SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The U.S. Coast Guard, U.K. Royal Navy and U.S. law enforcement partners seized 3,086 pounds of cocaine and detained nine suspected drug smugglers following two separate interdictions in the Caribbean on Jan. 24 and Jan. 30, according to the Coast Guard 7th District. 

The seized drug shipments are estimated to have a wholesale value of more than $46.2 million. 

The interdiction was a result of an international, multiagency law-enforcement effort in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard, Campaign Martillo (a joint, interagency, 20-nation collaborative counter narcotic effort) and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF) and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Federal District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. 

“These efforts, underpinned by our unwavering resolve to stop drug smuggling vessels at sea, greatly contribute to safeguarding our citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and protecting our shared interests of a safer and more secure Caribbean,” said Rear Adm. Eric C. Jones, commander of the 7th District. 

“These interdictions highlight the importance of working with our international partners as we combat drug trafficking,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “These large drug seizures make our community safer by keeping the narcotics out of our neighborhoods. We commend all of our partner agencies for their steadfast efforts.” 

“These operations reiterate the significance of intelligence and resource sharing among agencies,” said A.J. Collazo, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Caribbean Division special agent in charge. “We will continue to aggressively target and disrupt drug-trafficking organizations operating in the Caribbean.” 

In the first interdiction, the Royal Navy’s RFA Mounts Bay, while on patrol with a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment (LEDET) and a Coast Guard helicopter interdiction tactical squadron (HITRON) armed helicopter onboard, detected two suspicious go-fast vessels, about 74 nautical miles south of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. 

The RFA Mounts Bay launched the Coast Guard MH-65 helicopter and the ship’s pursuit vessel with the Coast Guard LEDET to interdict both suspect vessels.  

The Coast Guard LEDET boarding team, with the assistance of RFA Mounts Bay crew members, boarded both suspect vessels, apprehending the seven men and seizing 42 bales of suspected contraband. 

In the second interdiction, a maritime patrol aircraft detected a northbound target of interest, southeast of Isla Beata, Dominican Republic. The Coast Guard Cutter Bear along with a helicopter responded to interdict the go-fast vessel. The Bear’s over-the-horizon cutter boat and embarked helicopter arrived on scene and stopped the go-fast. The Bear’s boarding team detained the two men aboard the go-fast after discovering 13 bales of suspected contraband. 

The Bear delivered the seized contraband and detainees from both cases to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-HSI, and DEA special agents in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Feb. 4. 

Between October 2019 and December 2019, the Coast Guard and Caribbean Border Interagency Group authorities have seized 12,060 kilograms of cocaine and 407 pounds of marijuana during law-enforcement operations surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The wholesale value for these seizures is more than $314 million. 

Cutter Bear is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. The RFA Mounts Bay is a Bay-class auxiliary landing ship dock belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, which provides logistical support to the Royal Navy.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. 2nd Fleet exercised its ability to operate expeditionary maritime operations centers in its run-up from initial to full operational capability, achieved in December, the fleet commander said. 

Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis, commander of the 2nd Fleet, who spoke here Feb. 4 at Maritime Security Dialogue sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the U.S. Naval Institute, said his staff deployed on board the USS Mount Whitney — traditionally the flagship of the U.S. 6th Fleet — to the Baltic Sea last year to command maritime forces in the BATLTOPS 19 exercise.  

Lewis gave a second example where a mobile operations center with 30 personnel was deployed to Keflavik, Iceland, last month, to control operations of P-8 maritime patrol aircraft. The deployment tested the scalability of the fleet staff to run maritime operations centers from two locations. 

He also dispatched a surface action group (SAG) to the Atlantic — the first to deploy to that ocean in more than a decade — elements of which operated in the Arctic region. 

The 2nd Fleet was established in 2018 to operate in the North Atlantic in response to the growing Russian presence in the ocean in recent years. In the previous two decades, the East Coast ships mostly deployed to Europe and the Middle East. 

“The Atlantic is a battlespace that can’t be ignored,” Lewis said, noting the increased Russian submarine presence and even a Russian icebreaker armed with Kalibr cruise missiles. 

Lewis said he did not expect that his fleet would operate its own command ship soon but that he saw his staff eventually “having a kit to deploy with which we don’t currently have,” but that he needed the personnel to maintain it. 

