Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is expected to place a hold on the nominations for Bob Work and Christine Wormuth for the positions of deputy secretary of defense and under secretary of defense for policy respectively. Read More
Category Archives: News & Analysis
What’s Next After LCS?
An artist’s concept of the Multi-Mission Combatant offering based on the Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship design. General Dynamics Photo
On Monday the Pentagon capped the Littoral Combat Ship program at 32 ships and the Navy has been tasked with finding a more lethal surface combatant to follow on to the two LCS hulls that have been mired in controversy for the better part of a decade. Read More
McCain Grills Bob Work Over LCS Program in Tuesday Nomination Hearing
Robert Work at the Pentagon. US Navy Photo
The Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing for incoming deputy secretary of defense Bob Work on Tuesday. Read More
Pentagon Retiring Air Force’s U-2 and A-10 Warthog in Latest Budget Deal
An A-10 returning from a training mission on Jan. 11, 2014. US Air Force Photo
The U.S. Air Force will retire the Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog and the Lockheed Martin U-2 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, but the service also hopes to invest in new technologies in the fiscal year 2015 budget proposal. Read More
Hagel: Navy to Lay Up 11 Cruisers, Carrier Cut Decision Delayed until 2016 Budget
USS Lake Erie (CG-70) operates with other cruisers off the coast of Hawaii on Jan. 27, 2014. US Navy Photo
The U.S. Navy will “lay up” half of the service’s fleet of Ticonderoga-class missile cruisers under the President’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal.
“Half of the Navy’s cruiser fleet— or 11 ships —will be ‘laid up’ and placed in reduced operating status while they are modernized, and eventually returned to service with greater capability and a longer lifespan,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon on Monday.
“This approach enables us over the long-term to sustain and modernize our fleet of cruisers.” Read More
Pentagon Caps LCS at 32 Hulls, Hagel Directs Navy to Evaluate ‘Capable and Lethal’ Frigate Designs
USS Freedom (LCS-1), left, and USS Independence (LCS-2) in 2012. US Navy Photo
The Pentagon will cut the final number of the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) by 20 — from 52 to 32 — and shortly begin a study on a new frigate for the service, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel told reporters at a Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Department budget preview on Monday afternoon. Read More
Document: Navy’s 2014 Arctic Roadmap
A Navy SEAL freefalls from an Austrian C-130 aircraft above the Arctic Circle in 2010. US Navy Photo
The following is from the U.S. Navy’s Arctic Roadmap: 2014-2030, released on Feb. 24, 2014.
The United States is an Arctic nation through the state of Alaska and its surrounding territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone waters located in and around the Arctic Circle. The United States Navy, as the maritime component of the Department of Defense, has global leadership responsibilities to provide ready forces for current operations and contingency response that include the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Region remains a challenging operating environment, with a harsh climate, vast distances, and little infrastructure. These issues, coupled with limited operational experience, are just a few substantial challenges the Navy will have to overcome in the Arctic Region. While the Region is expected to remain a low threat security environment where nations resolve differences peacefully, the Navy will be prepared to prevent conflict and ensure national interests are protected. Read More
Cracking Found in Marine Joint Strike Fighter Won’t Delay Program
A pair of F-35B test aircraft on USS Wasp (LHD-1) on Aug. 12, 2013. US Navy Photo
Triton Testing Ahead of Schedule
Triton unmanned aircraft system completes its first flight May 22, 2013 from the Northrop Grumman manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif. Northrop Grumman Photo
Testing for the Navy’s next generation unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft is proceeding ahead of schedule, according to officials at Northrop Grumman. Read More
Super Hornet Tests New Infrared Air to Air Targeting Sensor
The new IRST weapons pod mounted on a F/A-18 F Super Hornet at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif. US Navy Photo
The U.S. Navy has test flown a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet equipped with a new Lockheed Martin-built Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor pod for the first time. The test flight took place on Feb. 11 at Edwards AFB, Calif. Read More
