ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has placed an order with Lockheed Martin for four MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopters for the government of Greece. 

The Naval Air Systems Command, through the Foreign Military Sales Program, awarded a $194 million contract modification to Lockheed Martin for the helicopters and three airborne low-frequency sonar systems to be used by the helicopters, according to an Oct. 26 Defense Department contract announcement. 

The MH-60R is the U.S. Navy’s maritime strike and anti-submarine helicopter. The helicopter type also has been exported to the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Danish Air Force, and the Royal Saudi Navy. Greece would be the fifth operator and has stated an intent to procure seven. Other nations intent on procuring MH-60Rs are the Republic of Korea and India, which have announced plans for 12 and 24 helicopters, respectively.  

Work on the contract modification is expected to be completed in February 2025.   

ARLINGTON, Va. — Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin company, has received an order from the U.S. Navy for six CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps. 

The Naval Air Systems Command awarded a $550.4 million contract modification to Sikorsky for Lot IV Low-Rate Initial Production of six CH-53Ks, according to an Oct. 26 Defense Department contract announcement. 

The contract modification also includes “associated aircraft, programmatic and logistics support, rate tooling and physical configuration audits.” 

The CH-53K is the Marine Corps’ heavy-lift replacement for the CH-53E Super Stallion. Designed to lift nearly 14 tons at a mission radius of 110 nautical miles, in Navy high/hot environments, the CH-53K is designed to lift triple the baseline CH-53E lift capability. The CH-53K will have an equivalent logistics shipboard footprint, lower operating costs per aircraft, and less direct maintenance man hours per flight hour.  

The Marine Corps has a requirement for 200 CH-53Ks. The work for the order is expected to be completed in July 2024.   

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps has redesignated a squadron forward -deployed in Japan in preparation for its transition to the F-35B Lightning II strike fighter. The transition will result in the second F-35B squadron forward-deployed to Marine Aircraft Group 12 — a unit of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) — based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.  

Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA(AW)-242 was re-designated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA-242) on Oct. 16, the 1st MAW said in an Oct. 23 release. 

VMFA-242 has been operating the F/A-18C/D Hornet from Iwakuni, and upon transition will be the second F-35B squadron based there. VMFA-121, the Corps’ first operational F-35B squadron, had been stationed at Iwakuni since January 2017. VMFA-121 has been deploying F-35Bs on board the amphibious assault ship USS America, which is home-ported in Sasebo, Japan.  

“The increased capability of F-35B, along with our other fifth-generation capabilities in III MEF [Marine Expeditionary Force] enable us to support Fleet Marines, Joint and Allied partners on a moment’s notice,” said Brig. Gen. Chris McPhillips, the commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered in Okinawa, Japan. “F-35B gives us the ability to dominate air and sea space and persist wherever we are without rival. It is an expeditionary platform that literally holds doors open for the Fleet Marine and Joint Force. F-35B basing in Japan is not by accident, it has occurred here more rapidly than in other parts of the world, which is a testament to our commitment to Japan and the region.” 

ARLINGTON, Va. — Senior naval leaders in the U.S. Navy and U.K. Royal Navy have praised advances beyond interoperability to interchangeability as the two navies pledge to work closer together in achieving synergistic improvements in capability. 

“Going forwards, there will be a lot more times where we are actually talking about interchangeability, and that’s already happening,” said Adm. Antony “Tony” D. Radakin, First Sea Lord and chief of Naval, speaking Oct. 20 on current mutual U.S.-U.K. initiatives at the 2020 Atlantic Futures Forum webinar.  

Radakin cited the current deployment of U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II strike fighters alongside the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force F-35Bs on the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth “as an obvious example of interchangeability.”  

The First Sea Lord also cited “operations in the North Atlantic with our submarines, with the U.S. submarines, with other nations’ submarines, and their ships and their aircraft. Again, it’s about interchangeability.”  

Radakin said, “we’re trying to drive a new standard of a new standard, partly to drive all of us to strengthen our interoperability, but also to go even higher and to recognize interchangeability is going to be a stronger feature in the future.”