Lewis said that soon the fleet will deploy a mobile operations center at an expeditionary location in the U.S. homeland under the auspices of U.S. Northern Command and that the fleet staff would deploy afloat on a ship that was not a command ship. 

Because of the Russian submarine threat, Lewis emphasized that the fleet is “re-learning” much of anti-submarine warfare (ASW).    

“It’s an all-domain integrated fight — in the air, on the surface, in the subsurface down to the seabed, and it’s in space,” he said. “It’s a really hard challenge, a real varsity operation. And that’s something we’re getting back into, very much so.”  

Lewis also praised the ASW capabilities of the Navy’s P-8 aircraft. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has deployed the W76-2 low-yield nuclear warhead in the Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile, the Defense Department confirmed Feb. 4. 

The deployment was reported in an article posted Jan. 29 on the website of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) by William M. Arkin and Hans M. Kristensen and has been confirmed by John Rood, undersecretary of defense for policy. 

“The Navy has fielded the W76-2 low-yield submarine-launched ballistic missile warhead,” Rood said in the statement. 

“In the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, the department identified the requirement to ‘modify a small number of submarine-launched ballistic missile warheads’ to address the conclusion that potential adversaries, like Russia, believe that employment of low-yield nuclear weapons will give them an advantage over the United States and its allies and partners. 

“This supplemental capability strengthens deterrence and provides the United States a prompt, more survivable low-yield strategic weapon; supports our commitment to extended deterrence; and demonstrates to potential adversaries that there is no advantage to limited nuclear employment because the United States can credibly and decisively respond to any threat scenario.” 

The FAS article claimed that the W76-2 is believed to have been deployed in late 2019 on the USS Tennessee, an Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine based at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. FAS said the W76-2 has a nuclear yield equivalent of five kilotons of explosives, compared with 90 kilotons for the W76-1 warhead and 455 kilotons of the W88 warhead.  

The low-yield warhead became a point of dispute between Democrats and Republicans in the Congress, with Democrats opposing the deployment, voiced by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash). In the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act passed into law in December, the warhead survived conference committee negotiations and was approved for deployment.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Valiant repatriated 44 of 69 Dominican migrants to a Dominican navy vessel on Feb. 3, following the interdiction of three separate illegal migrant voyages near Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. 

Five of the interdicted migrants will remain in Puerto Rico to face possible federal prosecution on charges of attempting to illegally re-enter the United States. 

The interdictions were a result of ongoing efforts in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG).  

“These makeshift vessels were extremely overloaded and had been at sea for several days,” said Lt. Matthew Monahan, the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon’s commanding officer. 

“Those aboard had no food or water left and were likely abandoned by the individual promising them passage to Puerto Rico once the vessel ran out of fuel. These survivors were lucky to be located in time to receive aid from Coast Guard personnel, but this is frequently not the case. This is just another example of why this type of journey is exceptionally hazardous and should not be attempted under any circumstances.”   

The first interdiction took place Jan. 28 after a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations marine patrol aircraft crew sighted a 22-foot migrant boat disabled and adrift, about 45 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The Richard Dixon interdicted the illegal voyage and embarked all 13 migrants, 11 men and two women.  

The second interdiction took place Jan. 29, after a CBP DHC-8 marine patrol aircraft crew sighted a 30-foot migrant boat disabled and adrift, about 12 nautical miles southwest of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. The Richard Dixon interdicted the illegal voyage and embarked all 37 migrants, 32 adult males and five females, including a 17-year-old minor.  

The third interdiction took place Jan. 30, after the crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry marine patrol aircraft sighted a 30-foot migrant boat disabled and adrift, about 37 nautical miles south of Isla Saona, Dominican Republic. The Valiant interdicted the illegal voyage as a Dominican navy vessel also responded to the scene. Once on scene, the crew of the Dominican vessel embarked the migrants for their return to the Dominican Republic. 

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. 

The crew of the cutter Valiant transferred the five migrants awaiting federal prosecution to Ramey Sector Border Patrol agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. 

