The U.S. Navy’s AN/AES-1 airborne laser mine detection system has achieved initial operational capability, Northrop Grumman announced January 12. Designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation, ALMDS provides rapid wide-area reconnaissance and assessment of mine threats in sea lanes, litt
A new U.S. Navy development contract will see Lockheed Martin upgrade the navy MH-60 helicopters with enhanced electronic warfare surveillance and countermeasure capabilities against anti-ship missile (ASM) threats. Lockheed Martin’s advanced off-board electronic warfare (AOEW) active mission payloa
The lead ship of the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carriers welcomed its new commander during a change of command ceremony at naval base Kitsap Bremerton, Washington. Capt. Kevin P. Lenox took command of USS Nimitz from Capt. John C. Ring, who had been in command since July 2014. Vice Adm. Mike
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) is departing Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on January 13 for a regularly-scheduled deployment with the Carl Vinson carrier strike group to the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region. Michael Murphy will deploy with a crew of approximately 320 sailors a
The U.S. Navy said it would receive its newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, in April after the ship previously missed multiple delivery deadlines. In a statement on Wednesday, navy spokesman Capt. Thurraya Kent said that the ship would start builder’s sea trials in March while both the
The U.S. Navy together with Raytheon as the developer completed two flight tests of the Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile to demonstrate how missions can now be planned in real time to strike time-sensitive targets. Two Tomahawk missiles containing inert warheads were launched from the vertical launc
The commissioning ceremony for future USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) will take place in the late hero’s hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced January 11. The ship is named for Marine Pfc. Ralph Henry Johnson, a native of Charleston, who posthumously rece
Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Arunta recently completed her first underway replenishment in the Gulf of Aden during her deployment to the Middle East. HMAS Arunta deployed under the Australian operation Manitou which supports the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to fight terr
Royal Canadian Navy’s frigate HMCS St. John’s officially became part of NATO’s standing maritime group two on January 11. The frigate is on her way to the Mediterranean Sea where she will represent Canada’s support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. HMCS St. Joh
The U.S. Coast Guard said it offloaded some 2,000 pounds (907 kg) of seized cocaine and handed over four suspected smugglers to U.S. federal law enforcement authorities at Coast Guard Sector San Juan on Sunday. The cocaine’s wholesale value was estimated at around $30 million. The interdiction took
U.S. Navy sailors aboard the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) completed a search and rescue (SAR) limited training team (LTT) assessment on January 12. Inspectors from afloat training group, detachment Western Pacific (ATGWP) visited USS Ronald Reagan to carry out a three
The U.S. Department of Defense has cleared Raytheon’s Standard Missile-6 for sale to several international customers, the company announced January 10. “Many of the approved countries are seeking the multi-mission SM-6 to bolster their shipbuilding programs,” the company said without specifying whic
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) began a selected restricted availability (SRA) maintenance period on January 10. The ship’s crew and civilian contractors are slated to perform repairs and maintenance to ensure the ship is structurally and operationally re
The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon a $19.2 million contract modification for the delivery of another seven configuration D multi-spectral targeting systems (MTS). The MTS is an airborne, electro-optic, forward-looking infra-red, turreted sensor package that provides long-range surveillance, high alt
