The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a $135.8 contract for work on the development and integration of the Aegis Baseline 9 systems for Japan Maritime Self Defense Force destroyers. The Baseline 9/BMD 5.1 variant is referred to as J7 for Japanese destroyers. The contract award
US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) has qualified the first nine F-35C Lightning II pilots during its underway period. The Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) Carrier Qualifications were successfully completed between December 7 and 11. Along with Abraham Lincoln, the “
The US Navy is set to commission littoral combat ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) in a ceremony on Saturday, December 16, at the Canalside waterfront in Buffalo, New York. The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship is the 10th LCS to enter the fleet and the fifth of the Freedom-variant design. Little Rock
The US Navy has awarded General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding (NASCO) a $16.3 million contract for the maintenance and repairs of Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Pinckne (DDG 91). Under the contract, NASCO is to perform what is referred to as a selected restricted availability which wil
US defense contractor Raytheon announced it has completed design, development and testing of its Cooperative Engagement Capability system which will provide the Australian Navy’s new Hobart-class destroyers with enhanced air warfare capabilities. The systems are yet to be certified by the US Navy, h
Members of the US Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5) on December 13 started a bilateral amphibious combat rehearsal in international waters off the coast of Djibouti, Africa. They will be teaming up with the French Task Group 473.1 which is composed of
The crew of US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) concluded the first port call of their forward-deployed patrol, departing Valletta, Malta, on December 12. USS Carney also became the first US Navy ship to moor in Valletta since 2014. “We are thankful for the hos
Heavily-damaged US Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, for repairs on December 13 after starting the final leg of its journey from Subic Bay on November 28. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer was damaged in a collision with merchant vessel Alnic MC on
The US Coast Guard has announced the names of another batch of Sentinel-class fast response cutters to be built by Bollinger Shipyards. The service said each vessel is being named for a deceased leader, trailblazer or hero of the Coast Guard and its predecessor services of the US Revenue Cutter Serv
Electrical issues forced the US Navy’s second Zumwalt-class destroyer Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) to abort builder’s trials just one day after leaving the shipyard. The future USS Michael Monsoor got underway from the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works site on December 4 but was forced to return on Dec
The US Navy amphibious ready group (ARG) assembled around the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima is ready to deploy after tackling the final pre-deployment hurdle. Sailors aboard the three ships constituting the ARG completed a combined composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) December 9, provi
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on December 7 launched combat sorties into Afghanistan as part of Pentagon’s operation Freedom’s Sentinel, the US Navy announced. Worth noting is the fact that the Roosevelt’s carrier air wing flew two different mission on the same day, one into Afghan
The US Coast Guard commissioned USCGC Jacob Poroo, its 25th fast response cutter (FRC), in a ceremony in New Orleans on December 8. The cutter is the second FRC stationed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and in the Coast Guard’s Eighth District, which encompasses all or part of 26 states, including the p
After developing a new crack in its hull during the first departure from Yokosuka, US Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald started its voyage to the US for a second time on December 9. Fitzgerald was initially loaded aboard heavy lift vessel MV Transshelf in late November to be transported to Pascagoula, M
