USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) transits the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 14, 2019. US Navy Photo
THE PENTAGON – The Navy has taken several cracks over the years at trying to define a new future aircraft carrier, one that might be less expensive or less vulnerable. Read More
An MH-60S Sea Hawk assigned to the Eightballers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 flies next to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) while they transit the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 15, 2020. US Navy photo.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly is commissioning a six-month study on the future of the aircraft carrier and carrier-based aviation, the Navy announced today. Read More
First delivered CMV-22B Osprey. Bell-Boeing Photo
The first of a new generation of carrier onboard delivery aircraft delivered to the Navy, the service announced on Friday. Read More
Doris Miller in 1942. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with additional information.
The fourth Ford-class carrier will be named in honor of World War II icon Doris Miller, the first black recipient of the Navy Cross, Navy officials confirmed to USNI News on Saturday. Read More
This post is part of a series of review stories looking back at the top naval news from 2019.
2019 started with a surprise in the Navy budget request: the service needed to buy and test unmanned surface vehicles immediately to reach its ultimate goals for the surface force, and it was willing to sacrifice almost anything – including sidelining an aircraft carrier – to free up the funds to do so. Read More
An MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter assigned to the Dragonslayers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11 flies by the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) on Oct. 27, 2019. US Navy Photo
ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS GERALD R. FORD – The Navy’s newest aircraft carrier left a pier from Naval Station Norfolk, Va., late last month with its reputation arguably at an all-time low. Read More
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) displays ‘up and over’ flags in observance of Independence Day in 2017. US Navy Photo
CAPITOL HILL — USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) may not be ready to deploy until 2024, further complicating the Navy’s persistent problems of generating deployable carriers from the East Coast. Read More
Sailors go over safety procedures for the Upper Stage 1 advanced weapons aboard USS Gearld R. Ford (CVN-78). US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with additional information from the Navy.
Later this month, USS Gerald Ford (CVN-78) will depart Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding, cross the James River and report pier-side to Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The carrier will then begin preparation for an anticipated deployment in 2021. Read More
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – The T-45C Goshawk began Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) performance testing at the Runway Arrested Landing Site (RALS) located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Aug. 13.
This post was updated to say the 60 Goshawk arrested landings at the Runway Arrested Landing Site (RALS) occurred in April. An earlier version included the wrong month.
The Navy and Marine Corps will soon be able to train their newest pilots aboard the newest aircraft carrier, as Naval Air Systems Command makes progress integrating the T-45C Goshawk trainer with the Ford-class carrier arresting system.
Newport News Shipbuilding floods Dry Dock 12 to float the first-in-class aircraft carrier, Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) on Oct. 11, 2013. Navy photo
Only one of the Navy’s 18 dry docks used for maintaining the nuclear-powered carrier fleet can support a Ford-class carrier, Navy officials told USNI News.
