Wednesday, September 27, 2023
The Marine Corps is beginning low-rate initial production of a mobile air defense capability following a milestone C decision, advancing the service's efforts to mature a growing portfolio of ground-based air defense systems.
Ingalls Shipbuilding today delivered the first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class warship, the Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125), to the Navy, marking an important milestone for the newest variant of the Navy's workhorse destroyer line.
There is room for additional international allies and partners to collaborate on the second pillar of the trilateral AUKUS agreement, which aims to develop and field emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and unmanned systems, according to the Navy's top-ranking officer.
The Senate Armed Services Committee's version of the defense policy bill would support procurement of 10 ships including a new amphibious transport dock and establish an official nuclear sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) program of record.
The House Armed Services Committee has approved an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill that would create an official program of record for nuclear sea-launched cruise missile development.
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has declined a request from a group of Senate Armed Services Committee members who asked the service to produce an updated shipbuilding plan that ensures an amphibious warship fleet of at least 31 vessels.
The House Armed Services Committee has approved an amendment to its draft defense authorization bill that would add advance procurement authority for a submarine tender to the Navy's fiscal year 2024 shipbuilding plan, bringing total ship procurement up to 10 vessels.
House appropriators are advancing a draft defense spending bill that excludes funding for amphibious warship procurement and looks to save two Littoral Combat Ships from decommissioning in fiscal year 2024 -- marking a significant departure from the draft legislation produced by the House Armed Services Committee.
The Navy plans to extend the service life of its fleet of MH-60S Seahawk aircraft into the 2040s, while an analysis of alternatives for a future vertical lift capability works its way through the Pentagon's internal review process.
Assistant Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, who has been nominated to take the reins as the Marine Corps' next top officer, told lawmakers that if confirmed, he will continue the service's Force Design 2030 transformation effort.
A bipartisan group of senators is calling on the Navy to update its shipbuilding plan to maintain an amphibious warship fleet of at least 31 vessels, as required by law.
House lawmakers plan to add an amphibious transport dock to the Navy's shipbuilding plan and prevent the decommissioning of three amphibious warships and two cruisers in fiscal year 2024.
The House Armed Services readiness subcommittee’s draft of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill proposes to withhold up to 50% of amphibious warship funds until lawmakers receive a briefing on the vessels' operational status.
Marine Corps Systems Command has begun fielding the new Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicle, according to a Wednesday release that indicates the ULTV has achieved initial operational capability.
As construction of the second ship in the Navy's new line of Ford-class aircraft carriers nears completion, shipbuilders are likely to exceed the vessel's $12.7 billion cost baseline, according to the Government Accountability Office's annual weapon system report.
The Navy has postponed the initial operational capability of its Zumwalt-class destroyer program to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024 -- more than a year later than the April 2023 IOC target reported in the Government Accountability Office's annual weapon system report. (UPDATED)
Virginia-class submarine production is struggling with increasingly severe labor shortages, according to the Government Accountability Office’s annual review of Defense Department weapons programs, which estimates construction time for Block V vessels will take an average of more than two years longer than the previous year’s report predicted.
The Marine Corps' development of organic precision fires is moving too slowly, according to the service's annual Force Design update, which outlines an effort to speed up the acquisition and training processes for OPF capabilities.
Continuing efforts to field ground-based air defense capabilities, the Marine Corps is looking to industry to produce a counter unmanned aircraft system component to support its prototype Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) Increment One.
Capt. Kevin Smith has taken the helm as the head of the program executive office of unmanned and small combatants, replacing Rear Adm. Casey Moton during a June 1 ceremony, according to a Monday Navy announcement.