The launch of the future USS Montgomery (LCS-8) on Aug 6, 2014 in Mobile, Ala. Austal USA Photo
Shipbuilder Austal USA laid the keel of the seventh Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) at its Mobile, Ala. yard, the company announced on Monday. Read More
The U.S. Navy will begin a permanent presence of two Littoral Combat Ships in Singapore next year with four planned to be forward deployed and based at the Changi Naval Base by 2017, service officials told USNI News on Friday. Read More
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert meets with heads of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) in 2013. US Navy Photo
The $20 billion dollar recapitalization of Saudi Arabia’s eastern fleet is beginning to pick up steam again after several years of being a dormant U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, several U.S. shipbuilding industry officials have told USNI News. Read More
Tomahawk cruise missile launched from a MK 41 VLS tube on the USS Farragut (DDG-99) US Navy Photo
A little noticed December contract award for the missile launchers used as part of the U.S. Navy’s Aegis Combat System gives hints to the direction of a potential $20 billion U.S. naval arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Read More
USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts, and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2014. Read More
USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) enters Apra Harbor for a port visit on U.S. Naval Base Guam on Dec. 11, 2014.
PENTAGON — Navy operators said the service’s next small surface combatant (SSC) top priorities should be fighting other surface ships at longer ranges and hunting and killing submarines — not fighting fighters, striking land targets at long range or conducting ballistic missile defense (BMD), service leaders outlined last week when they briefed the follow-on to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) to reporters. Read More
A modified Littoral Combat Ship design based on the Lockheed Martin Freedom-class. US Navy Image
PENTAGON — The Navy will beef up the weapons, armor and sensors on its two existing classes of Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) in an answer to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s call for a tougher Small Surface Combatant (SSC), the Navy announced in a late Thursday briefing with reporters. Read More
The following is Dec. 11, 2014 fact sheet on the results of the Navy’s recent Small Surface Combatant study. Read More
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel addresses the crew of the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS-1) in Singapore on June 2, 2013. US Navy Photo
Despite the announcement of his resignation, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will continue to, “keep his foot on the pedal and moving forward,” in his current role, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday.
That includes the selection of the way ahead on the follow-on to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) — the Small Surface Combatant (SSC), defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Tuesday. Read More
The first of class littoral combat ships USS Freedom (LCS 1), rear, and USS Independence (LCS 2) maneuver together during an exercise off the coast of Southern California on May, 2 2012.
US Navy Photo.
The final decision on the 20-hull follow up to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fleet by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will be made soon, the Chief of Naval Operations said during a defense conference in California over the weekend. Read More
