Tag Archives: Secretary of Defense Mark Esper

CNO, Commandant: Services Have A Good Idea of How They’ll Fight, If Congress Helps Them With the Right Spending Plans

May 13, 2021 7:22 PM

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Tyrell Lewis, a student in the Detachment Hawaii Enhanced Squad Leader Course, aims a dummy rocket launcher at the rocket station, one of twelve stations in the initial performance assessment portion of the course, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, April 8, 2021. The course is an experimental proof of concept, with the intent of modernizing training and providing squad leaders with new capabilities. US Marine Corps photo.

The chief of naval operations and commandant of the Marine Corps say they are increasingly clear on how they’d want to fight a peer adversary, what attributes would make their forces successful and what platforms they need to equip that force. Now, they just need help from Congress turning that into a budget everyone can agree upon, they say. Read More →

SASC Chairman: 355-Ship Fleet is ‘Arbitrary’ Goal, Navy Needs To Pursue Autonomous Vehicles

By: Mallory Shelbourne

May 11, 2021 7:22 PM

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) steam in formation during a Strait of Hormuz transit, Sept. 18 on Sept. 18, 2020. US Navy Photo

Rather than focusing on the “arbitrary” 355-ship fleet total, the service should concentrate more effort on developing autonomous vehicles, the top lawmaker on the Senate Armed Services Committee said today. Read More →

Report to Congress on Navy SSN(X) Next-Generation Attack Submarine

May 11, 2021 9:21 AM

The following is the May 10, 2021 Congressional Research Service In Focus report, Navy Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) Program:
Background and Issues for Congress. Read More →

Report to Congress on Navy Force Structure

April 27, 2021 9:06 AM

The following is the April 22, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More →

VIDEO: Navy Decommissions USS Bonhomme Richard In San Diego Waterfront Ceremony

By: Megan Eckstein

April 14, 2021 6:45 PM

Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three, and Capt. G. S. Thoroman, commanding officer, amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), salute the ensign for colors during a decommissioning ceremony for Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego on April 14, 2021. US Navy Photo

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) was decommissioned today, 22 years into a 40-year expected service life, following a fire last summer on the amphibious assault ship that damaged the island and flight deck beyond affordable repair. Read More →

Navy’s Vision for Future Fleet is Blurry Say Seapower Members Luria, Gallagher

By: Sam LaGrone

March 18, 2021 7:24 PM

Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Logan Brown, from Joplin, Montana, scans the horizon from the bridge wing aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG-85) while underway conducting operations in the Taiwan Strait in March 2020. US Navy Photo

The Navy isn’t doing a great job of arguing for the service to expand to face the growing maritime threat from China, two members of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee said on Thursday. Read More →

Pentagon Conducting ‘Relook’ of FY-22 Budget; Directive Targets Shipbuilding

By: Mallory Shelbourne

February 24, 2021 3:31 PM

In this aerial photograph, the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) sits at Pier 3 at Newport News Shipbuilding division. The ship is approximately 76 percent complete and is progressing through final outfitting and testing. Huntington Ingalls Industries photo.

This story has been updated to include a statement from a Pentagon spokesperson.

The Pentagon is performing a “budget relook” of the Trump administration’s Fiscal Year 2022 proposal, with Navy shipbuilding topping the list of items for reassessment, USNI News has learned. Read More →

Acting SECNAV: Navy Shipbuilding Faces Review from Incoming Biden Officials

By: Mallory Shelbourne

February 2, 2021 5:27 PM

As the Biden administration continues filling key positions, its plans for the Navy should come into better focus, according to the service’s top civilian. Read More →