The US Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) has awarded design firm Stantec a $35 million contract for the planning and preliminary design of a multi-mission dry dock and other upgrades at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Kittery, Maine. Stantec’s work will include comprehensive prelimin
US Navy sailors attached to the amphibious ready group centered around the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) started their deployment on December 17, after getting underway from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to USS Kearsarge as the flagship, the group includes S
The US Navy established Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 – its first CMV-22B squadron – in a ceremony at Naval Base Coronado on December 14. VRM-30 was established to begin the navy’s transition from the C-2A Greyhound, which has provided logistics support to aircraft carriers for fou
US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman returned home on December 16, becoming the first US Navy Nimitz-class carrier to complete a deployment under the new dynamic force employment concept. In all, the flattop spent some seven months on operations since first deploying from naval station Norfolk on
Royal Navy Type 23 frigates HMS Westminster and HMS Monmouth returned to their homeports in Portsmouth and Devonport, respectively, on December 14. Westminster returned after an eight-week stint in the North and Baltic Sea where she trained with other NATO and ally ships as part of NATO’s largest ex
The second Zumwalt-class destroyer, future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), arrived at its homeport of San Diego December 7, successfully completing her sail around from Bath Iron Works (BIW) in Bath, Maine to California. With underway testing complete, the ship now looks forward to commissioning and
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and US Navy sailors have conducted an on-land ballistic missile defense system test at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) at Kauai, Hawaii. During the test, the Lockheed Martin-built Aegis Weapon System engaged and intercepted an intermediate range ballistic m
The US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) completed a Live Fire With A Purpose (LFWAP) exercise on December 6. Two Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTI) led teams aboard Abraham Lincoln through LFWAP. They’ve spent the last month w
The future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002), the US Navy’s third Zumwalt-class destroyer, was launched at General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard on December 9. The newbuilding was translated from land level to the Kennebec River over the weekend. “It’s important for the DDG 1000 program and shipy
The US Navy has awarded a $346.5 million contract modification to General Dynamics Electric Boat to provide research and development and lead-yard services for Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines. Under the contract modification, Electric Boat will undertake development studies and othe
The US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) has completed the testing of the ship’s defense capabilities during Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT). As explained, CSSQT tested Abraham Lincoln’s ability to operate onboard weapons systems, including the close-
US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned to her homeport of Mayport, Florida, Dec. 4, after nine weeks of operations in the northern Atlantic Ocean. As flagship of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), the ship returned to sea after completing a six-month deployment to part
Irving Shipbuilding hosted a keel-laying ceremony for the Royal Canadian Navy’s third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) at its Halifax Shipyard on December 5. Welder Vicki Berg laid a coin on the keel of the future Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Max Bernays signifying the start of full prod
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose met her former sister ship as she sailed to South America to mark the 200th anniversary of the Chilean Navy. The former sister ship is ex-HMS Marlborough, which now flies the Chilean flag as CNS Almirante Condell. A second Gulf War veteran, Marlborough was s