The Richard Dixon is a 154-foot fast-response cutter homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while the Valiant is a 210-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Mayport, Florida.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Boeing and the U.S. Navy successfully flew two autonomously controlled EA-18G Growlers at Naval Air Station Patuxent River as unmanned air systems, using a third Growler as a mission controller for the other two, according to the company. 

The flights, conducted during the Navy Warfare Development Command’s annual fleet experiment exercises, proved the effectiveness of technology allowing F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers to perform combat missions with unmanned systems. 

“This demonstration allows Boeing and the Navy the opportunity to analyze the data collected and decide where to make investments in future technologies,” said Tom Brandt, leader of Boeing’s manned-unmanned teaming demonstration. “It could provide synergy with other U.S. Navy unmanned systems in development across the spectrum and in other services.” 

Over the course of four flights, 21 demonstration missions were completed. 

“This technology allows the Navy to extend the reach of sensors while keeping manned aircraft out of harm’s way,” Brandt said. “It’s a force multiplier that enables a single aircrew to control multiple aircraft without greatly increasing workload. It has the potential to increase survivability as well as situational awareness.”

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has entered into an agreement to acquire Hydroid Inc., a provider of advanced marine robotics to the defense and maritime markets and a U.S.-based indirect subsidiary, wholly owned by Kongsberg Maritime, HII announced. 

In conjunction with the transaction, HII and Kongsberg Maritime are also establishing a strategic alliance to jointly market naval and maritime products and services to the U.S. government market and, potentially, to global markets. 

Hydroid, which is based in Pocasset, Massachusetts, will become part of HII’s Technical Solutions division. The acquisition of Hydroid expands HII capabilities in the autonomous and unmanned maritime systems market. 

The transaction is subject to regulatory review and customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020. The value of the transaction is $350 million, which will be effectively reduced by tax benefits that are preliminarily valued over $50 million, to be received by HII. 

“We are very excited about bringing Hydroid into the HII family and establishing a strategic alliance with Kongsberg Maritime,” said Mike Petters, HII’s president and CEO. 

“Hydroid’s advanced capabilities and reputation for excellence in autonomous and unmanned maritime systems provide the perfect complement to our existing unmanned operations, including Proteus in Panama City and our partnership with Boeing to produce the Orca XLUUV. This transaction, along with the strategic alliance with Kongsberg Maritime, demonstrates our long-term commitment to the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard and our national security customers and allies globally.” 

The strategic alliance between HII and Kongsberg Maritime leverages the companies’ combined capabilities and resources to enhance their respective services and product offerings to the Navy, Coast Guard and other national security customers. The companies will also explore opportunities to market each other’s products to customers on a global scale and to collaborate to create innovative solutions and additional opportunities for growth. 

Kongsberg Maritime is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kongsberg, which is headquartered in Norway. The group delivers advanced technology systems and solutions to clients within the defense and aerospace market and commercial maritime market. 

Since 2001, Hydroid’s REMUS line of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) has provided rapidly deployable solutions for use in defense, marine research and commercial applications. Hydroid specializes in UUV design, engineering, production and support. 

Huntington Ingalls Industries is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HII’s Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi, respectively, have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder.

HENDERSON, Western Australia — Austal Limited’s shipyards and service centers in Australia have been approved to bid for and provide support services, including ship repairs, maintenance and sustainment activity for U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command ships, according to the company. 

With the agreement of boat repair (ABR) now in place, Austal’s Australian operations may now bid to provide emergent repair services to deployed U.S. ships, including the Austal designed and constructed Independence-class littoral combat ships. The ABR also allows Austal to bid for maintenance and repair of MSC ships deployed to the region, to include the Austal designed and constructed Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport (EPF) vessels. 

Austal CEO David Singleton said the approval from the U.S. Navy demonstrates Austal’s global capability to provide OEM support to major naval fleets. 

“With this approval, Austal can provide a range of vessel repairs, maintenance and in-service support to U.S. Navy and MSC ships operating throughout South East Asia,” Singleton said. 

“As the designer and builder, no one knows the Independence-class LCS or Spearhead-class EPF better than us, and we’re naturally very pleased and proud to now have the opportunity to provide local support for these vessels to the U.S. Navy, as opportunities arise,” he said. 

