The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $190 million low-rate initial production contract for ESSM Block 2 missiles featuring a new guidance system with a dual mode active and semi-active radar. This award follows the navy’s decision to shift from development to production on the enhanced intermediate-ra
The Raytheon-developed SPY-6(V)2 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar that will be deployed on US Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious warfare ships has been put to its first test. In a test conducted at the Surface Combat System Center at Wallops Island, the radar searched for, detected, identified a
US Navy guided missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) will soon be ready for a return to operations after completing a 27-month overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility. Originally the lead ship of the US Navy’s Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, the submarine
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group One (SNMG1) are en route to the United States and Canada after assembling in Brest, France on August 4 to begin SNMG1’s second semester. The group is transiting the Atlantic Ocean to start SNMG1’s Maritime Express initiative, a new construct designed to open
The US Navy amphibious ready group (ARG) assembled around amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) has completed its first Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise. For the Bataan ARG, SWATT provided an important transition from single ship operations to multi-ship, aircraft, an
F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp used the GAU-22 cannon against a simulated target and executed the first shipboard hot reload of ordnance in the Indo-Pacific region while underway in the Solomon Sea. The aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor S
The converted Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) docked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility in July to begin a 17-month extended refit period which will end in 2020. Work during this availability includes battery replacement, structural repa
US Navy’s Spain-based Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) is entering the Black Sea for exercises and engagements with regional allies. The US Navy said the Aegis destroyer started its north-bound transit to the Black Sea on August 8. Porter’s arrival in the Black Sea wi
The US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived in Manila, the Philippines, for a port call on August 7. The carrier arrived together with ships from its carrier strike group, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS Antietam (CG 54). T
The US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Modules (MM) program is cleared to begin developmental testing following a successful structural test firing of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) on an Independence-variant LCS. Developmental testing is set to start in August after the test
The US Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the future USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), is set to enter service in a ceremony at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 27. Built in the Flight IIA configuration, the ship was launched in November 2016 and delivered in
The US Navy has confirmed the choice of Lockheed Martin as the combat system ship integration & test agent for its future guided missile frigate (FFG(X)) ship program. In May this year, Lockheed decided to withdraw from the race for the construction of future frigates, adding that it would provide c
The sailors and marines aboard US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Boxer have destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on July 18, US president Donald Trump said during a White House event. While various media reports said the incident was confirmed by “senior defense officials”, Iranian o
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) has returned to the US after spending 14 years forward-deployed to Japan as part of the US 7th Fleet. The destroyer arrived at its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego on July 18. Stethem traded Fleet Activities Yokosuka with San Diego as its n
