Category Archives: News & Analysis

SNA 2014: Navy Eyes Next Generation Fire Scout for LCS

SNA 2014: Navy Eyes Next Generation Fire Scout for LCS

An MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle takes off from Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu on Oct. 31, 2013. US Navy Photo

An MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle takes off from Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu on Oct. 31, 2013. US Navy Photo

Navy leaders are considering options to field the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C —the newest version of the Fire Scout unmanned aircraft aboard the service’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fleet.

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SNA 2014: Navy to Standup Surface Warfare ‘Top Gun’ This Summer

SNA 2014: Navy to Standup Surface Warfare ‘Top Gun’ This Summer

USS Stout (DDG-55) ires its MK45 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise. US Navy Photo

USS Stout (DDG-55) fires its MK45 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise on Jan. 6, 2014. US Navy Photo

The surface Navy will take a page from the naval aviation community and standup a new command to teach combined surface tactics to the service’s top surface warfare officers by the end of the year, Vice Adm. Tom Copeman, commander of U.S. Surface Forces said in a Tuesday presentation at the Surface Navy Association symposium 2014 in Crystal City, Va.

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In Pursuit of the U.S. Navy's Next Surface Combatant

In Pursuit of the U.S. Navy’s Next Surface Combatant

USS Mahan (DDG 72) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. US Navy Photo

USS Mahan (DDG 72) at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. US Navy Photo

The Navy needs to perfect three technologies on its quest for its next generation of large warships, Rear Adm. Thomas Rowden, director of surface warfare (N96) for the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) told USNI News in an interview in the Pentagon on Jan. 9. Read More

Opinion: Why Saudi Arabia and Israel Have Teamed Up Against Iran

Opinion: Why Saudi Arabia and Israel Have Teamed Up Against Iran

Saudi-Arabia-IsraelAs negotiators in Geneva, Switzerland work out the final details for an agreement that will allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to Iran’s nuclear facilities in return for relief of some of the economic sanctions on Iran, hawks in Washington, Tel Aviv and Riyadh have come together in opposition to the proposed deal. The P5+1 diplomatic initiative (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany) reached an initial agreement with Iran in November. Read More

Navy Identifies Missing Pilot from Sea Dragon Crash

Navy Identifies Missing Pilot from Sea Dragon Crash

MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 conducts practice MK-105 mine countermeasure operations in the Chesapeake Bay in 2011. US Navy Photo

MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 conducts practice MK-105 mine countermeasure operations in the Chesapeake Bay in 2011. US Navy Photo

The Navy has identified the missing pilot from the Wednesday crash of a MH-53E Sea Dragon crash off the coast of Virginia Beach, Va. Read More