An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 prepares to land on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68). US Navy Photo
The Navy is leaning toward replacing its fleet of Super Hornets with another manned fighter that will work with emerging unmanned aircraft concepts under the umbrella of the service’s Next Generation Air Dominance program.
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Rear Adm. John Meier, commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic, communicates with pilots assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 from the landing signal officer platform on USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) flight deck, Feb. 7, 2021. Meier is onboard to observe Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106’s inaugural use of Precision Landing Mode during carrier qualifications(CQ). Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting CQ. US Navy photo.
The Navy is in the final stages of fully adopting a Precision Landing Mode for fighter pilots, with young fleet replacement squadron pilots for the first time conducting carrier qualifications with the tool that significantly cuts down on the work required during an approach to the back of an aircraft carrier at sea. Read More
An F-35C from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 lands on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Sept. 17, 2020. Vinson was sailing off the coast of California and conducting the first at-sea operations with its air wing since a 17-month maintenance availability meant to prepare the ship to operate the new F-35C. USNI News photo.
ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS CARL VINSON, OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA – Next year, the most advanced carrier air wing in history will sail to the Pacific aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). Last week, the Carrier Air Wing 2 took the first steps in getting its new F-35C Joint Strike Fighters and CMV-22B Ospreys integrated into the air wing and aboard the carrier. Read More
Sailors man the rails aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) as the ship pulls into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on April 2, 2019. US Navy Photo
The House Armed Services Committee may force the Navy to begin integrating hypersonic weapons onto the Zumwalt class of destroyers, something the sea service has talked about but not prioritized in its budget. Read More
F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet test at the St. Louis International Airport. Boeing Photo
The Navy has accepted delivery of its first two Block III Super Hornets to begin testing, even as the pressure is on to decide within the next year or so what its path forward is with continuing to buy new jets from manufacturer Boeing or focusing on developing a next-generation aircraft. Read More
A U.S. Navy Sailor marshals the last F-35C Lightning II to leave Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, May 23, 2019. Consolidation of F-35C resources to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, enables the U.S. Navy to support Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) production, operational fleet transitions for both Navy and Marine Corps squadrons, testing and other requirements. US Air Force photo.
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The Navy deactivated one of its two F-35C Joint Strike Fighter training squadrons today and will consolidate all its fifth-generation fighter activities at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. Read More
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG) and Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (KSGARG) conduct joint operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations on May 17, 2019, in the Arabian Sea. The ABECSG and KSGARG, with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, are prepared to respond to contingencies and to defend U.S. forces and interests in the region. US Navy photo.
As tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise and fall, a Navy carrier strike group and amphibious ready group exercised together in the Arabian Sea over the weekend in a somewhat rare training event. Read More
A Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 34 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) prepares to launch during the Rim of the Pacific 2018 exercise. VFA-34’s planes were painted to honor the squadron’s history ahead of its transition to the Super Hornet. USNI News photo.
The Navy held a sundown ceremony on Friday for its last operational F-18 Hornet squadron, with the “Blue Blasters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 taking their last flight over Naval Air Station Oceana before transitioning to newer jets. Read More
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and his counterpart, Chief of Staff of the French Navy Adm. Christophe Prazuck, observe launches of both American and French fighters aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on May 14, 2018. USNI News photo.
This post is the second in a two-part series on the U.S./French integrated air wing effort taking place aboard USS George H.W. Bush. For additional coverage, please see U.S./French Integrated Air Wing Exercise Accelerates French Pilots’ Return to Sea.
ABOARD USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH, IN THE VIRGINIA CAPES OPERATING AREA – When Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and Chief of Staff of the French Navy Adm. Christophe Prazuck stood together on the flight deck of carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on Monday, pairs of fighters flew overhead – one American F/A-18E-F Super Hornet, one French Rafale at its side. Read More
USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2017.
The following is part of a series. Please also see Top Stories 2017: Navy Acquisition, International Acquisition, Marine Corps Operations, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Acquisition, International Operations and New Administration.
In 2017, the Navy and Marine Corps were active in nearly every corner of the globe. Some forces conducted land-attack and air warfare not seen by U.S. forces in years, while others provided desperately needed humanitarian aid.
