The lead ship of US Navy’s Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyers, the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), got underway from San Diego on March 8 to start its first operational underway. The underway represents a milestone for the new class of ships, of which only three will be built. Zumwalt’s crew recently c
The US Navy has established a new entity that will oversee the construction and fielding of the 12 Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. The establishment of Program Executive Office Columbia (PEO CLB) was announced on March 6 as the navy’s number one acquisition priority. “This is the Navy’s
The US Navy’s carrier-based, fifth generation fighter has achieved initial operational capability, the Commander, Naval Air Forces and the US Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Aviation jointly announced. The aircraft carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35C Lightning II, met all requi
The US Navy has completed developmental testing for the AN/AQS-20C mine-hunting sonar system for littoral combat ships at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, February 26. The AQS-20C is the next generation of the AN/AQS-20 system designed to be incorporated into the LCS mine coun
The wreckage of US Navy’s World War II destroyer USS Strong (DD 467) was discovered by the expedition crew of Paul G. Allen’s research vessel (R/V) Petrel resting 300 meters (nearly 1,000 feet) below the surface of Kula Gulf, north of the island of New Georgia, in the Solomon Islands. The destroyer
US Navy’s Independence variant littoral combat ship Charleston (LCS 18) is set to enter service in a ceremony at Charleston, South Carolina’s Columbus Street Terminal, on March 2. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott will deliver the commissioning ceremony’s principal address. Charlotte Riley, wife of f
Marine propulsion specialist Fairbanks Morse announced it has been awarded a contract to build and deliver emergency diesel generator (EDG) sets for US Navy’s two future nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the USS Enterprise (CVN-80) and the yet-to-be-named CVN-81. These ships will be the US Navy’s t
The Brazilian Navy has ordered three H135 light twinengine helicopters to be operated by the 1st General Purpose Helicopter Squadron (HU-1). According to Airbus, the aircraft is being procured for special operations, transport of troops and freight, naval inspection, search and rescue and medical ev
The Finnish defense ministry on February 21 announced it is buying Raytheon’s Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) systems for its Pohjanmaa-class corvettes of the Squadron 2020 project. The surface-to-air missile system (ITO20) will be installed on all four ships in the class. The exact number of miss
Ultra Electronics is part of the winning Canadian Surface Combatant team.
French shipbuilder Naval Group on Thursday announced it is starting work on the Argentine Navy offshore patrol vessels (OPV), thereby officially confirming the four-ship contract with the South American country. As outlined by the shipbuilder, the first patrol boat to be delivered will be the L’Adro
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a scheduled training and maintenance availability (TRAV) on February 13. The maintenance is being conducted after the ship completed a patrol in the US 6th Fleet Area of Operations.
The US Navy has awarded Boeing a $43 million contract for the fabrication, test, and delivery of four Orca extra large unmanned undersea vehicles (XLUUVs) and associated support elements. Boeing’s proposal for the Orca XLUUV was based on its 15-meter Echo Voyager unmanned undersea vehicle. The other
The US Navy’s future Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) concluded acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico on February 8, following a series of in-port and underway demonstrations for the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey. Acceptance trials are the last significant mi
