The Philippine armed forces are hosting this year’s Balikatan which is set to run from April 4 – 16 in the province of Antique, Philippines. Balikatan is an annual multi-layered exercise between the Philippines and the U.S. Pacific Command which spans humanitarian and civic assistance events, and jo
The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics a $644.3 million contract modification for the planning and construction of Harvey C. Barnum (DDG 124) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. This modification fully funds this ship, which was awarded as part of a multi-year competition for DDG 51 class destroyers
Australian-based shipbuilder Austal has laid the keel for the eighth U.S. Navy Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel Yuma (EPF 8) at its Mobile, Alabama facility during a ceremony held March 29. The ship is built under a 10-ship, $1.6 billion block-buy contract awarded to Austal in 2008. Laying the ke
U.S. Navy ship Blue Ridge changed command during a port visit to Sri Lanka on March 29. Captain Matthew Paradise relieved Captain Kyle P. Higgins as commanding officer of the Command-class ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Higgins served as commanding officer for over 14 months, leading the ship and cre
The U.S. Navy has selected General Dynamics’ Electric Boat as the prime contractor to design and deliver 12 Ohio-Replacement submarines. In its Submarine Unified Build Strategy (SUBS), the U.S. Navy has outlined a way to keep the OR programme on schedule without neglecting the Virginia-class constru
Dr. Janine Davidson was sworn in as the 32nd under secretary of the Navy March 22. Davidson serves as the Navy’s chief management officer and performs other duties assigned by the secretary of the Navy. A former Air Force pilot and Pentagon official, Davidson brings nearly 30 years of experience in
The U.S. Navy announced March 22 that the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chosin (CG 65) will change its homeport from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to San Diego and reduce its operating status as it undergoes the Navy’s Cruiser modernization program. The ship will be considered on deployment
The U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet operating in Europe and Africa has established a new task force that will be solely responsible for ballistic missile defense in Europe. On March 24, Commodore Jeffrey Wolstenholme assumed command of the newly established Commander, Task Force 64, as the unit was named. U.S
The UK Defence Infrastructure Organisation has awarded a £19 million (approx $26M) contract for the Mare Harbour, Falklands, to be upgraded to host larger Royal Navy ships. UK-based civil engineering company VolkerStevin will design and construct a facility suitable to cater for the Point-class ship
USS William P.Lawrence, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer of the U.S. Navy, recently embarked a Coast Guard law enforcement detachment to conduct fisheries patrols in the Central and South Pacific Ocean. The patrols were conducted within the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative. Willia
The U.S. Navy has captured on video the moment the attack submarine USS Hartford breaks polar ice in order to surface at the Camp Sargo temporary base constructed for the five-week exercise ICEX 2016. Two U.S. Navy submarines on March 14 reached their temporary camp where the operational readiness o
Ssang Yong 2016…a multilateral, amphibious exercise in South Korea that strengthens Marine Corps and Naval integration…view the highlights! See how MSC ships played a crucial role in this exercise. #SsangYong16 #PacificRebalance #MSCdelivers Posted by U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command on Sunday,
The U.S. Navy has awarded the Australian shipbuilding company Austal a US$13.97 million modification to a previously awarded Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract for special studies, analyses and review efforts for the Littoral Combat Ship Program. Austal said it would be providing engineering and de
USS Hartford and USS Hampton on March 14 arrived at Ice Camp Sargo, a temporary station constructed on a floating sheet of ice the U.S. Navy built for this year’s Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2016. Groton-based Hartford and San Diego-based Hampton will conduct multiple arctic transits, a North Pole surfacing
