Tag Archives: House

Opinion: Maintaining American Seapower

Opinion: Maintaining American Seapower

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) transits the Gulf of Aden in 2014. US Navy Photo

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) transits the Gulf of Aden in 2014. US Navy Photo

Facing an increasing array of threats and demands even as our budgetary situation grows more challenging, it is clear that the Navy and Marine Corps team offers the best value to advance both our global security and economic interests.

Uniquely, the Navy and Marine Corps provide presence around the world, around the clock. We are the nation’s first line of defense, ready for any challenge on the horizon. Presence means we respond faster; remain on station longer; carry everything we need with us; and do whatever missions our nation’s leaders assign us without needing anyone else’s permission. Read More

Essay: The New Strategic Realities of U.S. Carrier Operations

Essay: The New Strategic Realities of U.S. Carrier Operations

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) leads a formation of ships from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 during a maneuvering exercise on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) leads a formation of ships from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 during a maneuvering exercise on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

Just four days ahead of the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy announced its intention to award Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc (HII). approximately $4 billion to construct the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) super carrier, the second vessel of the new Gerald R. Ford-class of carriers. The cost has raised eyebrows, as the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) experienced cost overruns of 22 percent. Read More

Omnibus Spending Bill Includes Money for 15 Growlers, 12th San Antonio

Omnibus Spending Bill Includes Money for 15 Growlers, 12th San Antonio

An EA-18G Growler from the "Shadowhawks" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) in 2013 US Navy Photo

An EA-18G Growler from the “Shadowhawks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) in 2013 US Navy Photo

The $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill from Congress includes $1.46 billion for 15 Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft and $1 billion to start work on a 12th San Antonio-class (LPD-17) amphibious warship, according to a summary of the bill released late Tuesday. Read More

Defense Bill Punts on Navy Plan to Mothball Cruisers, Adds Money for 12th LPD, Growlers

Defense Bill Punts on Navy Plan to Mothball Cruisers, Adds Money for 12th LPD, Growlers

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

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