Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite tours the General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) Quonset Point Facility with EB Manager of Operations Walter Taft on July 8, 2020. US Navy Photo
Past ship design and acquisition mistakes, such as those with the Ford-class carrier and Littoral Combat Ship programs, are leading to some extra steps in today’s shipbuilding programs to ensure no time or money is wasted again, two speakers said at a virtual naval engineering symposium this week. Read More
A Knifefish unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) training model undergoes crane operations aboard the Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) as part of a training exercise enabling mine countermeasure missions (MCM) from an EPF as a Vessel of Opportunity (VOO). Knifefish is a medium-class mine countermeasure UUV designed for deployment off the littoral combat ship in 2019. US Navy Photo
The Navy is kicking off a pilot program for an autonomy lab that would eventually help test and integrate new advances in autonomy software with existing unmanned vessels, keeping the unmanned fleet outfitted with the newest capabilities for the lowest development cost. Read More
USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) transits the Atlantic Ocean. Kearsarge is the flagship of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group in 2019. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated to include additional comments from Newport News Shipbuilding.
A stop-work order at a Virginia repair yard has been lifted, following a welding incident on Friday that led the Navy to call for a stand-down and review of safety procedures. Read More
The following is the June 26, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) Transits the Atlantic Ocean on June 4, 2020. US Navy Photo
The Navy removed its program manager for the first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), as Navy acquisition chief James Geurts looks to boost performance in the new carrier program. Read More
Vice Adm. Thomas Moore, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), discusses key areas for advancement to aid development of a rapidly growing Navy during a visit to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division on March 5, 2018. US Navy photo.
Vice Adm. Tom Moore turned over command of Naval Sea Systems Command today and retired after 39 years in the Navy, leaving the service’s largest systems command in the hands of Vice Adm. Bill Galinis. Read More
The following is the June 8, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress.
The FFG(X) program is a Navy program to build a class of 20 guided-missile frigates (FFGs). Congress funded the procurement of the first FFG(X) in FY2020 at a cost of $1,281.2 million (i.e., about $1.3 billion). The Navy’s proposed FY2021 budget requests $1,053.1 million (i.e., about $1.1 billion) for the procurement of the second FFG(X). The Navy estimates that subsequent ships in the class will cost roughly $940 million each in then-year dollars. Read More
Norfolk Naval Shipyard workers prepare to install a 2400-pound pilgrim nut on a propeller of the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) on Feb. 12, 2020. George H.W. Bush is currently in Norfolk Naval Shipyard for its Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA). US Navy photo.
The Navy is activating 1,629 reservists to help reduce a carrier and submarine maintenance backlog at its public shipyards that is exacerbated by COVID-19, according to Naval Sea Systems Command.
Fincantieri FFG(X) Design based on the FREMM. Fincantieri Image
This post has been updated to include comments from industry.
No protests have been filed over the Navy’s decision to award Fincantieri a detail design and construction contract for the FFG(X) program, clearing the way for work to begin, the Navy confirmed to USNI News.
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Operations Specialist 2nd Class Alejandro Agosto disinfects surfaces during cleaning stations aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60) on May 6, 2020. US Navy Photo
As ship crews find themselves cleaning common spaces much more to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19, the process of sanitizing a large area like the mess deck at the beginning of the pandemic took about three hours. Thanks to a new task group, that’s down to about 30 minutes. And in the future, it could be automated through the use of UV-C light cleaners that can sanitize an entire room. Read More
