ARLINGTON, Va. — The crash of a U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye battle management aircraft on Aug. 31 was only the third lost in a crash since 2001, according to unofficial records, demonstrating the aircraft’s excellent safety record. The E-2C, assigned to …
Future LCS Savannah Is Christened at Austal USA
MOBILE, Ala. — A small audience of dignitaries celebrated the Aug. 29 christening of the future littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28) at Austal’s advanced ship manufacturing facility. Savannah is the 14th of 19 small surface combatants Austal USA…
Navy Places Order for Additional VideoRay ROVs for Explosive Ordnance Disposal
POTTSTOWN, Pa. — The U.S. Navy has placed another multi-million-dollar order for Defender remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems built by VideoRay, the company said in an Aug. 31 release. The purchase is under VideoRay’s existing $49 million contract to deliver the Navy’s Next-Generation…
Pentagon Assessment: China Now Has World’s Largest Navy
ARLINGTON, Va. — The People’s Republic of China, increasing its two-decade military buildup, now has the world’s largest navy, according to the U.S. Defense Department’s latest annual assessment of China’s military capabilities. The Pentagon’s 2020 report to Congress on “Military and…
USS Kidd, Coast Guard Apprehend Smugglers, Seize $6 Million in Cocaine
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard, Navy and U.S. law enforcement partners seized 225 kilograms of cocaine and apprehended three suspected smugglers following the interdiction of a drug smuggling go-fast in the Caribbean Sea on Aug. 24, the…
Coast Guard Cutter Reliance Arrives in New Homeport in Florida
NEW ORLEANS — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Reliance (WMEC-615) arrived Monday at the cutter’s new homeport in Pensacola, Florida, following a dry dock period and Caribbean patrol, the Coast Guard 8th District said in an Aug. 31 release. …
Big Tech in a Small Package: Marines Experiment With SkyRaider UAS
With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan largely in the rearview mirror and a growing emphasis on the Pacific region and littoral operations, the U.S. Marine Corps is committed to returning to its amphibious roots. And that includes a major…
Something Special: U.S. SOCOM Continues to Modernize Its Fleet of Smaller Surface Craft
Just as “Big Navy” is conducting programs to modernize its battle fleet, one of its fleets of small boats has been going through a substantial modernization: the small surface craft that support special operations forces (SOF), in particular the Navy’s…
Navy Accepts Delivery of Second Next Generation Landing Craft
NEW ORLEANS – The Navy accepted delivery of the next-generation landing craft, Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC), Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 101, Aug. 27. LCAC 101 is the second craft delivered by Textron Systems to the Navy this year, the Program…
Surface Warfare Director: SPY-6 Radar Back-Fit to Flight II DDGs ‘A Few Years Out’
ARLINGTON, Va. — The surface warfare director in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) said the back-fit of the new SPY-6 radar in the Flight II Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer (DDG) is a “few years out.” Speaking…
