WASHINGTON — Acting Navy Secretary Thomas B. Modly announced that he is commissioning a Blue-Ribbon Future Carrier 2030 (FC-2030) Task Force to conduct a six-month study that will reimagine the future of the aircraft carrier and carrier-based naval aviation (manned and unmanned) for 2030 and beyond. FC-2030 will be…
Wittman: DDGs Still Needed as Cruisers Retire; Go Slow on USVs
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy still needs a large fleet of guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) to replace the guided-missile cruisers (CGs) being retired, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) said. Speaking March 9 at the Hudson Institute, a Washington…
Navy Gives Boeing Long-Lead Contract for 18 P-8A Patrol Aircraft
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has ordered long-lead materials and activity to support production of eight P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for its patrol squadrons plus 10 more for foreign military sales. Naval Air Systems Command has awarded an $800 million contract modification for long-lead…
Navy to Commission Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams
WASHINGTON — The Navy will commission its newest Expeditionary Sea Base, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), during a 10 a.m. EST ceremony Saturday, March 7, in Norfolk, Virginia, the Navy’s Office on Information announced in a March 6 release. …
Commandant: Tomahawks Will Enable Marines to Contribute to Sea Control, Denial
WASHINGTON — The fiscal 2021 budget proposal for a new version of the Tomahawk cruise missile will give the U.S. Marine Corps a new weapon for sea-control and sea-denial missions, the Corps’ top officer said. The budget proposes the procurement of 44 Maritime Strike…
Columbia SSBN Not a Factor in 2021 Budget Cut to One Virginia-Class Sub, Geurts Says
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s controversial decision to propose one Virginia-class attack submarine (SSN) instead of two in the fiscal year 2021 budget was a matter of budget priorities — not a concern over shipyard or program capacity to start construction of the Columbia ballistic-missile sub, the Navy’s…
Geurts: Navy Looking at Money-Saving Strategies in Procurement of Four Amphibs
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is looking at acquisition strategies for procuring four amphibious warfare ships over the next few years to achieve economies, the Navy’s top acquisition official said. During March 4 testimony about the fiscal 2021 shipbuilding proposal before the Seapower subcommittee of the…
Navy Strategic Systems Director: New W93 Warhead Needed to Pace Threat
WASHINGTON — The admiral in charge of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear weapons arsenal said the new warhead in development is needed to modernize the arsenal. Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director of Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), testifying on March 3 in Washington before the Strategic Forces subcommittee of…
Lockheed Delivers 500th F-35 Aircraft; Strike Fighter Surpasses 250,000 Flight Hours
FORT WORTH, Texas — Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office have delivered the 500th F-35 Lightning II strike fighter, the company said March 3. The F-35 surpassed 250,000 flight hours last month. The 500th production aircraft is a U.S. Air…
NAVAIR Extends Life of F-16 Adversary Aircraft
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The Specialized and Proven Aircraft program office (PMA-226) recently completed a modification on several U.S. Navy F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft to increase readiness and service life, according to Naval Air Systems Command. The FalconUp modification improves F-16A readiness by extending their fatigue…
