THE PENTAGON — A U.S. Navy EP-3E Aries II surveillance aircraft was intercepted at close range by a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter over the Black Sea on Monday.

THE PENTAGON — A U.S. Navy EP-3E Aries II surveillance aircraft was intercepted at close range by a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter over the Black Sea on Monday.
Adm. James Foggo III relieves Adm. Michelle Howard as commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples and commander, US Naval Forces Europe-Africa during a change of command ceremony held at the Allied Joint Force Command auditorium in Naples, Italy. US Navy Photo
U.S. Navy Adm. James Foggo is now in command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. Read More
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) fires a standard missile 3 during exercise Formidable Shield 2017, Oct. 15. US Navy photo.
The United States and NATO partners are wrapping up a three-and-a-half week ballistic missile defense exercise, which included a massive collective self-defense scenario on Sunday. Read More
Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Steven Montgomery, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1, directs an amphibious assault vehicle during exercise BALTOPS 17 in Putlos, Germany. US Navy Photo
ABOARD AMPHIBIOUS WARSHIP USS ARLINGTON — BALTOPS 2017, now in its 45th year as an annual naval exercise, took place during the first two weeks of June in a Baltic Sea region that continues to be tense with Russia’s continued assertiveness, which became apparent with the violent annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Read More
Vice Adm. James Foggo, former U.S. 6th Fleet commander and current director of the Navy Staff, has been tapped to lead U.S. naval forces in Europe and Africa, according to a Tuesday announcement from the Pentagon. Read More
U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines deployed from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, land their amphibious assault vehicles ashore at Uto, Sweden, on June 10, 2016, during BALTOPS 2016. The 2016 exercise focused on challenging amphibious landings in the northern part of the Baltic Sea, whereas this year will focus on air integration and will primarily take place in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. US Navy photo.
THE PENTAGON — Fifty ships set sail in the Baltic Sea this week for the annual NATO exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS), with this year’s event including a larger aviation component and a larger adversary “red force” in the hopes of creating a realistic scenario for high-end warfare in Europe, the Navy’s 6th Fleet commander told reporters today. Read More
The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) approaches the Friendship Bridge as it transits the Suez Canal on July 8, 2016. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group was deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Amid continued calls for innovation, several current and former fleet commanders say the Navy needs to focus on how it employs the force it already has rather than seeking brand new technologies to fight with. Read More
The following is a Dec. 30, 2016 video of the return of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. Read More
The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) transits the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 23, 2016. US Navy photo.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group returned home today from a dramatic seven-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Middle East. Read More
This post has been updated with additional details.
Three curious French police officers are facing disciplinary measures after accidentally shipping out on carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) when it left after a port visit to Marseilles on Tuesday. Read More