WASHINGTON — The State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale to Germany of P-8A aircraft and associated support and related equipment, for an estimated cost of $1.77 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a March 12 release. Germany…
Coast Guard, Navy Help Rescue Cold-Stunned Turtles, Return Them to Warmer Waters
Texas recently experienced record-breaking cold temperatures, causing the largest cold-stunning event for sea turtles in the state’s history. As the water temperate dropped to the mid-30s Fahrenheit, thousands of turtles were found stranded on beaches or floating in the water….
Double-Pumped Carrier Deployments Are Not Surges, Lawmaker Says
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s recent practice of sending nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs) on back-to-back deployments — termed “double-pumped” — is not an example of a surge capability, a member of Congress said. “Surge is additional capability to respond in…
U.S. Navy Asserts Freedom to Navigate in International Waters
The U.S. Navy continues to assert its right to operate freely in international waters with yet another Taiwan Strait transit, following several recent freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) in the South China Sea, particularly in the vicinity of the Spratly…
Naval Academy Makes More Room for Keeping Midshipmen Safe
Due to what Naval Academy officials are calling an “an uptick in positive cases within the Brigade of Midshipmen,” increased COVID-19 mitigation measures have been implemented, to include a full restriction of movement. Ninety-eight midshipmen are now being housed in…
Coast Guard Commissions 42nd Sentinel-Class Cutter
KEY WEST, Fla. — The USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142), Patrol Forces Southwest Asia’s (PATFORSWA’s) second Sentinel-class cutter, was commissioned into service at Coast Guard Sector Key West, March 12, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area said in March 12 release. Vice Adm….
Cutter Bertholf Returns to Alameda following Three-Month Patrol
ALAMEDA, Calif. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) returned home to Alameda March 15 following a three-month, 15,000-mile, multi-mission patrol, the Coast Guard Pacific Area said in a release. In January, the Bertholf’s crew boarded…
Royal Malaysian Navy Stands Up Unmanned Aircraft Squadron
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) established the 601st Unmanned Aerial System Squadron on March 4, 2021, operating the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle UAS from its base at Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. It is the RMN’s first unit dedicated to unmanned aerial…
Coast Guard Reducing Some Marine Protector Patrol Boats for Budget Reasons, Commandant Says
ARLINGTON, Va. — Budget constraints are the main reason the Coast Guard is decommissioning a few 87-foot Marine Protector-class patrol boats, the Coast Guard commandant said, but the capabilities of other boats will compensate for the change. “We are taking…
Coast Guard Commandant Outlines Future of Service in San Diego
SAN DIEGO — The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard delivered his third state of the Coast Guard address March 11 at Coast Guard Sector San Diego, Coast Guard Headquarters said in a release. Adm. Karl Schultz outlined his…



