Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces in May, 2013. US Navy Photo
The Navy has to strike a tricky balance on the numbers of carriers it fields between providing forces for U.S. military and finding enough money to operate and maintain the high dollar ships, the commander of U.S. Fleet Forces said during a question and answer session following a Wednesday speech at the West 2014 conference in San Diego, Calif. Read More
X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) on Nov. 9, 2013. US Navy
Could the U.S. Navy’s future Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft have an air-to-air role? The service’s director of air warfare Rear Adm. Mike Manazir posed that it could during a Dec. 20 interview with USNI News. Read More
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) during its final pre-deployment evaluations on Dec. 13, 2013. US Navy Photo
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is scheduled to depart for a Middle East and Mediterranean deployment on Saturday as the centerpiece of Carrier Strike Group 2, U.S. Navy Fleet Forces command announced Wednesday. Read More
Aircraft carriers in Norfolk, Va. on Feb. 8, 2014. US Navy Photo
The aircraft carrier, nuclear-powered for the last 50 years, and its embarked air wing remain arguably the most valuable and effective instrument for shaping the national military strategy, with proven applicability from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to high-end maritime strike warfare.
USS George Washington (CVN-73) on Dec. 2, 2013. A proposed reduction in the US carrier fleet was stalled this week after the White House told the Pentagon to look for cuts elsewhere. US Navy Photo
The White House is pushing back against a Pentagon plan to cut a carrier as part of its Fiscal Year 2015 budget, several sources confirmed to USNI News. Read More
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) are in port at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. in 2012.
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) in 2013. US Navy Photo
The following is a letter from members of the House Armed Services Committee to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in support of an 11 carrier U.S. Navy. The U.S. is obligated to maintain an 11 carrier fleet under law. Read More
Sailors man a hose during a general quarters drill in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Jan. 14, 2014. US Navy Photo
The following is a detailed outline of U.S. Fleet Forces new Optimized Fleet Response Plan (O-FRP). Beginning with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), the navy will schedule maintenance and deployments in a new scheme centred around the carrier strike group. Read More
EA-18G Growler assigned to the Zappers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Aug. 15, 2013. US Navy Photo
The Navy has already made some powerful assumptions about its next fight in the air.
It’ll be away from home. It will be against a sophisticated and well-armed enemy. It’ll depend as much on information technology as it will on bombs or missiles. And it’s a fight for which the service isn’t ready. Read More
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) displays holiday lighting while moored at its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island. US Navy photo
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) has been tapped by the Navy to be the service’s next forward deployed carrier in Japan and move USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) to Naval Station San Diego, U.S. Pacific Fleet announced late Tuesday night. Read More
