ARLINGTON, Va. — The most challenging aspect of designing large unmanned surface vessels for the Navy is building reliability of its systems, a senior defense industry official said. “We can solve the autonomy challenge,” said Kevin Knowles, senior manager of strategic…
MIND Technology to Collaborate with Navy on Mine-Hunting Sonars Research
THE WOODLANDS, Texas — MIND Technology Inc. has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, the company said Dec 13. The CRADA, “Advanced Mine Finding,” will allow scientists and engineers from MIND…
President Biden Nominates Erik Raven for Under SECNAV
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Erik K. Raven for undersecretary of the Navy, the White House said Dec. 13. Erik K. Raven is the majority clerk of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, where he oversees more than…
State Dept. Approves Possible Sale of Surface Combatant to Greece
WASHINGTON — The State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Greece of Multi-Mission Surface Combatant ships and related equipment for an estimated $6.9 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Dec. 10. Greece has asked to buy four…
NAVCENT Launches Saildrone in Gulf of Aqaba for Exercise Digital Horizon
GULF OF AQABA — U.S. Naval Forces Central Command began operationally testing a new unmanned surface vessel in the Gulf of Aqaba Dec. 12 as part of an initiative to integrate new unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into U.S. 5th…
Bollinger Delivers Ocean Transport Barge for Columbia SSBN to Electric Boat
LOCKPORT, La. — Bollinger Shipyards LLC has delivered the Ocean Transport Barge Holland to General Dynamics-Electric Boat’s Groton Shipyard, Bollinger said Dec. 13. The Holland will support the construction and maintenance of the United States’ Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines and Virginia-class fast…
U.S. Navy Establishes Submarine Squadron Two at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
KITTERY, Maine — The U.S. Navy established Commander, Submarine Squadron 2 in an official ceremony Friday, Dec. 10, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, Submarine Readiness Squadron 32 said in a release. The move revives a tradition tied to…
Schultz: Two FRCs Soon to Depart for Basing in Persian Gulf
ARLINGTON, Va. — The second pair of Sentinel fast-response cutters are soon to depart U.S. waters on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean bound for permanent basing in the Persian Gulf. Coast Guard Commandant Karl Schultz, speaking Dec. 8 at…
Coast Guard Offloads More than $148 Million of Illegal Narcotics in Miami
MIAMI — Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless’ crew offloaded more than $148 million of illegal narcotics at Base Miami Beach, Dec. 7, from three separate interdictions in the Caribbean Sea in the past two weeks, the Coast Guard 7th District said Dec. 9. Following the three…
Coast Guard Cutter Completes Operation Blue Pacific Patrol in Oceania
HONOLULU — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter William Hart completed its 39-day patrol over 7,000 nautical miles in Oceania in support of the Coast Guard’s Operation Blue Pacific, last week, said the Coast Guard 14th District. Operation Blue Pacific is an…
