ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s top officer said his thinking about integrating unmanned systems into the fleet has been changed by the observations of the service’s recent experimentation during fleet exercises. “We are learning so fast in fielding these capabilities…
Aboard USS Jackson, MQ-8C Fire Scout Returns to Flight
PHILIPPINE SEA — The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) completed underway return to flight operations of the Navy’s unmanned helicopter, the MQ-8C Fire Scout, in the Philippine Sea on April 20, commander Destroyer Squadron 7 public affairs…
Navy to Adjust F/A-18 Service Life Modernization as Needed to Address Strike Fighter Shortfall
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy is planning to use a “rheostat” approach to adjust the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter Service Life Modernization (SLM) program to mitigate the strike fighter shortfall in the fleet, a senior service official said. The…
Navy Proposes Divestment of Special Ops Helicopter Squadron
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is proposing to retire its only expeditionary helicopter squadron dedicated to support of special operations forces with the service’s 2023 budget request. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC-85), a reserve squadron based at Naval…
NRL Conducts Successful Terrestrial Microwave Power Beaming Demonstration
WASHINGTON — A team of researchers from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory recently demonstrated the feasibility of terrestrial microwave power beaming by transmitting 1.6 kilowatts of power over 1 kilometer, the most significant power beaming demonstration in nearly 50 years,…
Navy Proposes Decommissioning 6th Fleet’s Command Ship in 2026
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has proposed in its 2023 budget to decommission the amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) during fiscal 2026. The Mount Whitney has served as the flagship of the U.S. 6th Fleet since…
NSWC Dahlgren Engineers Develop Modernized Low-Cost Semi-Active Laser Seeker
DAHLGREN, Va. — Engineers at NSWC Dahlgren Division have developed a new, lower-in-cost, semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, the division said April 25. SAL seekers are a key enabling technology for guided munitions that allow warfighters to target stationary and moving…
USS Donald Cook Returns to Mayport after Surge Deployment
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Naval Station Mayport following a three-month deployment, April 24, the U.S. 2nd Fleet said in an April 25 release. Donald Cook departed Naval Station Mayport…
Future APL 69 Conducts Builder’s and Acceptance Trials
WASHINGTON — The Navy’s newest berthing barge, Auxiliary Personnel Lighter (APL) 69, recently conducted builder’s and acceptance trials in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Team Ships Public Affairs said in a release. Builder’s trials consist of a series of in-port tests and demonstrations…
Navy Awards Raytheon Up to $1.68B for Zumwalt DDG Engineering Services
TUCSON, Ariz. — The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Missiles & Defense an activation, sustainment and modernization contract for $483 million with options, if exercised, totaling $1.68 billion across five years, the company said April 20. Under this contract, Raytheon Missiles…
