U.S. and Japan Self Defense Force service members are set to carry out amphibious operations off of Guam and Tinian during a bilateral U.S. – Japan training exercise called Keen Sword. U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units and personnel will combine with Japanese Self Defense Force units to conduct a ran
F-35B Lightning II aircraft, the U.S. Navy’s next generation of stealth fighter jets, landed on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) on October 28 to begin operational testing. America will embark seven F-35Bs; two are scheduled to begin the third shipboard phase of developmental test (DT
The U.S. Navy’s Eisenhower carrier strike group (Ike CSG) and the U.S. Air Force conducted a joint air defense exercise (ADEX) in the Arabian Gulf, October 25. The ADEX is conducted to improve integration of Navy and Air Force defense efforts while protecting aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhowe
U.S. and Royal Cambodian Navy (RCN) sailors kicked off the 7th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in Cambodia with an opening ceremony at Ream Navy Base, on October 31. Held consecutively since 2010, CARAT Cambodia is a bilateral training exercise to increase cooperati
The U.S. Navy has contracted Lockheed Martin Sippican for the Multifunction Mast Antenna System (OE-538B) upgrade to improve submarine communications. Serving as a sub-contractor to Lockheed Martin Sippican, Mayflower Communications Company will deliver its Submarine Anti-Jam GPS Enhancement (SAGE)
The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics’ shipbuilding division NASSCO a $83 million contract for the refurbishment of the U.S. Navy’s Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4). NASSCO will perform a phased maintenance availability on the ship which includes depot-level maintenance, alt
U.S. Navy’s Makin Island amphibious ready group (ARG) and embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations after concluding operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. While in 7th Fleet, the Makin Island ARG/11th MEU will participate in bilateral training exercises a
Royal Navy tanker RFA Gold Rover recently refueled French helicopter carrier FS Dixmude and joined it for a piracy patrol off the Ivory Coast. Joined by Ivory Coast patrol boat Sekongo, the ships patrolled 200 miles of coastline and waters off shore, stretching from the Ivory Coast’s principal port
The U.S Navy’s Virginia-class attack submarine USS Illinois (SSN 786) was commissioned during an October 29 ceremony at Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. The submarine is the first Navy vessel named for the state since the battleship Illinois (BB 7) was commissioned in 1901. The firs
The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding (NASSCO) a $34.5 million contract for the post shakedown availability of USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB 3). During the maintenance works, NASSCO will also upgrade the ship to allow it to support special operations forces. Lt. Cm
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has contracted Swedish defense contractor Saab to deliver an integrated combat system for the two new Royal Australian Navy replenishment ships. According to Saab, the contract is worth SEK 226 million (approx US$25 milion). Helicopter control radar and decoy system are
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) wrapped up its mission of supporting the French Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group. Ross was part of a destroyer squadron in charge of protecting the aircraft carrier from attacks thereby enabling it to launch fighter jets to carry out airst
The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Center for Cyber Security Studies in Maryland, on October 21. The center is being established to allow the expansion of the Naval Academy’s cyber program, which includes a cyber operations major and required cyber curriculum fo
The U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) has awarded defense company Engility a $71 million contract to deliver systems engineering on U.S. naval aircraft and weapons systems. As part of the contract, Engility will assess the technical performance, suitability and risks of aircra
