Article by: Peter Ong The US Navy’s Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF) – comprised of two Coastal Riverine Groups based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Imperial Beach, California – received delivery of its first new Mark VI patrol boat in 2014. Built by SafeBoats International in Bremerton, Washington,
The US Navy has established a new squadron that will be in charge of integrating unmanned surface vessels (USV) and support fleet experimentation to accelerate delivery of new warfighting concepts and capabilities to the fleet. The new squadron has been re-designated from Zumwalt Squadron ONE (ZRON
The US Maritime Administration (MARAD)has contracted TOTE Services to deliver the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), a new class of training ship. MARAD awarded the contract after issuing a request for proposals in October 2018. The NSMV will help to sustain US maritime training operatio
The US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) got underway from Yokosuka, Japan, on May 22, to start a deployment to the Indo-Pacific. The carrier deployed with supporting Commander Task Force 70 units for routine operations in the region. “Forward presence truly matters
US Navy’s Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) returned home to the Pacific Northwest on May 13, after spending almost three years forward-deployed in the Western Pacific. Since its departure in December 2016, Michigan was forward-deployed to Guam, where it conducted surveilla
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Sikorsky a $1.3 billion contract for the construction and delivery of 12 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the US Marine Corps. The low rate initial production (LRIP) Lots 2 and 3 contract was awarded on May 17. The most powerful helicopter in the Depa
Two US Navy groups operate in US 5th Fleet AOP in show of force amid Iran tensions.
A keel-laying ceremony for the first in a new class of US Military Sealift Command operated oilers was held at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego on May 13. Kevin Graney, NASSCO president welcomed ship namesake, Rep. John Lewis (D Ga.), and ship’s sponsor, actress Alfre Woodard who at
The US Pacific Air Forces hosted exercise Northern Edge 2019 (NE19) kicked off on and above central Alaska ranges and the Gulf of Alaska on May 13. Personnel from US military units stationed in the continental United States and from US installations in the Indo-Pacific will participate with approxim
US Navy aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and ships from its carrier strike group entered the US 5th Fleet area of operations on May 9 after transiting the Suez Canal. The Abraham Lincoln CSG (ABESCG) arrived in the Middle East a little earlier than initially planned, following an announceme
US Navy’s Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) carried out a successful test flight of one unarmed Trident II D5 missile on May 9. On the same day, the US Air Force launched a Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Both tests
The US Navy is concluding its support for the search and recovery operations of the Japanese F-35A fighter jet that went missing over the Pacific, off Misawa Air Base on April 9. A US Navy salvage team aboard the contracted vessel DSCV Van Gogh completed its mission after locating debris from the do
US Navy ship USS William P. Lawrence joined ships from the Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Republic of Philippine Navy to sail through the South China Sea between May 2 and 8. As the USS William P. Lawrence sailed with allies, the guided-missile destroyer’s sister ships USS Prebl
The US announced it would send its hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) to the Caribbean, Central America and South America in response to the regional impacts of political and economic crises in Venezuela. The ship is scheduled to deploy in June from Naval Station Norfolk and will operate in the re
