SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley repatriated 50 of 51 migrants to the Dominican Republic navy on June 11 in waters just off Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, following the interdiction of two illegal migrant voyages just off the west coast of Puerto Rico. 

Of the 51 interdicted migrants, 49 are reported to be Dominican nationals, while two others are reported to be Haitian. One of the migrants remains in U.S. custody facing criminal immigration charges. 

The interdictions are the result of ongoing efforts in support of Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group CBIG. 

“These interdictions speak to the strong local and federal law enforcement partnerships within the Caribbean Border Interagency Group and our collective resolve to safeguard the nations southernmost maritime border against existing threats,” said Capt. Eric P. King, Sector San Juan commander. 

“The efficient coordination between responding agencies led to these successful interdictions and the safe recovery of all 51 migrants. These illegal voyages are extremely dangerous, as migrants continue to take to the sea aboard grossly overloaded and unseaworthy makeshift vessels with little or no lifesaving equipment onboard.”  

Late on June 9, a Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit interdicted a 25-foot yola with 38 migrants aboard, 36 men and 2 women, including the two Haitian men, about 3 nautical miles off the coast of Aguada, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser diverted to the scene and embarked the migrants from the makeshift vessel, while a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen flew overhead rescue support throughout the transfer. 

Early on June 11, a Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit interdicted a second yola transporting 13 migrants, about 1 nautical mile off the lighthouse in Rincón, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard Cutter Reef Shark arrived on scene shortly thereafter and embarked all 13 migrants from the makeshift boat. 

The migrant facing potential federal prosecution was transferred to the custody of Border Patrol Agents in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, on June 11, while the remaining migrants were transferred and transported by the cutter Donald Horsley to the Dominican Republic for their repatriation. 

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants received food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction Coast Guard crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19. No migrants were reported to be sick or to have any COVID-19 related symptoms. 

Winslow Griesser and Donald Horsley are 154-foot fast-response cutters, while Reef Shark is an 87-foot coastal patrol boat. All homeported in San Juan.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James returned home on June 12 to Charleston following a 75-day counter-drug patrol in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. 

During their patrol, the James’ crew, augmented by an embarked armed helicopter capable of disabling drug smuggling vessels from the Coast Guard’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, interdicted four drug-smuggling vessels and seized more than 3,800 kilograms of cocaine and 3,300 pounds of marijuana bound for the United States.  

The James’ patrol efforts were in direct support of the president’s enhanced counter-narcotics surge announced in early April. The U.S. Coast Guard, working cooperatively with U.S. Southern Command, began this surge effort in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, putting increased pressure on the drug trafficking organizations operating in Central and South America. 

Working alongside U.S. Navy crews aboard destroyers and littoral combat ships, the James crew, along with several other Coast Guard cutter crews, seized or disrupted more than 43,000 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 10,000 pounds of marijuana. 

Before returning home, the crew conducted a narcotics offload in Port Everglades, Florida, on June 9. After collecting contraband from other vessels in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean, the crew offloaded nearly 30,000 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, worth an estimated $400 million, representing seven additional interdictions events by Coast Guard and Navy vessels supporting this enhanced counter-narcotics surge. 

“This patrol highlights our crew’s sincere commitment to protecting the American people from our adversaries amid all the uncertainty caused by COVID-19,” said Capt. Jeffrey Randall, the James’ commanding officer. “The James’ crew demonstrated supreme resilience and performed exceptionally as showcased by the results of this successful patrol.” 

The James is one of two 418-foot national security cutters homeported in Charleston.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — L3Harris Technologies has received an order to upgrade three Iver3 autonomous underwater vehicles to be used in support of the British Royal Navy’s Project Wilton, the company said in a June 12 release.  

L3Harris will upgrade the Iver3 vehicles with the capability to integrate high accuracy navigation sensors and advanced communications for surface tracking, with collaborative autonomy architecture and automatic target recognition. The U.K. Royal Navy will use the upgraded Iver vehicles during unmanned mine hunting and other missions. 

The Project Wilton program will provide a portable route survey capability using a suite of equipment, including autonomous surface craft, autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, and a portable operations center. The initial program operating capability is planned for the third quarter of 2020. 

