ARLINGTON, Va. — The recent successful intercept of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) target by a ship-launched SM-3 IIA missile proved the missile could compensate for track error built up over time, the Missile Defense Agency director said.  

An SM-3 Block IIA missile, launched on Nov. 16 from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) positioned northeast of Hawaii, intercepted and destroyed an ICBM-representative missile launched from the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, located on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. 

Vice Adm. Jon Hill, director, Missile Defense Agency, speaking Nov. 19 at the Virtual Combat Systems Symposium of the American Society of Naval Engineers, said the Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-44 (FTM-44) was particularly challenging because of the distance involved and the scant sensor coverage of the target missile’s flight path, which induces some drift in the fire-control solution that requires the SM-3 IIA missile to correct its course during flight. 

The destroyer used engage-on-remote capabilities to intercept the ICBM target, with the ships own sensors not used for targeting. Target track data was passed to the ship through the Command-and-Control Battle Management Communications (C2BMC) network. 

After launch, when the SM-3 IIA missile “opens it eyes, it’s going to be dealing with a lot of error it the track” Hill said. “It’s got to divert — our terminology for maneuvering — so it’s got to maneuver to collide, because we do kinetic-energy intercepts.” 

The missile’s nose section is equipped with four small rockets firing sideways to alter the missile’s terminal course to make the intercept. 

Hill explained that kinetic-energy intercepts are necessary because, with a potential weapon of mass destruction, “the best way to take it all out is with imparting kinetic energy — a direct hit.” 

The missile’s own video data link to the ship, as well as a space-based sensor, confirmed the destruction of the target. 

Hill said the factors involved — “precision guidance from the Aegis Combat System [on the destroyer]; a missile that has the ability to seek and divert to run right into the ICBM. That was a big challenge coming into FTM-44.”     

“FTM-44 was the sixth flight test of an Aegis BMD-equipped vessel using the SM-3 Block IIA guided missile. FTM-44, originally scheduled for May 2020, was delayed due to restrictions in personnel and equipment movement intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” the Navy said in a release. 

An animation of the test, test video, photos, and additional information about all elements of the U.S. Missile Defense System can be found at https://www.mda.mil. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite announced Nov. 17 that two future Virginia-class attack submarines will be named USS Tang and USS Wahoo. 

USS Tang (SSN 805) and USS Wahoo (SSN 806) will carry the names of two storied World War II submarines. 

“The success in battle both previous namesakes endured will undoubtedly bring great pride to the future crews of USS Tang and USS Wahoo,” said Braithwaite. “Along with the previously named USS Barb (SSN 804), these boats will honor the strong traditions and heritage of the silent service.” 

This will be the third time that the name Tang and Wahoo will be used for U.S. Navy submarines. 

USS Tang (SS-306) was a Balao-class submarine and the first U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Tang, a surgeon fish popular in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. She was built and launched in 1943, and under the command of Lt. Cmdr. Richard H. O’Kane, she was credited with sinking five enemy ships during the boat’s first war patrol. In her five patrols, Tang is credited with sinking 31 ships, totaling 227,800 tons and damaging two for 4,100 tons. Tang received four battle stars and two Presidential Unit Citations for her service during World War II, and O’Kane received the Medal of Honor for Tang’s final, heroic actions. 

A second USS Tang (SS-563), the first ship in the Navy’s Tang-class of Diesel submarines, was commissioned in October 1951. She was among the first post-WWII submarines designed under the Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY). She went on to complete multiple patrols supporting the Vietnam War, and later became a training vessel in Groton, Connecticut, before decommissioning in February 1980. Tang earned four battle stars for service in Vietnamese waters. 

USS Wahoo (SS-238) was a Gato-class submarine and the first U.S. Navy ship to be named for the wahoo fish, a scombrid fish found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. Construction on the submarine started before the U.S. entered World War II, and commissioned after the U.S. entered the war. On October 11, 1943, Wahoo, under the command of the renowned Lt. Cmdr. Dudley Walker “Mush” Morton, was sunk with all 79 hands onboard by air and surface attack as she was attempting to exit the Sea of Japan via La Perouse Strait. At the time of her loss, Wahoo was the most storied boat in the fleet. In her seven war patrols, she earned six battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation. The boat would be credited with sinking 20 Japanese ships, 19 of them during her last five war patrols. Morton was later awarded the Navy Cross and the destroyer USS Morton (DD-948) was named in his honor. 

