Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan meets with the Qatar Minister of State for Defence Affairs Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., March 12, 2019. DoD Photo
The acting secretary of defense defended the Pentagon’s decision to retire a Nimitz-class carrier 25 years early during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. Read More
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) conducts a strait transit. Truman is currently deployed as part of an ongoing rotation of U.S. forces supporting maritime security operations in international waters around the globe on April 27, 2018. US Navy Photo
A Pentagon budget plan to sideline an aircraft carrier, rather than refuel it, and redirect money for other defense priorities would save just $16.9 million in Fiscal Year 2020, USNI News has learned. Read More
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration GOES-16 satellite caught a dramatic view of the bomb cyclone moving up the East Coast on Jan. 4, 2017. NOAA Photo
A quarter billion dollars of commerce halted Wednesday night and Thursday as Hampton Roads — entry to the Chesapeake Bay — was closed by the Coast Guard, a move spurred by high winds and blizzard conditions on the water.
USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2017.
The following is part of a series. Please also see Top Stories: International Acquisition, Navy Operations, Marine Corps Operations, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Acquisition, International Operations and New Administration.
2017 began with the promise of planning for a larger fleet: at the end of 2016, the Navy announced a 355-ship requirement, and the incoming Trump Administration expressed its support for a larger military and a heftier Navy. Few concrete steps were taken this year, though, to begin a buildup – though many programs that will be pivotal to the 355-ship fleet of the future reached significant programmatic milestones in 2017.
An F-35C Lightning II assigned to the Grim Reapers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 lands on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting training after successful completion of carrier incremental availability. US Navy Photo
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) recently notched some significant firsts for air operations, including using a new landing system during carrier operations and qualifying its first F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aviators.
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Seven U.S. aircraft carriers are underway for the first time simultaneously in several years.
Top: USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
Center: USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
Bottom: USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS Nimitz (CVN-68), USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). USNI News Image
This post has been updated with a statement from Commander of U.S. Naval Air Forces Vice Adm. Michael Shoemaker.
Seven out of 11 U.S. nuclear aircraft carriers are underway simultaneously for the first time in several years, USNI News has learned. Read More
The USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker is sponsored by CNA.
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Oct. 23, 2017, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the map reflects the location of the capital ship. Read More
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Ray Clark signals to raise an aircraft elevator in the hangar bay of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD) 7 as part of preparations for potential humanitarian relief efforts on Sept. 11, 2017. US Navy Photo
The Navy’s Hurricane Irma relief effort is ramping up as more ships position off the coast of Florida and teams arrive on land to deliver supplies and assess damage, the service said on Wednesday. Read More
Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 1st Class Oliver Martin and Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Parker Eastman, assigned to the Spartans of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 72, load boxes of water onto an MH-60R Sea Hawk from the Swamp Foxes of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Sept. 11, 2017. US Navy Photo
Positioned off the coast of Florida, helicopters from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) are now delivering food and water to Florida as part of the Hurricane Irma relief effort. Read More
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) conducts high-speed turn drills in the Atlantic Ocean during sea trials on May 11, 2017. US Navy photo.
Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), and amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LHD-21) and guided missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG-99), are underway moving into position to assist with Hurricane Irma recovery efforts if needed, U.S. Fleet Forces command said on Friday. Read More