The admiral said he and U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday agreed to focus on four areas: underwater programs; aircraft carrier programs; Marines, their drive for distributed warfare and linking them with Royal Marines and “the future commando force;” embracing technology, such as artificial intelligence, hypersonics; and cyber. 

“We look to share the areas where we can come together,” he said.      

“The significance of the United States of America investing an air wing onto another nation’s aircraft carrier is a remarkable achievement and it speaks to a remarkable relationship in terms of trust and confidence and ability to work together,” Radakin said, speaking of the Lightning II deployment.

The First Sea Lord noted other areas of cooperation between the U.S. and U.K navies, including an extra-large underwater drone — one of the largest in the world — on which he said “we’re working together so that we both benefit from technology.”

He cited another U.K. program, Maypole, a system of controlling drones by speaking to them, and allowing them to speak to each other. 

“We think that that technology, and some of the success that we’ve had, might be of interest to the U.S. These are the things that we are sharing, so that it’s more than just the idea. These are actual projects, which than enable us to move much more quickly,” he said.

“There is no more important time to get after this and no more important issue than how are we going to continue to secure our maritime domain, to allow global freedom of maneuver, in terms of commerce and allowing the flowing of ideas [through undersea internet cables],” said James F. “Hondo” Geurts, assistant secretary of the [U.S.] Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, also speaking at the webinar. 

“Our ability to scale and transform is directly enabled our relationship together,” he said, citing World War II, the Polaris submarine-launched ballistic-missile program, the Cold war, and more recent counter-terrorism operations. 

Geurts also cited the procurement of P-8 maritime patrol aircraft by both nations and the common ballistic-missile compartment that will equip new-generation ballistic-missile submarines of both nations. 

“Our collective challenge is, how do we do this at scale, and I’m optimistic at this vision of interchangeability,” he said. “Interoperability is a necessary precursor, but I don’t think it’s enough. It will be an enduring competitive advantage of us, because that’s not something you can reproduce by a totalitarian or non-democratic regime.” 

Geurts said interchangeability should not be limited to platforms, but should go beyond platforms and government agreements. 

“I’m equally optimistic in the work we’ve been doing together in getting interchangeability of ecosystems, of ideas and relationships all the way down to the deckplate level, so that we can attack this full top down and bottom up and not just government to government.”  

ARLINGTON, Va. — A U.S. Navy F/A-18 strike fighter crashed Oct. 20 west of Ridgecrest, California, according to a source and a local news bulletin.  

A source said the pilot of the Super Hornet — assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14) — ejected. VFA-14 is based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.   

The ABC station in Bakersfield, California, reported at 11:07 Pacific Time that the California Highway Patrol confirmed the crashed aircraft was a Navy fighter and that the Kern County Fire Department was on the scene. A small brush fire was caused by the crash.  

ARLINGTON, VA. — An Oct. 15 ceremony marked the deactivation of Marine Attack Squadron 311 (VMA-311), an AV-8B Harrier II squadron at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Arizona, as the squadron shifted some assets to merge with sister squadron VMA-214.

VMA-311 will be re-activated in early 2022 as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 (VMFA-311) at MCAS Miramar, California, to fly the F-35C Lightning II strike fighter, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in an Oct. 16 release. 

VMA-311 “became the first Marine squadron to employ the AV-8B Harrier in combat during Operation Desert Shield,” the release said. “VMA-311’s Harriers were the first to fly combat missions in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and participated in the first combat sortie of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.” 

“The reputable Tomcats have an exceptional level of esprit de corps representing 78 years of superior performance,” said Sgt. Maj. Colin Barry, VMA-311 sergeant major, in the release. “The Tomcats imbued a level of morale within each other that was unmatched, but I have no doubt the newly adopted VMA-214 Black Sheep identity will be embraced, and they will continue performing remarkably.” 

