USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) transits through South China Sea on Feb. 5, 2021. US Navy Photo
A day after transiting the Taiwan Strait, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the Paracel Island chain in the South China Sea, U.S. 7th Fleet announced on Friday. Read More
Seaman Frank Medina, from Dallas, Texas, scans the horizon while standing on the bridge wing aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) in the Taiwan Strait on Feb. 4, 2021. US Navy Photo
Guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) transited the Taiwan Strait on Thursday with Chinese warships following the transit, USNI News has learned. Read More
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to receive fuel from a KC-10 Extender assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Aircraft Refueling Squadron, during an in-air refueling mission supporting Operation Octave Quartz with armed aerial patrols over Somalia, Jan. 5, 2021. US Air Force Photo
The three-ship Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, the 2,500 Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters have taken position in U.S. 5th Fleet in the North Arabian sea and are an easy sail to the Strait of Hormuz, USNI News has learned. Read More
Deputy Defense Secretary nominee Kathleen Hicks. Center for Strategic and International Studies Photo
The nominee for the number-two civilian job in the Pentagon told a Senate panel on Tuesday the Navy’s proposed long-term shipbuilding plan would “require future analysis to validate the numbers.” Read More
In this aerial photograph, the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) sits at Pier 3 at Newport News Shipbuilding division. The ship is approximately 76 percent complete and is progressing through final outfitting and testing. Huntington Ingalls Industries photo.
As the Biden administration continues filling key positions, its plans for the Navy should come into better focus, according to the service’s top civilian. Read More
The fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) and the Royal Navy Duke-class frigate HMS Kent (F78) conduct a replenishment-at-sea in the Barents Sea while training in the Arctic Circle on May 3, 2020. US Navy photo.
The U.S. Navy’s two key advantages in the Arctic are its partners and allies and the flexibility of the forces it could bring to bear, the head of U.S. naval forces in Europe said today. Read More
The following is the Jan. 27, 2021 report, Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress. Read More
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) steams in the Indian Ocean on Jan. 6. US Navy Photo
This post was updated to include additional details from U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is headed to the West Coast after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin over the weekend ordered the ship and its strike group back home after almost eight months deployed, two U.S. officials confirmed to USNI News. Read More
H I Sutton Image. Used with permission
While the Iranian naval forces have been clashing with U.S. forces in the Middles East in the last several weeks, its most capable submarines have been out of action. Read More
Ships from the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the United States Navy participate in Malabar 2020 on Nov. 17, 2020. US Navy Photo
Transforming a loose network of U.S. allies in the Pacific into something more than an informal security relationship between four Indo-Pacific democracies is a goal for the Biden administration, its new national security advisor said Friday. Read More
