Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Key Issues GPI timeline Project Convergence FTUAS cancellation
The Trump administration is creating a new "office of shipbuilding" within the White House, President Trump announced last night during his address to Congress, saying the office will offer unspecified tax incentives intended to revitalize the United States shipbuilding industry.
The first prototype in the No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program will begin a multimonth, at-sea testing period this spring after the vessel's construction concluded in February, according to a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency notice.
The Air Force has begun implementing a deferred resignation program for its civilian workforce in accordance with directives from the Office of Personnel Management, the service announced over the weekend.
President Trump has nominated retired Navy captain and former Virginia Senate candidate Hung Cao to serve as Navy under secretary.
Senate Democrats are worried the Pentagon’s plan to shrink its civilian workforce could further inhibit on-time ship and submarine maintenance if workers are laid off at the nation’s public shipyards.
John Phelan, President Trump’s nominee to serve as the next Navy secretary, told lawmakers today that if confirmed, he will personally review all existing contracts and renegotiate them if needed.
House Republicans are attempting to reassure members of the shipbuilding industrial base that robust investment will continue -- when it comes to submarine production at least -- amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's defense spending priorities.
Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby is now performing the duties of the chief of naval operations after Adm. Lisa Franchetti was removed from the role on Friday night.
The Marine Corps will transition its Long-Range Unmanned Surface Vessel program to the major capability acquisition pathway in fiscal year 2027 following a decision to terminate a middle tier acquisition rapid prototyping effort, according to the latest annual report from the Pentagon's director of operational test and evaluation.
The chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee are calling on the Defense Department to deliver a legally mandated spending plan for $500 million in submarine industrial base aid contributed by Australia.
The Marine Corps has begun fielding its Amphibious Combat Vehicle to the East Coast, completed the ACV's first overseas deployment and wrapped up contract negotiations over the program's upcoming 30mm cannon variant -- signs of progress in the service's effort to expand fielding of the critical amphibious platform.
Two recent Marine Expeditionary Unit deployments were both marked by amphibious warship readiness problems that, according to the units' commanders, challenged and complicated their missions in the increasingly tense Indo-Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean operating areas.
The Marine Corps has passed its fiscal year 2024 audit, receiving an "unmodified" opinion from independent auditors who reviewed the service's accounting for accuracy, completion and compliance with federal regulations, the service announced today.
The Marine Corps published a new Aviation Plan today, presenting a modernization roadmap dubbed "Project Eagle" which spans the next three future years defense programs -- 15 years in total -- and aims to improve readiness and field new technologies to support operational concepts tied to the service's broader force design pivot.
SAN DIEGO -- The Navy needs industry's help to bridge manning and capability gaps as it embarks on a multibillion-dollar effort to restore critical Indo-Pacific infrastructure that will enable operational readiness and, if needed, support U.S. forces in a war with China.
SAN DIEGO -- The Marine Corps is working to rapidly develop new counter-drone capabilities to protect dismounted Marines from unmanned aerial threats, with plans to field a capability this calendar year, the commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command said today.
SAN DIEGO -- The Trump administration is expected to amend the Pentagon's fiscal year 2026 budget request before it is submitted to Congress, likely increasing both topline spending levels and funding for shipbuilding programs, a House member and Navy official said today.
SAN DIEGO -- The Defense Innovation Unit is in the process of evaluating vendor proposals to deliver a nuclear power source for military installations, according to DIU energy portfolio Director Andrew Higier.
SAN DIEGO -- The Pentagon's Replicator initiative could provide a boost to Pacific Fleet's firepower, according to commander Adm. Stephen Koehler, who today said the rapid fielding effort could fill gaps that will appear as manned vessels equipped with vertical launch cells are retired in the coming years.
The Navy completed a first-of-its-kind test last month when an unmanned surface vessel was refueled without the help of any onboard personnel in a demonstration that marks a step forward for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program.