Budget Industry

Report to Congress on John Lewis-class Oiler Program

The following is the Feb. 9, 2021 Congressional Research Service report, Navy John Lewis (TAO-205) Class Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress.

From the report

The Navy procured its first John Lewis (TAO-205) class oiler in FY2016, and a total of six have been procured through FY2021, including the fifth and sixth in FY2020. The first six TAO-205s are being procured under a block buy contract that was authorized by Section 127 of the FY2016 National Defense Authorization...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/12/report-to-congress-on-john-lewis-class-oiler-program

Huntington Ingalls Sees Record-Breaking 2020, Moving to Integrating Business Lines

Ingalls Shipbuilding in May 2019. HII Photo

After coming through 2020 with record sales and growing its unmanned systems portfolio through acquisitions and partnerships, Huntington Ingalls Industries plans to use that momentum in 2021 to integrate its different business lines to help its customers tackle more complex challenges, the company president said today.

Noting the hardship of the pandemic in 2020 but the optimism of coming through it in a strong position, HII President and CEO Mike...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/11/huntington-ingalls-sees-record-breaking-2020-moving-to-integrating-business-lines

Marines Award BAE Systems $184M for 36 More ACVs, As Pacific-Focused Fielding Continues

U.S. Marines with Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, drive a new Amphibious Combat Vehicle ashore during low-light surf transit testing at AVTB Beach on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 18, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

The Marine Corps this week awarded BAE Systems $184 million for 36 additional Amphibious Combat Vehicles, the company announced today.

The award was made as a contract option to the full-rate production contract signed in...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/11/marines-award-bae-systems-184m-for-36-more-acvs-as-pacific-focused-fielding-continues

French Nuclear Attack Boat Patrolled South China Sea

Attack boat FS Emeraude (S604) and frigate FS Vendemiaire (F734). French Armed Forces Photo

A French Navy Rubis-class nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) patrolled the South China Sea, the French minister of armed forces announced in a series of tweets.

French armed forces minister Florence Parly called the patrol “a striking proof of the capacity of our French Navy to deploy far and for a long time in connection with our Australian, American and Japanese strategic partners.”

On Monday night,...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/10/french-nuclear-attack-boat-patrolled-south-china-sea

Senate Confirms Kathleen Hicks As Deputy Defense Secretary

Deputy Secretary of Defense nominee Kathleen Hicks reacts to the start of her Senate confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C. Feb. 2, 2021. DoD Photo

The Senate on Monday voted to confirm Kathleen Hicks as the deputy defense secretary.

Hicks, who also worked in the Pentagon under the Obama administration, is the first woman confirmed to the Defense Department’s number-two position.

“Today, Dr. Hicks made history and I know she will get right to work in this critical role. She is a highly regarded...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/09/senate-confirms-kathleen-hicks-as-deputy-defense-secretary

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 8, 2021

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 Feb. 8, 2021, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:297Ships Underway

Deployed Ships UnderwayNon-deployed Ships UnderwayTotal Ships Underway
6441105

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces3...

Destroyer USS John McCain Conducts FONOP; Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in the South China Sea

USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) transits through South China Sea on Feb. 5, 2021. US Navy Photo

A day after transiting the Taiwan Strait, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the Paracel Island chain in the South China Sea, U.S. 7th Fleet announced on Friday.

USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) passed through the Paracel Island chain, conducting an innocent passage past the islands that are largely controlled by China but claimed by Beijing, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Under...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/05/destroyer-uss-john-mccain-conducts-fonop-nimitz-carrier-strike-group-in-the-south-china-sea

Wittman: HASC Republicans Will Keep Up Push for Larger Navy

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.)

Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee will maintain their focus on building a larger Navy to counter China in the Indo-Pacific, the panel’s new number-two Republican told USNI News.

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) said that, while the new Biden administration will want to evaluate the plans for Navy shipbuilding, he believes the emphasis on China as the main challenge for the U.S. will drive the strategy and make a larger fleet essential going forward.

“You might have...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/05/wittman-hasc-republicans-will-keep-up-push-for-larger-navy

Navy Boot Camp Instructor Dies From COVID-19 Complications; 5 Sailors Dead Related to Virus

Chief Quartermaster Herbert Rojas. US Navy Photo

An instructor at the Navy’s recruit training command in Great Lakes Ill., has died from complications related to the COVID-19 virus, the service announced on Friday.

Chief Quartermaster Herbert Rojas, 50, died on Tuesday in his quarters, where he had been quarantining since Jan. 27, training command spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Chitty told USNI News.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and shipmate Chief Rojas, and we will continue...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/05/navy-boot-camp-instructor-dies-from-covid-19-complications-5-sailors-dead-related-to-virus

Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth Will Drill with Japanese in Pacific During Deployment

HMS Queen Elizabeth leads a flotilla of destroyers and frigates from the U.K., U.S. and the Netherlands, together with two Royal Fleet Auxiliaries on May 10, 2020. Royal Navy Photo

The Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) is set to drill with Japanese maritime forces in the Pacific during its maiden deployment this spring, the U.K. Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday.

In the readout of a call between defense and foreign ministers from Tokyo and London, the two countries...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/03/carrier-hms-queen-elizabeth-will-drill-with-japanese-in-pacific-during-deployment

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