Amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) pulled into Augusta Bay, Sicily for a scheduled port visit July 11. The stop offers Whidbey Island the opportunity to resupply, and is the first foreign port visit for the ship’s Sailors and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary
United States president Barack Obama on July 10 paid a visit to Spain and U.S. Naval Station Rota on his return home from the NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland. Obama spoke to more than 2,000 American and Spanish service members and their families during his visit. The president visited USS Ross (DDG 71
Pilots in charge of the U.S. Navy’s E-2C Hawkeye saved the day on March 18, 2016 as they managed to keep the plane airborne after arresting gear snapped aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. A video, part of a Navy report, has now been obtained by The Virginian Pilot through the Freedom of Informatio
The British Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it signed a deal to purchase nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Boeing’s P-8A MPA are being purchased from the US Government via a Foreign Military Sale. According to the MoD, the cost of developing and
The U.S. Navy’s newest base, Naval Station Everett (NSE) welcomed the newest addition to the base, the guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101), on July 9. Gridley is the first of four destroyers to be reassigned over the course of the coming year as part of an ongoing homeport realignment. Th
US Marines worked with Mexican Navy ship ARM Usumacinta (A-142) to conduct amphibious assault vehicle operations at Naval Base San Diego during the multinational exercise Rim of the Pacific, July 6. Six U.S. Marine AAVs, attached to Bravo Company, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, took part in the e
The U.S. State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of SM-2 Block IIIB Standard missiles, containers and support to the Republic of Korea. Estimated cost of the equipment South Korea might acquire is $65 million with Raytheon as the principal contractor. The Defense Security Coop
Three Royal Australian Navy ships, three helicopters and more than 1,000 personnel are in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016. Flagship of the Australian fleet, HMAS Canberra, led the Australian task group into harbor followed closely by Anzac class frigates HMA Ships
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has informed that the State Department approved a possible foreign military sale of Evolved Seasparrow Missiles (ESSMs) to Chile. The $140.1 million possible sale also includes additional equipment, training, and support for the missiles which woul
U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Squadron One (PHIBRON 1) held a change of command ceremony aboard amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) on July 7. Capt. Keith G. Moore was relieved by Capt. Patrick V. Foege as Commander of PHIBRON 1 during the ceremony. During Moore’s time as commander he guided the Boxe
U.S. Navy submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) arrived at U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia for a port visit, July 8. The Frank Cable team, consisting of more than 500 Sailors and civilian mariners is currently on deployment to provide vital flexibility to the fleet commanders, extending t
The U.S. Navy’s self defense test ship (SDTS), ex-Paul F. Foster went underway for final-phase testing of two alternative fuels, May 31. The SDTS traveled to San Diego, where it took on approximately 30,000 gallons of two types of alternative fuels. The ship then proceeded on a normal cruise accordi
The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Corp. a $24.6 million for preliminary design for the thin line towed array handling system, detailed design, prototype manufacture and qualification tests in support of the Ohio Replacement Program. Thin line towed arrays are used by submarin
The U.S. Navy’s Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) arrived in Sasebo, Japan on July 8 after completing several phases of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) series. The Ashland crew embarked and supported Marines from 2nd Marine Battalion, 2nd Regiment duri
