Boeing Lands Contracts With Upfront R&D Investing

Testing Boeing’s MQ-25A Stingray prototype in St. Louis. Boeing Image

Boeing landed the contract to build the Navy’s unmanned carrier-based refueling aircraft thanks to what company executives described as an aggressive up-front research and development investment.


In August, Boeing beat out Lockheed Martin and General Atomics to win the Navy’s $805-million contract to build the first four unmanned carrier-based tankers, the MQ-25A Stingray. The program ultimately could be worth $13 billion if...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/25/boeing-lands-contracts-with-upfront-rd-investing

Foggo: U.S. Navy Forces in Europe Sufficient to Handle Threats — But Only With Strong Collaboration With Allies

USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98) pulls into Reykjavik, Iceland on Sept. 22, 2018. US Navy Photo

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – The head of naval forces in Europe is satisfied with the increased presence he’s seen in his theater this year, but he stressed that the U.S. will also have to rely on its allies and partners to counter a growing threat.

2018 brought a noticeable uptick in naval presence in Europe, after Adm. James Foggo and other leaders have sounded the alarm about Russia’s increased submarine...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/25/foggo-u-s-navy-forces-europe-sufficient-handle-threats-strong-collaboration-allies

Iceland Embracing Its Strategic Location By Supporting NATO Air Defense

A P-8A Poseidon aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 16, arrives in Keflavik, Iceland, for anti-submarine warfare training in April 2017. US Navy Photo

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – Iceland may not have a navy, but the strategically located small nation is punching above its weight in terms of sea control and maritime safety in the increasingly important North Atlantic region, the head of U.S. naval forces in Europe said.

Right in the heart of the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap, Iceland is at...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/24/iceland-embracing-its-strategic-location-though-supporting-nato-air-defense-hosting-us-planes

USNI News Video: High North Exercise Tests Cold-Weather Skills of Navy, Marine Corps

US Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are in Iceland preparing for NATO’s Exercise Trident Juncture 2018. The main phase of Trident Juncture will start in Norway on October 25. US Marine Corps Photo

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA, OFF THE COAST OF ICELAND – Today’s sailors and Marines have grown proficient at operating in the heat and sands of the Middle East, but the bitter cold and jagged lava rocks of Iceland in October is a new challenge to most of them.

The U.S. military has placed a...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/23/usni-news-video-high-north-exercise-tests-cold-weather-skills-navy-marine-corps

Lockheed: DoD Focused on Lowest Price in Recent Competitions; May Affect LM Participation in Future Bids

An undated picture of five F-35B and a single F-35C. Lockheed Martin Photo

Lockheed Martin officials say their loss to Boeing in three recent aircraft competitions indicates that Pentagon weapon buyers are valuing low price tags over high-tech capabilities, which may lead the company to question its participation in some future competitions.

The company reported strong revenue growth and expected solid earnings in the future, but during a Tuesday morning conference call with Wall Street analysts,...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/23/37506

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Oct. 22, 2018

USNI News Graphic

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. 22, 2018, 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.

Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:286Ships Underway

Deployed Ships UnderwayNon-deployed Ships UnderwayTotal Ships Underway
583997

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces3rd

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/22/usni-news-fleet-marine-tracker-oct-22-2018

John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group Quietly Leaves for Deployment, Homeport Change

Seaman Zachary Greco, from Center, Pennsylvania, handles line aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG-106) during a replenishment-at-sea with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) on Sept. 2, 2018. US Navy Photo

The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group left Naval Base Kitsaplast week for a deployment and an eventual homeport change with no public notice, a U.S. official confirmed to USNI News on Monday.

USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) left...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/22/john-c-stennis-carrier-strike-group-quietly-leaves-deployment-homeport-change

USS Ronald Reagan Resumes Flight Operations After Helicopter Crash; Some Injured Sailors Sent Ashore for Treatment

An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, prepares to land on the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) on Sept. 19 2018. US Navy Photo

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan has resumed flight operations following a Friday crash of an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter on the carrier’s flight deck, according to a statement from U.S. 7th Fleet.

Reagan was operating in the Philippine Sea when...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/19/uss-ronald-reagan-resumes-flight-operations-helicopter-crash-injured-sailors-sent-ashore-treatment

Truman Carrier Strike Group Operating North of Arctic Circle; First Time for US Navy Since 1991

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81, launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). For the first time in nearly 30 years, a U.S. aircraft carrier has entered the Arctic Circle. Accompanied by select ships from Carrier Strike Group Eight (CSG- 8), Harry S. Truman traveled north to demonstrate the flexibility and toughness of U.S. naval forces through high-end warfare training with regional allies and partners....

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/19/truman-carrier-strike-group-operating-north-arctic-circle-first-time-us-navy-since-1991

Marine Corps Shedding Old Equipment to Pay for New Technology

A U.S. Marine with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 performs maintenance on a F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) on June 22, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — To make modernizing its equipment affordable, the Marine Corps is weeding out old technology that’s either too expensive to run or hasn’t kept pace with advances made by near-peer adversaries, service officials said on Wednesday.

In the Fiscal Year 2019...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/17/37361