Lockheed Martin MQ-25A Concept. Lockheed Martin Image
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) will be the first two carriers to field the Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial refueling tanker, a spokesperson told USNI News. Read More
A sailor welds during the ongoing maintinance availability for carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on June 26, 2014. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated following Pentagon and Navy press briefings on the FY 2018 budget.
THE PENTAGON – The Department of the Navy’s $180-billion budget request sets out to improve overall readiness of the Navy and the Marine Corps while making only modest asks for new aircraft and ships. Read More
MQ-8C Fire Scout returns from a test mission on the Point Mugu Sea Range in Point Mugu, Calif. US Navy Photo
As the Navy pursues a new anti-ship weapon for its Littoral Combat Ships, Northrop Grumman is pitching its MQ-8C Fire Scout to help the crew find their targets hundreds of miles away. Read More
Lockheed Martin MQ-25A bid. Lockheed Martin Photo
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s latest revised list of requirements for its carrier-based unmanned aerial tanker will likely push all four competitors to redesign their bids, the head of Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Work division said on Tuesday. Read More
An artist’s concept of the planned Japanese 27DD guided missile destroyer. Image via Navy Recognition
Raytheon’s Standard Missile 6 has been cleared by the Pentagon for international sales and a trio of potential Pacific nations are likely the first customers. Read More
Following a successful Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) led review, the U.S. Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) obtained positive Milestone C low-rate initial production approval. Northrop Grumman photo.
The Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system received Milestone C low-rate initial production approval after a successful Milestone Decision Authority review, contractor Northrop Grumman announced today. Read More
X-47B Salty Dog 501 flies over USS Theodore Roosevelt on Aug. 17, 2014. US Naval Institute Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Striking the balance between a tanker and a surveillance aircraft is an area of concern for Navy aviation planners and industry as they craft what will be the service’s first operational, carrier unmanned aerial vehicle, commander of Naval Air Forces said on Thursday. Read More
X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) launches from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in 2013. US Navy Photo
After months of deliberation, the name and designation of the Navy’s first carrier unmanned aerial vehicle are now official: MQ-25A Stingray, service officials told USNI News this week. Read More
The MQ-4C Triton prepares for a flight test in June 2016 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. During two recent tests, the unmanned air system completed its first heavy weight flight and demonstrated its ability to communicate with the P-8 aircraft while airborne. US Navy photo.
This post has been updated to correct a location for future Triton basing. NAVAIR told USNI News after publication that the East Coast location has not yet been finalized.
The Navy is continuing operational testing of its future unmanned long-endurance maritime surveillance aircraft, the MQ-4C Triton, demonstrating its ability to share critical mission information with the manned P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft. Read More
The successful Critical Design Review determined that Northrop Grumman’s final design for the Advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal Robotic System dismounted operations variant satisfies cost, schedule and mission performance requirements and demonstrates the maturity for proceeding with system fabrication, assembly, integration and test. Northrop Grumman photo.
The first increment in the Navy’s Advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal Robotic System (AEODRS) passed its Critical Design Review (CDR) and is going into low-rate initial production, Northrop Grumman announced. Read More