The second USS Wahoo (SS-565), a Tang-class submarine, was commissioned on Memorial Day in 1952. After training exercises in the waters off the Hawaiian Islands, Wahoo embarked on tours of duty in the western Pacific as part of Seventh Fleet. She then completed two tours of duty in support of the Vietnam War and was decommissioned in June 1980. Wahoo was also recognized for her actions in Vietnamese waters. 

Rules for giving certain types of names to certain types of Navy ships have evolved over time. Attack submarines, for example, were once named for fish, then later for cities and states. However, Braithwaite supports naming future submarines after past vessels with historic naval legacies. 

“Naming Virginia class submarines is a unique opportunity to reclaim submarine names that carry inspirational records of achievement,” Braithwaite added. 

Attack submarines are designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; project power ashore with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Special Operation Forces; carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions; support battle group operations; and engage in mine warfare. For more information about attack submarines, visit https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169558/attack-submarines-ssn/ 

SEATTLE — Boeing is continuing to expand the Indian navy’s long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare capabilities with today’s delivery of the country’s ninth P-8I, Boeing said in a Nov. 18 release. The patrol aircraft is an integral part of the Indian navy’s fleet and has surpassed 25,000 flight hours since it was inducted in 2013. 

The ninth P-8I is the first aircraft to be delivered under an option contract for four additional aircraft that the Indian Ministry of Defence placed in 2016. The Indian navy was the first and is the largest international customer for the P-8 and recently completed seven years of operating the fleet. In addition to maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, P-8I have been deployed to assist during disaster relief and humanitarian missions. 

“Our focus has been, and will be, on delivering the world’s best maritime patrol aircraft to the Indian navy,” said Surendra Ahuja, managing director of Boeing Defence India. “The P-8I, with its exceptional maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, versatility and operational readiness, has proven to be an important asset to the Indian navy. We remain committed to supporting the modernization and mission readiness of India’s defense forces.” 

Boeing supports India’s growing P-8I fleet by providing training of Indian Navy flight crews, spares, ground support equipment and field service representative support. Boeing’s integrated logistics support has enabled the highest state of fleet readiness at the lowest possible cost. 

Boeing is currently completing construction of the Training Support & Data Handling Centre at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, and a secondary center at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology, Kochi, as part of a training and support package contract signed in 2019. The indigenous, ground-based training will allow the Indian navy crew to increase mission proficiency in a shorter time while reducing the on-aircraft training time resulting in increased aircraft availability for mission tasking. 

Boeing’s advanced aircraft and services focus play an important role in mission-readiness for the Indian Air Force and Indian navy. Boeing is focused on delivering value to Indian customers with advanced technologies and is committed to creating sustainable value in the Indian aerospace sector – developing local suppliers, and shaping academic and research collaborations with Indian institutions. 

ALAMEDA, Calif — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL-752) returned to its homeport Wednesday at Coast Guard Island in Alameda after 11 crew members tested positive for COVID-19 during the deployment, the Coast Guard Pacific Area said in a Nov. 18 release.   

The affected crew members reported mild symptoms and are receiving medical care.  

The cutter was met by Coast Guard medical staff, who conducted testing of the entire crew. Following testing, the crew went into quarantine. The cutter will continue to meet all in-port watchstanding requirements while at homeport.  

“The crew’s health and safety is my highest priority,” said Capt. Bob Little, Stratton’s commanding officer. “Stratton has a highly resilient crew, always dedicated to the mission. Our mission today is to get healthy so we can continue our service to the nation.”   

The Stratton departed Alameda Oct. 28 to begin a counter-narcotics patrol in the Eastern Pacific. Prior to getting underway, the crew underwent a restriction-of-movement period where members were required to self-quarantine and pass two COVID tests.   

On Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, several crew members began to develop COVID symptoms and were administered rapid testing kits. All affected personnel and close contacts were identified and quarantined.   

“The safety of our people and the public remain my top priority,” said Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area commander. “We continue to perform all statutory missions while taking the necessary precautions to protect our members and the public. We are committed to maintaining our operational readiness and will continue to perform critical missions that protect our national interests, promote economic prosperity and ensure public safety.” 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has developed and demonstrated a submarine-launched unmanned aerial system (SLUAS) for beyond line-of-sight targeting solutions and deployed it to the fleet in September 2020, the Navy’s submarine procurement admiral said. 

Rear Adm. Dave Goggins, program executive officer for Submarines, speaking Nov. 18 in a webinar for the annual symposium of the Naval Submarine League, said the SLUAS was “a pretty awesome capability to provide to the fleet.” 

Goggins said in a PowerPoint briefing that mid-tier acquisition authorities approved in March 2019 were used to begin the project in May 2019. Three demonstrations were conducted in 2019 and 2020. Initial operational capability was achieved in September.  

Only eight months after the project was started, the Navy conducted an at-sea demonstration of the SLUAS from the Los Angeles-class SSN USS Annapolis, launching them “from periscope depth, control them out to tactically significant ranges — well beyond the line of sight,” Goggins said. “By doing so she was able to target and conduct a rapid simulated torpedo attack against a participating surface ship, in case the USS Charleston, pretty much at near-maximum effective range of that torpedo, by flying that UAV to obtain a fire-point solution after gaining that initial sonar gain.” 

Another demonstration was conducted against a surface ship and a land site. So far, 21 SLUAS UAVs have been employed in demonstrations. The Defense Innovation Unit, which partnered with non-traditional industry companies to reduce cost and enhance capability, completed final flyoffs in July. 

“I have five SLUAS shipsets in the fleet today and we will continue to deliver this capability,” Goggins said. “We’re really working on the evolution of that capability going forward.”    

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has announced features for the Block VI version of the Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine (SSN), which will be the steppingstone to the next-generation SSN (SSNX). 

“Block VI continues that trend of delivering increasingly capable and lethal platforms block to block,” said Rear Adm. Dave Goggins, program executive officer for Submarines, speaking Nov. 18 in a webinar for the annual symposium of the Naval Submarine League. 

“Block VI will focus on building upon the acoustic superiority advancements of 790 [USS South Dakota, SSN 790],” Goggins said. “The key thing here is to really enable that organic subsea, seabed warfare capability for the first time.” 

Goggins said the Navy is looking at improved stealth to operate in contested environments; enhanced sonar performance resulting in greater tactical advantage [found] in a bow conformal array; the ability to sense and interact with more of the water column and seafloor. 

Other improvements being considered are additional payloads and an improved propulsor. 

He said the “key thing is the capabilities chosen for Block VI also have to dual purpose of improving the VCS [Virginia-class submarine] performance and also proving out technologies that will serve as the backbone for our future SSNX design. 

“We will spend the next year evaluating the maturity [and] feasibility of these capabilities followed by a down-select next year. That allows us to mature the technology and develop the required line of paperwork in support the Block VI contract.”    

The Navy plans to procure the Block VI boats in fiscal 2024-2028. 

NORFOLK, Virginia — BAE Systems has received a $76.3 million contract from the U.S. Navy to drydock and perform maintenance and modernization work aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55), the company said in a Nov. 18 release. The docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) contract for the Norfolk-based destroyer includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $100.5 million. 

BAE Systems’ Norfolk shipyard will begin working aboard the 510-foot-long ship in January 2021. Under the awarded DSRA contract, BAE Systems will drydock the ship; perform hull, tank and mechanical work; install upgraded electronic and electrical systems; and make other shipboard improvements.  

“Our team of employees, subcontractors and Navy personnel are working hard to sustain the workhorse of the fleet – the Arleigh Burke class destroyer,” said Mark Whitney, deputy general manager of BAE Systems Ship Repair and general manager of Norfolk Ship Repair. “We look forward to applying our vast experience to modernize the USS Stout, so that its crew members can do their jobs in defense of our nation for many years to come.” 

