The U.S. Navy has contracted Raytheon to produce and deliver Standard Missile-6 all-up round missiles and spares. Raytheon will begin deliveries under the $235 million contract in 2018. The missiles will be deployed on Aegis cruisers and destroyers to support U.S. Navy fleet operations. Raytheon not
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) stopped in Subic Bay, Philippines, January 23, during its regular patrol. The Arleigh Burke-class ship will use the stop to conduct some minor repairs with the assistance of Filipino companies. McCain’s crew will also participate in a
U.S. Navy sailors will be receiving new flame resistant uniforms as the U.S. Fleet Forces commander announced on January 19 that an improved variant of the flame resistant coverall was approved for use. The approval came after a review of the results from recently completed afloat wear tests conduct
U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a visit on January 19. During their four-day visit, the crew will have the opportunity to engage with members of the Sri Lanka Navy and public. The visit also provides the opportunity for the crew of Hopper to
Construction on the U.S Navy’ next expeditionary fast transport USNS City of Bismarck officially started with a keel laying ceremony on January 18. The ceremony was held at Austal’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard during which former North Dakota District Court Judge Robert Wefald served as keel authentica
U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kukui left its homeport of Sand Island in Honolulu one last time on January 9, exactly 19 years to the day after its commissioning. The ship and its crew of 46 are sailing the cutter to the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore for its regular scheduled midlife maintenance. When Kuku
Austal marked the start of fabrication work on the U.S. Navy’s eleventh expeditionary fast transport USNS Puerto Rico on January 18. On the same day, the keel was authenticated for the EPF 9, USNS City of Bismarck. The start of construction on Puerto Rico signifies the procurement of materials and c
While it is important for the U.S. Navy to increase the number of ships being built, it is even more important to have the shipbuilders construct the ‘right kinds of ships’, a new Senate Armed Services Committee white paper has suggested. A Small Surface Combatant that could begin procurement in 202
U.S. Marines’ F-35B Lightning II aircraft arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on January 18 as the first F-35B squadron on an operational overseas deployment. With this deployment, the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 begins a permanent change of station to MCAS Iwakuni from MCAS Yuma, Ari
U.S. Navy Cyclone-class patrol coastal ships USS Zephyr (PC 8) and USS Shamal (PC 13) returned to Mayport, Florida, concluding counter drug patrols in support of operation Martillo. The ships returned on January 17 wrapping up their 64-day patrol in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. Marking
U.S. Navy’s attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan for a visit on January 17. The port visit is part of the Los Angeles-class submarine’s Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol. “We are honored to have the opportunity to visit Japan,” said Cmdr. Steven Tarr III, commandi
U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) was alongside Manama, Bahrain, January 9-15, for the ship’s first port visit since entering the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Makin Island, and its crew of more than 2,400 sailors and marines, visited Bahrain to replenish supplies, pe
The crew of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Tahoma returned to homeport on January 13 with over three tons of cocaine seized during a 49-day patrol. Homeported in Kittery, Maine, Tahoma’s crew conducted drug interdiction efforts, strategically intercepting and boarding suspected smuggling vessels in the Eas
U.S. Navy personnel deployed to Rota, Spain, recently took time to practice ordnance loading in what were described as “non-traditional locations”. The U.S. 6th Fleet shared photos from the exercise showing MK 48 inert training torpedoes being loaded onto a submarine. U.S. 6th Fleet, together with t
