Category Archives: Aviation

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 9, 2023

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 9, 2023

USNI News Graphic

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Jan. 9, 2023, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Read More

Pentagon Halts F-35 Deliveries Pending Results of Texas Fighter Crash Investigation

Pentagon Halts F-35 Deliveries Pending Results of Texas Fighter Crash Investigation

An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 (Reinforced) launches from amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), Aug. 24, 2022. US Navy Photo

The story has been updated to include a statement from Pratt & Whitney and an updated statement from the F-35 Joint Program Office.

The Pentagon has stopped taking deliveries of the F135 engine for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters following an F-35B mishap last month in Texas.

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Iran Building Drone Aircraft Carrier from Converted Merchant Ship, Photos Show

Iran Building Drone Aircraft Carrier from Converted Merchant Ship, Photos Show

November image circulating on Iranian social media showing Shahid Mahdavi in Bandar Abbas. H I Sutton Photo Illustration

In a dry dock near the entrance to the Persian Gulf, Iran’s sectarian naval force is converting a former merchant container ship into a drone aircraft carrier, according to satellite and open source photos published last week by USNI News contributor H I Sutton. Read More

Navy Buys 2 'Loyal Wingman' XQ-58A Valkyrie Drones for $15.5M

Navy Buys 2 ‘Loyal Wingman’ XQ-58A Valkyrie Drones for $15.5M

An XQ-58A Valkyrie low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle launches at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., Dec. 9, 2020. US Air Force Photo

The Navy is buying two stealth unmanned aerial systems – originally developed for the Air Force – that could operate with a manned fighter, as the service pursues the manned-unmanned teaming concept officials say is central to the future of naval aviation. Read More

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 3, 2023

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 3, 2023

USNI News Graphic

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Jan. 3, 2023, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Read More

Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group Now in East China Sea, PLA Drones Operating Near Japan

Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group Now in East China Sea, PLA Drones Operating Near Japan

Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Philippine Sea. JSDF Photo

Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Liaoning Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is operating in the East China Sea following two weeks in the Philippine Sea. The CSG is now likely heading home after its brief Western Pacific patrol. Meanwhile, Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been transiting the Miyako Strait from the East China Sea into the Pacific and returning the same way on Sunday and Monday, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense. Read More