“We look forward to trialing and incorporating the upgraded Iver3 as part of the Wilton equipment set,” said Cmdr. Steven White, the commander of the Royal Navy’s First Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM1), which conducts route survey operations in U.K. waters and in many areas throughout the world to ensure freedom of navigation for commercial and military vessels. 

“We are pleased to support the Royal Navy in their mine countermeasure missions and peacetime route surveys,” said Daryl Slocum, vice president/general manager Unmanned Maritime Systems, L3Harris. 

“We are proud to be part of the autonomy revolution and will continue to evolve the Iver platform to keep it at the cutting edge.”

MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a contract to produce multiple types of Vertical Launching System (VLS) canisters with a total lifetime maximum value of $955 million, the company said in a June 11 release.  

The initial contract was awarded in February with $24 million funded, followed by contract modifications of $99 million and $43 million received in March and May, respectively. Options on the contract include additional canister types for future Navy production requirements. 

“These canisters are a key element of the Navy’s Vertical Launching System, and our experience includes 30 years of VLS production, integration and testing to support this world-class capability,” said Brent Butcher, vice president and general manager of the Weapon Systems product line at BAE Systems. 

“The Navy will continue to benefit from our high-quality canisters and lean, efficient operations, which translate into the best possible value for our customers.” 

VLS canisters serve in a multifaceted role as containers for missile shipping and storage as well as launch tubes when loaded into the VLS. They also provide identification and firing support to multiple missile types, including the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, Standard Missile-2, Standard Missile-3, Standard Missile-6, and the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile. 

Under this latest contract, BAE Systems will produce canisters not only for the U.S. fleet but also for allied nations under a foreign military sales program. Deliveries for the initial order are expected to begin in early 2021, and if all options are exercised, the contract could support the production of canisters over a five-year period, with deliveries extending into 2025.  

Work on the new contract will be performed at the BAE Systems production facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with engineering and program support in Minneapolis. 

EVENDALE, Ohio — GE Marine has delivered its first new lightweight LM2500 composite gas turbine module to Austal USA for the future USS Santa Barbara, the company said in a release. 

This new module, which was fully certified by the U.S. Navy last year after receiving MIL-S-901D shock qualification, provides a 5,500-pound weight savings (50% wall weight reduction) and 60% quieter enclosure.  

Austal USA recognized the attributes of this new composite module design by bestowing GE Marine with its 2018 Supplier Innovation Award. 

GE is supplying 38 LM2500 gas turbines to Austal USA for Independence-class variants of littoral combat ships up to LCS 38. Like all Austal USA-built littoral ships, the Santa Barbara will be powered by two GE LM2500 gas turbines arranged in a combined diesel and gas turbine configuration with two diesel engines. 

The Module Modernization Program was a four-year collaborative effort with the Navy, Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine, and GE. GE’s strategic partners in this effort included: RL Industries of Fairfield, Ohio, for help in developing and qualifying the carbon fiber enclosure; and DRS Power Technology of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, which helped satisfy all first article inspection quality requirements and package assembly.  

Changes to the LM2500 system include the composite module, components, and fewer shock mounts for weight reduction, all while leveraging the experience and loadings from previous LM2500 shock tests with running units. Components such as sensors, transducers, ice and flame detectors and the heater also were updated.

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — Bell-Boeing has delivered the 400th V-22 Osprey to the Defense Department. U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command received the 400th Osprey, a CV-22, on June 2, marking a milestone for the world’s first production tilt-rotor aircraft. 

“The delivery of the 400th V-22 represents the demand for this platform’s unique capabilities,” said Kurt Fuller, Bell V-22 vice president and program director for Bell-Boeing. “It is a testament to the diligence of the men and women from Bell, Boeing and our entire supply chain who build and deliver this incredible aircraft to our customers. For over 30 years, the people who support the Bell Boeing V-22 have been the foundation in bringing tilt-rotor capabilities to the world.” 

The CV-22 is the Special Operations forces variant of the V-22. Its primary mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions. 

“It’s been over 20 years since the first production V-22 was delivered, and we are proud to reach another milestone in our 400th delivery,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew Kelly, program manager for the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275). “V-22s continue to be in high demand, protecting our country and our allies around the world through combat operations, international training partnerships and humanitarian missions. This platform’s impact can’t be overstated.” 