The deactivation leaves VMA-214 as the only Harrier squadron left in Yuma-based Marine Aircraft Group 13. Three other Harrier attack squadrons ― VMA-223, VMA-231 and VMA-542 — are based at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, along with a replacement training squadron, VMAT-203. 

VMA-214 also will make the transition to the Lightning II, in this case the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing version. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps has officially retired the Bell AH-1W “Super Cobra” from their ranks after 34 years of dependable service, Bell Textron, the helicopter’s builder, said in an Oct. 19 release.   

The last detachment of AH-1Ws to complete a deployment returned earlier this year with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The detachment, temporarily assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365 (Reinforced), was part of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 (HMLA-167), based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina.  

The last AH-1W sortie was flown on Oct. 14 by HMLA-773 Detachment A at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana. 

“Originally designated as the AH-1T+, the Super Cobra first flew on November 16, 1983 at Bell’s Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas,” the release said. “Bell delivered the first AH-1Ws to the Marines on March 27, 1986 and delivered the final aircraft in 1999, for a domestic fleet of 179 attack helicopters. Through August 2020, the Marine Corps flew the Super Cobra for 933,614 hours.”     

The AH-1W served in numerous combat actions, including Operation Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and in operations in Libya.   

“The AH-1W Super Cobra has served admirably and leaves a remarkable legacy of on-time, on-target attack helicopter support for our Marines,” said Col. David Walsh, the program manager for Light/Attack Helicopter Programs (PMA-276), in the release. “Although the AH-1W chapter is closing, the AH-1Z Viper stands ready with even greater capability to support our Marines for years to come.”   

“We are tremendously proud of the capabilities the AH-1W has brought to the United States Marines for the past 34 years,” said Michael Deslatte, H-1 Bell program manager. “The Super Cobra’s tremendous legacy is a testament to the excellence and dedication the men and women at Bell put into these platforms for generations and we look forward to continuing that legacy for years to come.”    

All HMLA squadrons are now equipped with the four-bladed AH-1Z Viper.  

ARLINGTON, Va. — The fleet replacement squadron for the Navy’s CMV-22B Osprey community has been established by the Navy to prepare future aviators, aircrew, and maintenance personnel for operating and maintaining the fleet’s newest aircraft type. 

Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 50 (VRM-50) was established on Oct. 1 at Naval Air Station North Island, California. The SunHawks, as they are known, will grow the squadron over time to assume training of Navy personnel from Fleet Logistics Medium Multi-Mission Wing Training Detachment 204, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. 

One of the two fleet squadrons destined to operate the CMV-22B, VRM-30, was established in 2018. It will be the first to deploy a detachment of CMV-22Bs to replace C-2A Greyhound carrier-onboard-delivery aircraft on aircraft carriers.  

The Navy took delivery of its first CMV-22B in February. The aircraft type is scheduled to reach Initial Operational Capability on 2021, in time to deploy on USS Carl Vinson, which also will take the F-35C Lightning II strike fighter on its first deployment. 

A fleet squadron for the East Coast carriers, VRM-40, will be established in the future. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The names of U.S. Navy ships, which often invoke tradition, also often invoke controversy, especially among naval historians and fans of naval history. The Oct. 7 naming of the first ship of the next-generation guided-missile frigate (FFG(X), USS Constellation, by Navy Secretary Kenneth J. Braithwaite was well received but still has invited some lamentation. 

The Navy puts great thought in selecting names for ships. Going back to World War II, for example, the Navy had an easily understood system. Battleships were named for states; heavy and light cruisers for cities; destroyers for Navy and Marine Corps heroes and individuals prominent to the sea services; submarines for sea creatures; and aircraft carriers for historic naval ships and battles.  

The prevailing system changed over time. For example, the Polaris ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs), as a new type, were named for prominent Americans and foreign military personnel who aided America. Later, with battleships being phased out, state names were given to the Ohio-class SSBNs. State names also were given to the Virginia-class attack submarines and now the Columbia-class SSBN. 

Increasingly, some standard name conventions were interrupted with aberrations, such as with the name of a politician who was noted for his support of maritime power.  

