San Antonio-class amphib Portland launches at Ingalss Shipbuilding on Saturday. HII Photo
The penultimate San Antonio-class amphibious warship (LPD-17) – Portland (LPD-27 – was launched from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard on Saturday. Read More
A screen capture from a Northrop Grumman advertisement. Northrop Grumman Image
The U.S. Air Force selected Northrop Grumman Corp. to develop and build the new Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) late last year. Like other recent big defense contracts, that award is under protest from competitors. But it’s a good bet the Air Force source selection was a sound one. Why? Because stealth matters. Read More
An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Red Rippers of Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 11 performs an air refueling with an EA-18G Growler assigned to the Rooks of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 on March 22, 2015. US Navy Photo
The Navy’s reconfigured unmanned carrier aviation program is set for success because it has a “legitimate” primary mission in the short-term but will be designed in such a way that doesn’t preclude it from taking on additional missions later, the Chief of Naval Operations said Friday. Read More
U.S. sailor finds the range and speed of the Indian Navy Centaur-class aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R22) from USS Antietam (CG-54) in early 2016. US Navy Photo
After almost 60-year service Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat left Friday for its last underway before it is converted into a luxury hotel, according to local press. Read More
The following is the Feb. 9, 2016 Congressional Research Service report, The Islamic State and U.S. Policy. Read More
Oshkosh Defense L-ATV which won the competition for the JLTV for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. Oshkosh Photo
The Marine Corps used its limited funding in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request to protect the Amphibious Combat Vehicle and the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar acquisition programs, taking cuts instead in the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program that was already going to be somewhat delayed by a protest over the contract award, the head of the service told USNI News on Thursday. Read More
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG-85) transits waters near Guam on Jan. 21, 2016. US Navy Photo
Ten guided missile destroyers will be fully upgraded to Navy’s top-of-the-line Aegis combat system over the next five years — three more than last year’s plan, according to an unclassified fielding profile seen by USNI News this week. Read More
The following is the Feb. 9, 2016 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee. Read More
An artist’s conception of Boeing’s UCLASS offering taken as part of the company’s display at the U.S. Navy League 2015 Sea Air Space Exposition. US Naval Institute Photo
This post has been updated to include additional comments from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Naval Air Systems Command is set to release a new draft request for proposal for its unmanned aerial refueling tanker to industry later this year, USNI News has learned. Read More
Among the last-minute cuts made in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request were four service life extension programs for LCACs, above, and 77 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to replace the Humvee, also above. US Navy photo.
The Defense Department made cuts from several big acquisition programs out of necessity, with a pair of decisions affecting the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request coming in the months and weeks before the request was due, the DoD comptroller told reporters on Tuesday. Read More
