WASHINGTON — The Navy’s officials in charge of shipbuilding noted a silver lining in the cloud of the service’s upcoming trough in the force level of submarines in the fleet: a chance to keep pace on the maintenance backlog while…
Navy Goes Big With Virginia Block V Sub Multi-Year Contract, Builders to Add Thousands of Workers
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy awarded it largest shipbuilding contract ever with an order for nine Block V Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), with an option for a 10th SSN, Navy officials said in a Dec. 2 media roundtable in…
Esper Taps Braithwaite to Become Next Navy Secretary
ARLINGTON, Va. — Defense Secretary Mark Esper recommended that retired Rear Adm. Kenneth J. Braithwaite II, who serves as U.S. ambassador to Norway, become the next Navy secretary and successor to Richard V. Spencer, who resigned Nov. 24. President Trump signaled in a tweet he intends to nominate Braithwaite. Braithwaite is a former P-3 naval aviator who became a…
Navy Leaders Meet to Chart Course Following Spencer’s Departure
ARLINGTON, Va. — Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper is set to meet Nov. 25 with top U.S. Navy officials to discuss the way ahead in the wake of Secretary Richard V. Spencer’s sudden departure, a Pentagon spokesman said in a statement. Esper has proposed a retired Navy admiral…
Wasp Completes Shift of Homeport From Japan to Norfolk
NORFOLK, Va. — The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp arrived at Naval Station Norfolk on Nov. 18, completing its homeport shift after spending nearly two years forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, and operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The ship departed Sasebo on Aug. 26 and began its…
Navy Accepts Delivery of Expeditionary Sea Base USNS Miguel Keith
SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of its third expeditionary sea base (ESB) ship, USNS Miguel Keith (T-ESB 5), on Nov. 15, Program Executive Office-Ships said in a release. Delivery marks the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy. The USNS…
Navy Secretary Names Future Destroyer in Honor of Late Sen. Thad Cochran
WASHINGTON — Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer announced a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be named in honor of late Sen. Thad Cochran, a Navy veteran, the secretary’s public affairs said in a release. Cochran was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Naval…
Navy Secretary Names Future Destroyer in Honor of Late Senator
WASHINGTON — Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer announced a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will bear the name of the late Sen. Richard G. Lugar, a Navy veteran, Spencer’s public affairs office said in a release. Lugar served in the Navy from 1957 to 1960 and represented…
Boeing Delivers First P-8A Poseidon to United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force
SEATTLE — Boeing has delivered the first of nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, the company said in a release. The U.K. is acquiring the multimission aircraft through the foreign military sales process with the U.S. Navy. The P-8A Poseidon replaces…
Keel Authenticated for First Flight III Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — In a milestone for the DDG 51 program, the keel of the first Flight III destroyer, the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), was ceremoniously laid and authenticated at Huntington Ingalls Shipyard on Nov. 7. Ruby Lucas and Catherine…