The Marine variant, the MV-22B, provides transportation of personnel, supplies and equipment for combat assault, assault support and fleet logistics. Since 2007, it has been continuously forward-deployed in a range of combat, humanitarian and special operations. The Navy variant, the CMV-22B, is the replacement for the C-2A Greyhound for the carrier onboard delivery mission. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department has announced five Defense Production Act Title 3 actions that will help sustain defense-critical workforce capabilities in body armor, aircraft manufacturing, and shipbuilding, Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a release.   

“These actions will help to retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by COVID-19 and to restore some jobs lost because of the pandemic,” Andrews said. 

The Pentagon signed a $19.5 million agreement with Steel America to sustain critical industrial base capability and capacity for U.S. Navy shaft repair and manufacturing during the pandemic. 

Using funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act, this investment at Steel America’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters will expand its domestic production capability and capacity to support the Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. 

Steel America will increase core machine shop peak capacity by 200%, build a “rotatable pool” of spare equipment and help reduce dry-dock times, driving time and facilitate cost savings for the government. This will enable Steel America to retain its workforce throughout the pandemic and restore some jobs. 

The Pentagon also has signed a $500,000 agreement with Allied Systems to sustain industrial base capability for manufacturing and service provisioning for cranes and davits for the Navy and Coast Guard during the pandemic. 

This investment at Allied Systems headquarters in Sherwood, Oregon, will address COVID-19 impacts caused by a significant shortfall in CO2 available for welding as well as provide funds to offset disruptions to operations and company orders. DoD and Allied Systems anticipate that it will take three months for initial set-up and support two years of ongoing operations to sustain this capability and capacity. 

DoD also signed a $15 million with Bethel Industries Inc. to increase industrial capacity for specialized laser cutting of laminated nylon fabrics for soldier protective systems. 

The Pentagon also signed a $20 million contract with GE Aviation on June 5 to sustain the industrial base for highly specialized engineering resources. GE Aviation is one of two U.S. suppliers capable of producing large advanced combat engines. 

DoD also allocated $80 million to Spirit AeroSystems Inc. to expand its domestic production capability and capacity for advanced tooling, composite fabrication and metallic machining at Spirit and the supporting lower level supply chain. Spirit AeroSystems designs, develops and manufactures complex structures for the commercial and defense industries. Spirit also makes high-temperature carbon/carbon materials for the Pentagon and defense prime contractors.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is mobilizing 1,629 Reservists to support aircraft carrier and submarine maintenance at its four public shipyards starting in July, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) said in a release. This mobilization will help reduce the maintenance backlog that has developed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

NAVSEA authorized weather and safety leave for shipyard personnel who fell under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “high risk” category for extreme complications tied to the COVID-19 virus. With up to 25% of the production workforce unable to report to their duty location, the shipyards have not been able to execute all their work and have built a backlog of work that, if left unchecked, would result in delays in returning ships to the fleet.  

The Reservists are all part of the Navy’s Surge Maintenance, or SurgeMain, program. Established in 2005, SurgeMain has 2,200 enlisted Reserve Sailors and 240 Reserve officers across 75 units and was created to augment the Navy’s organic civilian shipyard workforce in times of need. 

SurgeMain Sailors have technical and trade backgrounds that allow them to have an immediate impact at the shipyards. 

“Our Sailors are electricians, pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, plumbers, hydraulic technicians, mechanics, machinists, carpenters, welders and more,” said Capt. Michael P. MacLellan, SurgeMain’s national director. “Many of our people have prior experience at the shipyard where they’re being sent, down to the specific shop where they will be working alongside the shipyard’s organic civilian workforce.”  

This is the first time SurgeMain has activated this many Reservists at one time. 

“We’re excited to mobilize and execute the mission for which we’ve been training,” MacLellan said. “This deployment presents a valuable opportunity for our Sailors to hone their skills, contribute to our national defense and allow us to gain valuable lessons you can only learn during mass mobilization.” 

SurgeMain Reservists will start arriving at their respective shipyards in phases starting in early July, with all 1,629 Sailors onsite by September. They will be functioning on one-year mobilization orders that may be extended or curtailed should circumstances change. 

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, will receive 267 Reservists; Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, will receive 486; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Washington, will receive 676; and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, will receive 200. 

“We have been methodical in how we planned this mobilization,” said Vice Adm. Tom Moore, NAVSEA’s commander. “We did not mobilize anyone who already works in the ship maintenance or construction field, and we worked to place people into shipyards where they have previously drilled so there was a built-in comfort factor for both the Reservist and the shipyard personnel.” 

