Tag Archives: ash carter

SECDEF Carter: China Still Invited to RIMPAC 2016 Despite South China Sea Tension

SECDEF Carter: China Still Invited to RIMPAC 2016 Despite South China Sea Tension

An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4 operates near the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and the People's Republic of China medical ship Peace Ark (T-AH 866) during a close formation of 42 ships and submarines from 15 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014. US Navy photo.

An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4 operates near the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and the People’s Republic of China medical ship Peace Ark (T-AH 866) during a close formation of 42 ships and submarines from 15 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014. US Navy photo.

The United States has not revoked its invitation to China to participate in this year’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise despite increasingly aggressive behavior towards its neighbors in the South China Sea because the U.S. hopes China may still participate in a “system of cooperative nations,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said April 15 aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). Read More

UPDATED: SECDEF Carter Outlines New Budget That Supports Future High-End Fight

UPDATED: SECDEF Carter Outlines New Budget That Supports Future High-End Fight

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks at a press conference on May 1, 2015. US Navy Photo

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks at a press conference on May 1, 2015. US Navy Photo

This post has been updated with additional information from Ash Carter’s presentation.

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Ash Carter will release a defense budget next week that increases spending on the current fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria but primarily postures the force to succeed against a future high-end threat. Read More

Lockheed Martin Not Planning For Truncated Littoral Combat Ship Program Yet Despite SECDEF Memo

Lockheed Martin Not Planning For Truncated Littoral Combat Ship Program Yet Despite SECDEF Memo

Sioux City (LCS-11) during the ship's moveout at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine yard in Wisconsin. Lockheed Martin photo.

Sioux City (LCS-11) during the ship’s moveout at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine yard in Wisconsin. Lockheed Martin photo.

Lockheed Martin is continuing with its Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship program as planned despite notice from the secretary of defense that the ship program will be truncated, the vice president for littoral ships and systems told reporters Thursday evening. Read More

SECNAV Ray Mabus Defends Shipbuilding Record

SECNAV Ray Mabus Defends Shipbuilding Record

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus on Jan. 14, 2016 addressing the Surface Navy Association symposium. US Navy Photo

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus on Jan. 14, 2016 addressing the Surface Navy Association symposium. US Navy Photo

A month after a terse memo from the Office of the Secretary of Defense that accused the Navy of spending too many resources to plus up its ship numbers, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus defended his seven-year shipbuilding record in a speech at the Surface Navy Association symposium on Thursday. Read More

Opinion: SECDEF Carter's Plan to Trim U.S. Navy Fleet Size is Dangerous

Opinion: SECDEF Carter’s Plan to Trim U.S. Navy Fleet Size is Dangerous

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in the background as Secretary of Defense Ash Carter flies in a V-22 Osprey on Nov. 5, 2015. DoD Photo

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in the background as Secretary of Defense Ash Carter flies in a V-22 Osprey on Nov. 5, 2015. DoD Photo

A version of this post originally appeared on Observer.com.

The United States Navy just struck an iceberg. It won’t sink the fleet, but it will damage its ability to deter emerging global conflicts. And one of those challenges became more apparent last week when the Chinese announced it was building its second aircraft carrier. Read More