The approval from the U.S. Navy allows Austal to bid for work on U.S. naval vessels that may visit Australia, including Cairns in Queensland, Darwin in the Northern Territory or Fremantle (Henderson) in western Australia. 

Austal has delivered 10 Independence-class LCS to the U.S. Navy since 2010 and continues to construct six vessels at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. A total of 19 Independence-class LCS have been contracted, along with 14 Spearhead-class EPF’s, 11 of which have been delivered to the American Navy. 

PASCAGOULA, Miss. — The guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald is underway to conduct comprehensive at-sea testing, marking a significant step in its return to warfighting readiness, Naval Sea Systems Command said Feb. 3. 

The ship departed Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding’s Pascagoula shipyard to conduct a series of demonstrations to evaluate that the ship’s onboard systems meet or exceed Navy performance specifications. Among the systems that will be tested are navigation, damage control, mechanical and electrical systems, combat systems, communications and propulsion. 

The underway reflects nearly two years of effort in restoring and modernizing one of the Navy’s most capable warships after it was damaged during a collision in 2017 that claimed the lives of seven Sailors. 

“Since we launched the ship this past April, our efforts have focused on restoring ship systems, conducting pierside tests and readying the ship for sea,” said Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, NAVSEA director of surface ship maintenance and modernization, and commander of the Navy Regional Maintenance Center. 

“The government and industry team has been working hand-in-hand on this exceptionally complex effort, with a common purpose of returning Fitzgerald to sea and ultimately back to the Fleet.” 

When Fitzgerald returns to the shipyard, crew training and certifications will start as final work items are completed in support of the ship’s sail away later this spring. 

“We are excited to take the next step to get Fitzgerald back out to sea where the ship belongs. My crew is looking forward to moving onboard the ship and continuing our training to ensure we are ready to return to the fleet,” said Cmdr. Scott Wilbur, Fitzgerald’s commanding officer. 

After receiving its full complement of basic and advanced phased training, as well as crew and ship certifications, the USS Fitzgerald will return to the Fleet mission-ready with the improved capability and lethality required to successfully support high-end operations. 

MCLEAN, Va. — The U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) has awarded BAE Systems Inc. a prime position on a $212 million contract to integrate and sustain its critical communication systems, the company said in a release. 

The company will design, acquire, integrate and test radio systems for newly constructed guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) and other Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships.  

Additionally, the company was awarded a separate $104.7 million contract by NAWCAD to provide engineering and technical services to support production, lifetime-support and in-service engineering for the radio communications C5ISR (command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems aboard Navy surface combatants and at shore sites. The work will be focused primarily on the CG 47-class and DDG 51-class Aegis ships. 

“Maintaining reliable lines of communication and situational awareness for those at the forefront of national security is a mission-critical priority for BAE Systems and our customers,” said Mark Keeler, vice president and general manager of BAE’s Integrated Defense Solutions business. 

“We’re proud to continue supporting the integration of combat systems and solutions for the U.S. Navy as they defend against advanced air, surface and subsurface threats.”

Middletown, R.I. — Rite-Solutions has been awarded a new contract by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport with a potential value of $71.5 million over the next five years, the company said in a release. 

The company will provide engineering and technical services to the Undersea Warfare Electro Magnetic Systems Department, including systems engineering, integration and test, fleet support, and lab support for the Navy’s imaging and electronic warfare systems.  

“This is the largest single award contract in Rite-Solutions’ 20-year history,” said Joe Marino, chairman of the company’s board of directors and a Rite-Solutions founders.   

“This award is a game-changer for Rite-Solutions and will expand our ability to provide critical engineering expertise to the Navy,” said Dennis McLaughlin, president and CEO. “Further, this adds to our impressive string of contract awards over the past three years.”   

The contract will be performed in the Newport, Rhode Island, area as well as at critical facilities and Naval bases worldwide supporting both development and fleet response requirements in areas where the Navy has indicated a significant need. 

Ken Haner, Rite-Solutions’ senior vice president and director of engineering services, and Mike Coffey, executive vice president and general manager, who teamed up to lead the contract capture, emphasized its importance to the company. 

The submarine force has been working to increase its capabilities in the electronic warfare domain. This contract award allows Rite-Solutions to support those efforts and solidifies its role as a leading provider of undersea warfare systems and software engineering to the Navy.