Once mobilized, the Reservists will abide by all Defense Department travel restrictions and protocols tied to minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Sailors are being assigned to their designated Reserve duty location, which is usually the shipyard closest to where they live. 

Once at their designated shipyard, Sailors will abide by all COVID-19 policies. These include conducting a daily self-screening and undergoing a temperature check prior to accessing the shipyard, wearing all required personal protective equipment and following the same social distancing measures as the rest of the shipyard workforce.

ARLINGTON, Va. ― FLIR Systems Inc. has received orders for more than 160 of the company’s Centaur unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for the U.S. Navy and Army, the company announced. The two contracts totaling $23.5 million include related spares and accessories and are being sourced through the Army’s Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II) program. 

Since March, FLIR has announced orders totaling more than $65 million for nearly 500 Centaur UGVs from the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and now Navy. Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams will use the Centaur to assist in disarming improvised explosive devices, unexploded ordnance and similar hazardous tasks. Operators can attach different sensors and payloads to the robot to support other functions, such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear missions. 

“With the Navy joining the MTRS Inc II program, it means that all U.S. military forces will now use a common, medium-sized robotic platform for EOD and CBRN operations,” said Roger Wells, vice president and general manager of the Unmanned Systems and Integrated Solutions business at FLIR. 

“In an era of increased joint service operations in combat zones worldwide, having common equipment across EOD units can support more standardized tactics and techniques, plus add new efficiencies in sustainment and training for years to come.  

“Our team is incredibly proud to know all four branches of America’s armed services have chosen Centaur as their mid-sized EOD robot. And, more importantly, that our technology is helping so many warfighters keep out of harm’s way,” Wells said. 

In 2017, the Army selected Endeavor Robotics, acquired last year by FLIR, as its medium-sized robot provider for MTRS Inc II. The company designed Centaur as its MTRS solution. FLIR is delivering robots to the Army under that multi-year program of record, which upon award was valued at more than $150 million, including options. These latest orders fall under the current ceiling. 

Centaur is a medium-sized UGV that provides a standoff capability to detect, confirm, identify, and dispose of hazards. Weighing roughly 160 pounds, the open-architecture robot features an advanced EO/IR camera suite, a manipulator arm that reaches over six feet, and the ability to climb stairs. Modular payloads can be used for CBRNE detection and other missions.  

Deliveries are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2020.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy secretary and chief of naval operations on June 10 announced these flag officer assignments: 

• Rear Adm. Daniel L. Cheever will be assigned as director for plans, policy and strategy, J-5, U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Cheever served as commander, Carrier Strike Group 4, Norfolk, Virginia. 
• Rear Adm. Thomas E. Ishee will be assigned as director, global operations, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Ishee is serving as director, Undersea Warfare Division, N97, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.
• Rear Adm. Peter G. Stamatopoulos will be assigned as commander, Naval Supply Systems Command, and chief of Supply Corps, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  Stamatopoulos served as director of logistics, J-4, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.  
• Rear Adm. (lower half) William J. Houston, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Undersea Warfare Division, N97, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Houston served as director, plans and operations, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-6th Fleet; deputy commander, 6th Fleet; and commander, Submarine Group 8, Naples, Italy. 
• Rear Adm. (lower half) Anthony C. Carullo is serving as director, plans and operations, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-6th Fleet; deputy commander, 6th Fleet; and commander, Submarine Group 8, Naples, Italy. Carullo served as deputy director, strategic targeting and nuclear mission planning, J-5N, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. 
• Rear Adm. (lower half) Richard D. Heinz is serving as director of logistics, J-4, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany. Heinz served as commander, Naval Supply Systems Command Weapons Systems Support, Philadelphia. 
• Rear Adm. (lower half) Andrew J. Loiselle is serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group 4, Norfolk, Virginia. Loiselle served as commander, Carrier Strike Group 8, Norfolk.  
• Rear Adm. (lower half) Joseph D. Noble Jr., is serving as commander, Naval Supply Systems Command Weapons Systems Support, Philadelphia. Noble served as special assistant for audit readiness, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller), Washington, D.C.  
• Rear Adm. (lower half) Ryan B. Scholl is serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group 8, Norfolk, Virginia. Scholl served as deputy director, plans, J-5, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.