US Navy’s newly-commissioned aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) recently wrapped up the first-ever live fire test of the latest generation of the Ship Self Defense System, or SSDS, Integrated Combat System on the Self Defense Test Ship. The test successfully engaged an unmanned aerial vehi
The US Navy’s next Independence-variant littoral combat ship will be named USS Pierre (LCS 38), the Secretary of the Navy has announced. The future USS Pierre (LCS 38) is named in honor of the capital city of South Dakota and is the second ship to bear the name. “I am proud to name a future Independ
The US Navy’s AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) successfully tracked a ballistic missile target in the system’s final developmental test. The test took place on January 31 and involved the launch of a short range ballistic missile target from the Pacific Missile Range Facility. In wh
The US Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Billings (LCS 15) during a ceremony at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM), shipyard, Marinette, Wisconsin, February 1. The future USS Billings is the 17th littoral combat ship (LCS) to be delivered to the Navy and the eighth of the Freedom variant
The US Navy’s 36th littoral combat ship will be named USS Kingsville (LCS 36) in honor of the city of Kingsville, Texas, Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has announced. The Independence-variant is the first US Navy ship to bear the name. “I am pleased to name a future Independence-variant LC
US Navy Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis, the US 2nd Fleet (C2F) Commander, embarked the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), marking the first time the fleet has executed command and control over forces at sea. Lewis was aboard the carrier from January 31 through February 1. Un
The Canadian government has awarded General Dynamics Misssion Systems a CAD186 million contract for upgrades and maintenance of underwater sensors on Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates. The majority of this work will occur in Canada, creating and maintaining about 120 highly skilled jobs w
Shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) on February 1 hosted a keel laying ceremony for the future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) at its shipyard in Bath, Maine. Sen. Levin and the ship’s sponsors, his three daughters, Kate Levin Markel, Erica Levin, and Laura Levin, authenticated the keel b
The US Navy has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) a contract for the construction of two new Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, CVN 80 and CVN 81, in a bid to achieve cost savings by ordering the two ships at once. As per the navy, the savings exceed $4 b
The US Navy’s 34th littoral combat ship will be named USS Augusta (LCS 34), Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer announced on Thursday. The Independence-variant LCS is named in honor of the capital city of Maine, and is the sixth vessel to bear the name Augusta. “It is an honor to name the next
Just weeks after Royal Navy support ship RFA Mounts Bay embarked US Coast Guard personnel for counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, the team found their first contraband. The Bay-class ship embarked a Dolphin helicopter from the US Coast Guard’s HITRON – Helicopter Interdiction Tactical squ
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems a $55 million contract to deliver an additional five Fire Scout MQ-8C unmanned air systems and two lightweight fuel cells. The company is expected to complete work on the contract by August 2021. The MQ-8C is the larger of two Fir
The US Navy is set to retire its last F/A-18C Hornet fighters in a final flight ceremony at Naval Air Station Oceana on February 1. The final single-seat, twin-engine, carrier-capable legacy Hornets are still operational with Strike Fighter Squadron 34 and the “Blue Blasters” are the only squadron f
The US Navy awarded Vigor Marine a contract worth up to $60 million with all options exercised to complete the drydocking selected restricted availability (DSRA) of USS Coronado (LCS-4). Work will be performed at Vigor’s Portland shipyard. Vigor will begin work on the USS Coronado (LCS 4) in March a
