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PACIFIC OCEAN (April 27,2015) U.S. Air Force F-16s fly over the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during a training exercise on April 27, 2015. US Navy Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The capacity the planned LX(R) amphibious warship will bring to the Navy and Marine Corps Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG) will be key to operating the first two aviation-centric America-class big deck amphibs, the Marines’ aviation head said this week. Read More
North Dakota (SSN 784) is rolled out of an indoor shipyard facility at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn. US Navy Photo
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to $138 million in advance procurement funding as going towards the T-AO(X) fleet oiler replacement program. That funding supports the Moored Training Ship program instead. The reference has been deleted.
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee released its Fiscal Year 2016 funding bill today, making some trims to Navy shipbuilding programs but adding in funding for seven EA-18G Growlers and an Afloat Forward Staging Base. Read More
An undated artist’s rendering of the Ohio Replacement. Naval Sea Systems Command Image
The Senate Armed Services Committee poured nearly $1.7 billion into the Navy’s shipbuilding budget for Fiscal Year 2016 beyond the service’s request, in the hopes of starting to pay for later-year needs now before the Ohio Replacement Program bill hits, a committee aide told USNI News. Read More
Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG-88) underway on April 18, 2015. US Navy Photo
The House Armed Services Committee added $120 million to pay for a total of three Aegis combat system upgrades to the Navy’s Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers (DDG-51) as part of the chairman’s mark for the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. Read More
Essex ARG consists of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2), the San Antonio-class transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD-23), and the Whidbey Island-class amphibious landing dock ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47) on Feb. 28, 2015. US Navy Photo
The House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee wants changes allowing two upcoming ship classes to get off to a smoother start – allowing for more funding opportunities for the Ohio Replacement Program (ORP) and accelerating the start of the LX(R) amphibious dock landing ship replacement program. Read More
Virginia-class attack submarine Minnesota (SSN-783) under construction in 2012. US Navy Photo
The Navy told Congress it would pursue a 10-ship multiyear procurement contract for its Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in Fiscal Year 2018 as part of its newest long-range shipbuilding plan, which also announced a nine-ship attack submarine block buy and delays in several auxiliary ship programs. Read More
The Navy is looking to compete the detail design and construction work for the T-AO(X) class, meant to replace the fleet replenishment oilers, such as the USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187) above. US Navy Photo.
The Navy plans to open a limited competition between General Dynamics NASSCO and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding for work on the LHA-8 amphibious assault ship, the T-AO(X) fleet oiler replacement and the next generation LX(R) dock landing ship replacement – meant to introduce competition as well as more evenly distribute work in the shipbuilding industry, the service told USNI News. Read More
Sean J. Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for Research Development and Acquisition, gives the keynote address during the 2014 Navy Opportunity Forum in Arlington, Va. US Navy Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Navy’s chief weapons buyer called on Congress to rollback restrictive legislation that creates unnecessary bureaucracy and slows the development of next-generation military capabilities during a Wednesday appearance at the Atlantic Council. 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
An artist’s rendering of Huntington Ingalls Industries’ LPD Flight IIA variant of the San Antonio-class ship design. HII Image
NORFOLK, VA — Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has revised its plan to use the hull form of the San Antonio-class amphibious warship (LPD-17) as a candidate for the Navy’s next generation amphibious warship— LX(R), company officials outlined to USNI News on Tuesday. Read More