Seapower collected some opinions from a few naval historians and analysts to get a sounding of the sentiment toward the name Constellation for the new frigate. Excerpts follow: 

“Ships bearing the name Constellation have had storied careers and have proudly served the nation from the 18^th century on. During the 1799-1800 Quasi War, Constellation won signal victories against French frigates L’Insurgente and La Vengeance. The sloop of war Constellation built in 1854 and now gracing Baltimore’s waterfront reminds visitors of the U.S. Navy in the age of sail. And finally, aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV 64) distinguished herself in six combat deployments to the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. The name Constellation will be a welcome addition to the U.S. Navy of the 21^st Century.” 

–Edward J. Marolda, Ph.D., former director of Naval History (Acting)  

“The news of the Navy’s naming a new ship with the honored name USS Constellation is indeed welcome.  … With this impressive historic record of service of three previous ships named USS Constellation, it is both fitting and proper to welcome the fourth ship of the name and a new class of frigates, with the designation USS Constellation (FFG 62) to continue the traditions of the naval service. “

–William S. Dudley, Ph.D., former director of Naval History and the U.S. Naval Historical Center (now Naval History and Heritage Command), 1995-2004. 

“The first Constellation’s victory over L’Insurgente in the so-called Quasi-War with France is worthy of memorializing as are sister frigates United States, President, and Congress … maybe not so much Chesapeake! Of course, Constitution still remains in commission at Boston.”    

–David Winkler, Ph.D., staff historian, Naval Historical Foundation 

“Constellation is an encouraging change from the Navy’s all-too erratic record of naming ships. Let us hope that SECNAV continues the historic link to frigates with similar names for men-o-war.” 

–Barrett Tillman, author and historian 

“How have we named the last few hundred frigates/DEs/DEGs? … Let’s keep that system that has served us well. The same for aircraft carriers … traditionally destroyers were named for Medal of Honor winners, not carriers. Our naval leaders should preserve our naval history … including the scheme for naming warships.”  

–Norman Polmar, author and historian 

“Constellation is a nice choice for the first U.S. Navy FFGX frigate. SECNAV Braithwaite also confirmed the FFG 62 hull number, which actually is what it should be, unlike DDG 1000, LCS1, SSN 21. The name has a long and proud U.S. Navy tradition. Not to be crabby, but I would have preferred sticking to the naming scheme long in use for destroyers and frigates — Naval and Marine heroes and people of significance. There are hundreds — thousands — of very deserving and inspiring heroes who have not been so commemorated.” 

–Chris Cavas, naval historian and reporter 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s top admiral envisions the next-generation large surface combatant as the next-generation guided-missile destroyer, or in his term, “DDG-Next.” 

The Future Large Surface Combatant is to be one of several new surface combatant vessels in the Future Surface Combatant Family Vessels that also will include the Constellation-class guided-missile frigate, the Large Unmanned Surface Vessel and the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel. 

“When you talk about large surface combatants, people in their mind’s eye, they’re thinking ‘battleship,’ said CNO Adm. Michael Gilday, speaking Oct. 13 in a Defense One webinar and responding to a question from USNI News.  “That’s not where we’re going. We’re talking about a ship that’s probably going to be smaller than a Zumwalt [guided-missile destroyer]. I don’t want to build a monstrosity. 

“But, I need deeper magazines on a manned ship than we have right now [on the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers],” Gilday said, noting that the Navy “is limited with respect to DDG[51] Flight IIIs in terms of what additional [systems] we could put on those ships. … [We] can’t put much more on those hulls.” 

The CNO said the plan was to design “the next destroyer, one that would be a new hull. “What we would leverage is existing technologies to put on that hull … and to update [and] modernize those capabilities over time.” 

Gilday compared the design concept of DDG-Next to the process that produced the DDG 51 class, one of a new hull with existing reliable, proven technologies such as the Aegis Combat System. 

“That’s why I call it DDG-Next … smaller than a Zumwalt but packing some power,” he said.