USS Antietam (CG-54) is underway off the coast of Japan near Mt. Fuji. US Navy Photo

This post has been updated to amend the amount the compromise 2015 NDAA included for EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. House and Senate staffers yesterday said the amount was $350 million. The final number for the aircraft in the bill reported out Wednesday morning was $450 million.

The compromise 2015 defense bill between the House and the Senate will allow the Navy to move ahead with putting two Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers in mothballs but stops short of endorsing the service’s plan to layup half of the cruiser force, according to a Tuesday background briefing to reporters from House and Senate staffers. Read More →