readiness review in July, said Rear Adm. Casey Moton, program executive officer for Unmanned and Small Combatants. 

“We’re excited to begin production,” Moton said. 

The admiral said the FFG program strove to reduce risk by using a proven parent design for the hull and non-developmental systems and government program-of-record combat and C4I (command, control, communications, computers and intelligence) systems.  

Ross said getting the first ship “up and going” and getting the builder’s shipyard “up in cadence” is step one in building the class of 20 frigates. 

“We are in a good place to meet the requirements we have in coming years,” he said. 

The Navy has the option of building more than the current program of 20 frigates but is not ready to move on that option, which Moton said would depend on requirements, industrial capacity, and the budget topline. 

The admiral stressed that the FFG 62 program is a team effort of the PEO, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, and Gibbs & Cox, which produced the 3D model digital design of the ship. He said the design team met and exceeded the goal of 80% completion at construction start. 

The Constellation will be a multi-mission warship that Ross said “gives commanders a lot more options.” 

Three Constellation-class FFGs — Constellation (FFG 62), Congress (FFG 63), and Chesapeake (FFG 64) currently are on order. In June, the Navy exercised a contract option to order FFG 64. Marinette Marine is now under contract for those first three FFGs with options for seven more.   

Although based on the FREMM frigate, the Constellation will have a longer hull and features modified to meet U.S. Navy standards on reliability, survivability, maintainability, habitability and lethality. The 496-foot-long steel ship will displace 7,300 tons and have a beam of 64.6 feet and a draft of 18 feet. It will be powered by a combination diesel electric and gas turbine propulsion system.  

The FFG will feature a Mk41 Vertical Launching System, canister-launched Naval Strike Missiles, Mk110 57 mm gun, RAM Mk49 launcher, CAPTAS-4 variable-depth sonar, TB-37 Multi-Function Towed Array, SQQ-89(V)16 undersea combat system, SLQ-25E Nixie, SLQ-32(V)6 SEWIP Block 2, SPY-6(V)3 FFG Radar, Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, one MH-60R helicopter, one MQ-8C unmanned aerial vehicle, and two 7-meter rigid-hull inflatable boats. Delivery of Constellation is anticipated for 2026. 

Smith said the ship was equipped to operate two MH-60Rs or two MQ-8C unmanned aerial vehicles if needed. 

The CAPTAS-4 variable-depth sonar (VDS) was selected to replace the Raytheon DART VDS, which was developed for the littoral combat ship’s anti-submarine warfare mission package and which Moton said had some “technical challenges principally in hydrodynamics and transducers.”  

Moton made the VDS decision in concert with the shipbuilder and noted the CAPTAS-4 was “pretty close in cost” with the DART VDS.