Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson addresses the crew of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on July 16, 2016. US Navy Photo
THE PENTAGON – Adm. John Richardson has served as chief of naval operations shy of one year, and spent much of his tenure thinking about the fleet of the future. Read More
Adm. Scott Swift, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, addresses attendees during a news conference at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii at Rim of the Pacific 2016 on July 5, 2016. US Navy Photo
The head of U.S. naval forces in the Pacific emphasized the importance of military-to-military transparency to his Chinese counterparts in a visit to the Qingdao headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) North Sea Fleet on Tuesday, according to a readout of the meeting from the Navy. Read More
USS Benfold arrives in Qingdao, China on Aug. 8, 2016. US Navy Photo
A U.S. guided-missile destroyer pulled into port in Qingdao on Monday for the first Navy port call to China since an international tribunal ruled that many of Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea were invalid. Read More
The following is a U.S. Navy video of 40 ships and submarines in close formation during Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise on July 28, 2016. Read More
Boeing P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Boeing has been awarded a $1 billion contract option by the Indian government for four more of the company’s P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, USNI News has learned. Read More
Chinese sailors aboard the People’s Liberation Army Navy destroyer Xi’an pose on the flight deck in route to RIMPAC 2016 after crossing the International Dateline. Xinhua Photo
The Chinese naval delegation to the Rim of the Pacific exercises barred at least some Japanese sailors from touring their ships and only reluctantly invited members of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force to a reception aboard a People’s Liberation Army Navy warship, USNI News has learned. Read More
USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110) transits the Pacific Ocean during Rim of the Pacific 2016 on July 18, 2016. US Navy Photo
This post was updated with additional information from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
After more than 30 years without a port call, the U.S. is set to send a guided missile destroyer to New Zealand in a one-off visit later this year, two senior U.S. defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Thursday. Read More
USS Coronado (LCS 4), an Independence-variant littoral combat ship, launches the first over-the-horizon missile engagement using a Harpoon Block 1C missile. US Navy photo.
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – The Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS-4) has had an opportunity to work with Chinese ships and naval crews during the Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise and develop an understanding with their counterparts ahead of the ship’s maiden deployment to U.S. 7th Fleet, which will almost certainly include spending time patrolling the South China Sea. Read More
The Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.
The long-awaited tribunal ruling on China’s territory grab of the Western Philippine Sea finally emerged on July 12. As expected it was a mostly clean sweep for the Philippines government—judging that the claims under the PRC’s Nine-Dash Line vision were invalid, and its current activities of island reclaiming and resource grabbing were both illegal and harmful to the environment. Read More
Scarborough Shoal. NASA Photo
Starting in early 2016, Scarborough Shoal suddenly became an issue of serious concern for U.S. officials. Read More
