Congressional research service Archives

Boeing delivers Navy’s first Orca XLUUV

21 December 2023

The Navy’s plans for unmanned vessels include uncrewed undersea as well as uncrewed surface vessels and Boeing [NYSE: BA] has now delivered the first Orca Extra Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) to the Navy following completion of acceptance testing month. The XLUUV, designated by the Navy as “Orca,” is a new class of autonomous submarine that can perform long duration critical missions to achieve undersea maritime dominance in changing environments and contested waters.

“This is the...

https://www.marinelog.com/news/boeing-delivers-navys-first-orca-xluuv/

Bollinger Cuts First Steel on Polar Security Cutter

9 August 2023

The first steel is cut for the future USCGC Polar Sentinel (PSC-1). Bollinger Photo

A Mississippi shipyard has started fabricating on what will be the first components for a new fleet of heavy U.S. icebreakers, the company announced on Wednesday.

Bollinger Shipyards cut steel of the first of eight modules that will become part of the first Polar Security Cutter – the future USCGC Polar Sentinel (PSC-1). The prototype modules are being built as a proof-of-concept for the cutter but if approved...

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/09/bollinger-cuts-first-steel-on-polar-security-cutter-polar-sentinel

GAO: Polar Security Cutter Design Won’t Complete Until 2024, Delivery of First Hull Estimated in 2028

3 August 2023

Artist’s Rendering of Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter

The design for the U.S. Coast Guard’s long-gestating heavy ice breaker won’t be ready until next year and the first hull likely won’t deliver until 2028 – three years later than the original estimate – according to a new Government Accountability Office report reviewed by USNI News.

According to the estimate from GAO, which cites Coast Guard and Navy officials, as well as shipbuilders – the final design for the 23,0000-ton ice breaker won’t...

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/03/gao-polar-security-cutter-design-wont-complete-until-2024-delivery-of-first-hull-estimated-in-2028

Report to Congress on Niger Unrest

3 August 2023

The following is the July 31, 2023, Congressional Research Service In Focus Report, Niger: In Focus.

From the report

On July 26, 2023, military officers detained elected President Mohamed Bazoum and asserted that they had seized power. On July 30, West African leaders announced sanctions and threatened military action if Bazoum is not reinstated, while pro-junta protesters attacked the French embassy in Niamey. U.S. officials had previously characterized Niger as an emerging democracy and...

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/03/report-to-congress-on-niger-unrest

Report to Congress on Senate Nomination Holds

18 July 2023

The following is the July 18, 2023, Congressional Research Service report, Hold on Nominations.

From the report

In the Senate, a hold on a nomination is a communication to the majority or minority leader that a Senator would object to approving the nomination by unanimous consent. When Senators inform their leader that they would object to approving a category of nominations by unanimous consent, such as all nominations to a particular government agency, they are said to be placing a blanket hold

https://news.usni.org/2023/07/18/report-to-congress-on-senate-nomination-holds

Report to Congress on Arms Control Agreements

14 July 2023

The following is the July 11, 2023, Congressional Research Service report, Arms Control and Nonproliferation: A Catalog of Treaties and Agreements.

From the report

Arms control and nonproliferation efforts are two of the tools that the United States has occasionally used to implement its national security strategy. Although some believe these tools do little to restrain the behavior of U.S. adversaries, while doing too much to restrain U.S. military forces and operations, many others see them as...

https://news.usni.org/2023/07/14/report-to-congress-on-arms-control-agreements

Report to Congress on Marine Corps Force Design 2030

3 July 2023

The following is the June 30, 2023 Congressional Research Service report, U.S. Marine Corps Force Design 2030 Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress.

From the report

On March 23, 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) announced a major force design initiative referred to as “Force Design 2030.” As part of this initiative, intended to occur over the next 10 years, the Marine Corps would redesign the service for naval expeditionary warfare and to better align itself with the National Defense...

https://news.usni.org/2023/07/03/report-to-congress-on-marine-corps-force-design-2030

GAO Report on Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter

22 June 2023

The following is the June 20, 2023, Government Accountability Office, U.S. Coast Guard Acquisitions: Offshore Patrol Cutter Program Needs to Mature Technology and Design.

From the report

What GAO Found

In October 2020, GAO found that the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program started construction on the lead ship with an unstable design. In this report, GAO found that the Coast Guard continues its approach of progressing through the technology development, design, and construction phases...

https://news.usni.org/2023/06/22/gao-report-on-coast-guard-offshore-patrol-cutter

Report to Congress on Deep Fakes and National Security

5 May 2023

The following is the April 17, 2023, Congressional Research Service report, Deep Fakes and National Security.

From the report

“Deep fakes”—a term that first emerged in 2017 to describe realistic photo, audio, video, and other forgeries generated with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies—could present a variety of national security challenges in the years to come. As these technologies continue to mature, they could hold significant implications for congressional oversight, U.S. defense...

https://news.usni.org/2023/05/05/report-to-congress-on-deep-fakes-and-national-security

GAO Report on U.S. Funding to Chinese Entities

12 April 2023

The following is the April 12, 2023 Government Accountability Office Report, Federal Spending: Information on U.S. Funding to Entities Located in China.

From the report

What GAO Found

U.S. agencies reported providing at least $48 million in obligations for various purposes to entities located in China from fiscal years 2017 through 2021. Of this amount, agencies obligated about $22.8 million through assistance awards and about $25.2 million through contracts. For example, the Department of...

https://news.usni.org/2023/04/12/gao-report-on-u-s-funding-to-chinese-entities

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