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
The Brazilian Navy has carried out a third test launch of the MANSUP anti-ship missile on July 10, targeting the hull of the former tugboat Tridente. The missile was launched by Niterói-class frigate BNS Independência on July 10 and was supported by a number of naval and aerial assets. The test was
US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Normandy returned to its Norfolk homeport on July 6, less than a day after getting underway for exercises with the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group. The cruiser was forced to break off from the drills due to what navy officials said were maintenance issues
The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) returned to the US 3rd Fleet area of operations on June 30, following 14 years of forward-deployed service in the Indo-Pacific region operating from Japan. The destroyer is en route to San Diego, where she will be homepo
Engineers and technicians at the US Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division’s (NSWC PHD) White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) Detachment have begun testing an electromagnetic railgun (EMRG). The test, that commenced on May 15, was the first firing series of the newly installed weapon
