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The guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) arrives at its new homeport in San Diego on Dec. 8, 2016. US Navy photo.
First-in-class destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) will head to sea this week to begin testing components of its combat system, in its first sea trial event since arriving in its homeport of San Diego in early December. Read More
An F/A-18F Super Hornet attached to the Black Lions of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213 launches from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve on Feb. 13, 2017. US Navy Photo
After a two-month gap, the U.S. Navy is again launching carrier-based strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria from the Mediterranean, the service announced on Monday. Read More
Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Helena (SSN-725) arrives at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a high-priority docking continuous maintenance availability on Aug. 20, 2015. US Navy Photo
The federal government hiring freeze signed last week by President Donald Trump applies to all Navy shipyards and repair facilities despite an exemption for “national security or public safety responsibilities,” but the Defense Department may make some exemptions before the 90-day hiring freeze expires. Read More
An artist’s conception of an installed Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) on a U.S. carrier. General Atomics Image
This post has been updated to include a more complete explanation of the design flaw the Navy discovered in the AAG.
The Navy is electing to use the controversial Advanced Arresting Gear on its next Gerald R. Ford-class carrier, John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), USNI News has learned. Read More
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) pulls into Dry Dock 5 at Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF JRMC) Yokosuka on June 15, 2016. US Navy photo.
The Navy’s surface ship, submarine and aircraft carrier maintenance planning activities will host a summit next month to look for lessons learned in one community that could help the others improve on-time delivery of ships in yard maintenance. Read More
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) sails through the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 6, 2016. US Navy Photo
The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is set to depart on Saturday for a European and Middle East deployment from Naval Station Norfolk, Va. and Naval Station Mayport, Fla., the Navy announced on Thursday. Read More
Then-Rear Adm. Thomas Moore, program executive officer of aircraft carriers, poses a question to representatives from Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding during a tour of the aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in March 2014. US Navy photo.
President-elect Donald Trump supports increasing the size of the Navy fleet but has also made clear that the Navy and industry will have to lower the cost per hull for new construction, the head of Naval Sea Systems Command told USNI News. Read More
Artist’s concept of an Advanced Gun System Firing a Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP).
CORRECTION: A previous version of this post misstated the cost of an Excalibur 155mm guided round. A round plus the container is sold to the U.S. Army at about $70,000 per round.
THE PENTAGON — The Navy is looking to Raytheon’s Excalibur guided artillery round to replace the effective but expensive Long Range Land Attack Projectile for the Zumwalt-class of guided missile destroyers, defense officials confirmed to USNI News. Read More
A 2009 Lockheed Martin oil painting of a Long Range Land Attack Projectile Strike from a Zumwalt by artisit Richard Thompson. Lockheed Martin Image Used With Permission
The Navy isn’t planning on buying the rocket assisted guided round designed for a key system in the Zumwalt-class of guided missile destroyer, a defense official confirmed to USNI News. Read More
Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) completes a first-of-its-kind recovery of an Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23-assigned F/A-18E Super Hornet at the Runway Arrested Landing Site in Lakehurst, N.J., Oct. 13, 2016. US Navy Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The troubled General Atomics Advanced Arresting Gear program is doing well in its delayed testing program on land and on carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the head of Naval Sea Systems Command told reporters on Wednesday. Read More
