Category Archives: Budget Industry

Opinion: Preserve the Carrier Force

Opinion: Preserve the Carrier Force

Aircraft carriers in Norfolk, Va. on Feb. 8, 2014. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carriers in Norfolk, Va. on Feb. 8, 2014. US Navy Photo

The aircraft carrier, nuclear-powered for the last 50 years, and its embarked air wing remain arguably the most valuable and effective instrument for shaping the national military strategy, with proven applicability from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to high-end maritime strike warfare.

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U.S. Navy Shuffle Japan-based Minesweepers and Amphibious Ship

U.S. Navy Shuffle Japan-based Minesweepers and Amphibious Ship

USS Denver (LPD-9) in August, 2013, US Navy Photo

USS Denver (LPD-9) in August, 2013, US Navy Photo

The U.S. Navy is in the process of switching out a number of warships forward deployed to Japan with newer vessels. The latest ships to be replaced are USS Denver (LPD-9), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship, and the mine countermeasure ships USS Avenger (MCM-1) and USS Defender (MCM-2), the Navy announced this week. Read More

Document: Joint Think Tank Report on Future Defense Spending

Document: Joint Think Tank Report on Future Defense Spending

Four D.C. think tanks took a crack at cutting the Pentagon's budget under sequestration. CSBA Image

Four D.C. think tanks took a crack at cutting the Pentagon’s budget under sequestration. CSBA Image

The following is from the four way defense budget game played by the American Enterprise Institute, Center for a New American Security, Center for Strategic and International Studies and Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment. Read More

America Completes Acceptance Trials

America Completes Acceptance Trials

America (LHA-6) returns to Ingalls Shipyard Jan. 31, 2014 from acceptance trials. US Navy Photo

America (LHA-6) returns to Ingalls Shipyard Jan. 31, 2014 from acceptance trials. US Navy Photo

The first in a new class of amphibious warship has completed its acceptance trials, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced this week. Read More

Sequestration Caused 30 percent Cut in Coast Guard Drug Interdiction Ops

Sequestration Caused 30 percent Cut in Coast Guard Drug Interdiction Ops

Crew from CGC Jarvis detain a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) in the Eastern Pacific off the coast of Central America, on Oct. 21, 2009. US Coast Guard Photo

Crew from CGC Jarvis detain a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) in the Eastern Pacific off the coast of Central America, on Oct. 21, 2009. US Coast Guard Photo

CORRECTION: A previous version of this post titled: ‘Coast Guard: Budget Cuts Led to 30 Percent Increase in U.S. Drug Traffic’ misstated the cuts to the service resulted in a 30 percent increase in drug traffic to the U.S. The Coast Guard’s operations for interdiction missions fell by 30 percent. It is unclear if there is a direct correlation.The post and the headline have been amended to clarify the distinction. Additionally, the annual number of narcotics produced in Latin America is 800 metric tons and 400 metric tons are consumed in the U.S., not 800 million and 400 million. USNI News regrets the error. 

“The only place we could squeeze” to meet the $200-million bill the Coast Guard faced under sequestration “was drug interdiction and migrant interdiction,” the service’s outgoing commandant told a key oversight subcommittee on Tuesday. He estimated that because of those cutbacks there was a 30 percent drop in operations to interdict drugs from entering the United States last year.

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Document: U.S. Marine Corps 2013 Seabasing Report

Document: U.S. Marine Corps 2013 Seabasing Report

An artist's conception of the Amphibious Ready Group with the addition of Mobile Landing Platforms. US Marine Corps Photo

An artist’s conception of the Amphibious Ready Group with the addition of Mobile Landing Platforms. US Marine Corps Photo

The following is from the U.S. Marine Corps 2013 Seabasing Required Capabilities Annual Report.

The Seabasing Required Capabilities Annual Report is published to provide Navy and Marine Corps capability developers, program managers, operational planners and warfighters an overview of key programs managed and monitored by the Seabasing Integration Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Combat Development & Integration. The Annual Report also provides a list of required capabilities for the Afloat MAGTF to effectively operate in the seabase and to extend naval power ashore through the conduct of naval expeditionary operations. Read More

Navy: Congressional Oversight Will Not Slow UCLASS Program

Navy: Congressional Oversight Will Not Slow UCLASS Program

X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is towed into the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on May, 13 1980. US Navy Photo

X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is towed into the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on May, 13 1980. US Navy Photo

The Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will not force the U.S. Navy to restructure its Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft program, service officials said. Read More