The USS Stout is named in honor of U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Herald F. Stout (1903-1987). During World War II, then-Commander Stout commanded a destroyer that was assigned to the Little Beaver squadron under then-Commodore Arleigh Burke. He earned two Navy Cross medals for command of the ship. The Stout became the fifth ship of the Arleigh Burke class of guided-missile destroyers, which now numbers 68 ships. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is pushing hard to field more and different types of operational unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) but needs a steady-growth approach to match technology with testing and training.  

The UUV progress is “very promising and we just need to hold the course but not go so fast that we’re buying systems that aren’t ready and aren’t tested,” said Rear Adm. William Houston, director of Undersea Warfare in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), speaking Nov. 18 in a webinar for the annual symposium of the Naval Submarine League. 

Houston said the Navy has progressed from a UUV detachment to full UUV squadron that is fully manned, with “four times the manning of a typical submarine squadron” with detachments on each coast.  

“We have at Port Hueneme [California] a test facility so we are fully moving forward on the testing and innovation,” Houston said. “One thing we’re working with industry is we want to get the prototypes tested and let those smart Sailors say what works and what doesn’t work and move on from there. Our concern right now is we are going so fast that we want to go into production right away. We have to …  get the requirements right. If you put on too many requirements, we will delay the testing [by] Sailors. We’re working through that. We’ve got great support from OPNAV.” 

Addressing UUV operations with submarines, Houston said that working with smaller UUVs has had “great success. [Submarine Force Pacific] is really leading the way with the UUV [squadron] out there. They’ve done a lot of significant testing based on where they’re at and we’ve had some very promising results, both with ROVs [Remotely Operated Vehicles] and UUVs. We’re at the point now where we’ve gone over some of the launch and recovery issues on the smaller-size [UUVs]. 

Houston said he also is “a big fan of ROVs. … So, we are putting additional emphasis on ROV while supporting the UUV portfolio that we have.” 

He said the development of UUV technology and operations is going in “fits and starts, and it’s tough technology, but we are partnered with the best in industry and we’re leveraging every source that we can.”   

ARLINGTON, Va. — The next generation of executive transport helicopter for the president of the United States is planned for Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in July 2021, a Navy spokeswoman said, but the decision of when to place the aircraft in service will be determined by the White House.  

The VH-92A, built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin company, was selected in 2014 to replace the VH-3D and VH-60N helicopter fleet used to transport the president and other government executives. Six VH-92As were ordered in 2019. Followed by six more in February 2020. Total inventory will be 23 VH-92A aircraft, comprised of 21 operational fleet aircraft and two test aircraft. 

The presidential helicopter fleet is operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One, based at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico, Va., with a detachment at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington. 

“Government testing to validate system performance and prepare for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation is progressing on schedule and will support an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) planned for July 2021,” the Navy spokeswoman said.  “The VH-92A will enter service post IOC at the determination of the White House Military Office.”

Thomaston, Conn. — In support of the U. S. Navy’s fiscal 2018-2023 contract awarded to Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Ward Leonard will be providing the motors that will open and close the missile and exhaust hatches on all newly built Mark 41 Vertical Launch Systems. 

The Mark 41 Vertical Launch System is part of the Aegis Combat System and has been in service since 1986. This missile launch system is used in Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers in the U.S. Navy, as well as in 16 allied navies and ashore locations. 

Ward Leonard’s custom engineering department designed a modified version of the previous Tech Systems motor used in the early stages of the Mark 41 program. This new upgraded motor complies with updated requirements by the U. S. Navy and meets current MIL-Specs.  

“It is an honor to provide a critical component to the Mark 41 Vertical Launch System which helps protect our country,” said Chris Spafford, vice president of Sales and Marketing of Ward Leonard. 

Ward Leonard has supplied the U.S. Navy for more than 120 years, and today specializes in the provision of state-of-the-art motor, control, component and systems integration solutions for surface, subsurface, and land-based applications.  

“We are proud of our long-standing history supporting the U.S. Navy and look forward to continuing the partnership to provide the military with mission-critical motors, controllers, and electrical components,” said William Berger, business development manager for Ward Leonard.