E-2D Advanced Hawkeye

Congress Notified of Potential $1.4B E-2D Hawkeye Sale to Japan

An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, assigned to the ‘Black Eagles’ of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113, recovers on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), Feb. 5, 2022. US Navy Photo

The State Department issued a notification of the potential sale of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft to Japan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced today.
The deal is for as many as 5 E-2D aircraft, six Tactical Data Link radio systems, 12...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/07/congress-notified-of-potential-1-4b-e-2d-hawkeye-sale-to-japan

Japan Set to Buy SM-6s in Potential $450M Deal, Says State Deptartment

SM-6 launches from guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones on Aug. 29, 2017. MDA Photo

Japan is set to be the first country after the United States to field the Standard Missile 6 as part of a proposed $450 million arms package, according to a State Department notification to Congress.

According to the Thursday notification, Japan was conditionally approved to buy up to 32 of the Raytheon-built SM-6 Block Is, pending congressional approval.

“The proposed sale will improve Japan’s Air Defense...

https://news.usni.org/2022/10/20/japan-set-to-buy-sm-6s-in-potential-450m-deal-says-state-deptartment

Report to Congress on Air Force Next-Generation Air Dominance Program

The following is the June 23, 2022 Congressional Research Service In Focus report, Air Force Next-Generation Air Dominance Program.

From the report

According to the Air Force, the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program is intended to develop “a portfolio of technologies enabling air superiority.” The Air Force intends for NGAD to replace the F-22 fighter jet beginning in 2030, possibly including a combination of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, with other systems and sensors. NGAD began as a...

https://news.usni.org/2022/06/24/report-to-congress-on-air-force-next-generation-air-dominance-program

Navy’s F/A-XX Fighter Will be the ‘Quarterback’ for a Team of Unmanned Aircraft

An F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to the ‘Red Rippers’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Jan. 7, 2022. US Navy Photo

The future F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter will operate as the Navy’s “quarterback” for manned and unmanned teaming in future carrier operations, according to the service.

Navy officials described the vision for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, meant to expand the range...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/28/navys-f-a-xx-fighter-will-be-the-quarterback-for-a-team-of-unmanned-aircraft

More F-35s, Spare Parts Included in Navy’s $4B Unfunded Priorities List

An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the ‘Argonauts’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, launches off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Jan. 6, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Navy is asking for more missiles, spare parts and F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters in its $4 billion unfunded list of priorities to Congress as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget rollout, according to a copy of the report reviewed this week by USNI News.

At the top of the list is...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/01/more-f-35s-spare-parts-included-in-navys-4b-unfunded-priorities-list

Navy Keeps Next-Generation Fighter Research Costs Classified For Third Consecutive Budget Cycle

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the ‘Stingers’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, recovers on the flight deck aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Sept. 23, 2021. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON – The Navy is spending more money to develop its sixth-generation fighter program but is keeping the costs classified for the third year in a row, the service said on Monday.

For the last three budget cycles, the Navy has classified the research and development dollars it’s...

https://news.usni.org/2022/03/29/navy-keeps-next-generation-fighter-research-costs-classified-for-third-consecutive-budget-cycle

Navy, Marines Drill with Japanese Forces in Test of New Island-Hopping Concept

Ships of the America and Essex Amphibious Ready Groups, and Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, sail in formation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during exercise Noble Fusion on Feb. 7, 2022. US Navy Photo

The U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and Japanese Self-Defense Force teamed up in the Philippine and East China seas to test the ideas behind the Marines’ Force Design 2030 plan.

Noble Fusion, held in early February, tested the Marines’ island-hopping concept with allies.

“Noble Fusion...

https://news.usni.org/2022/02/21/navy-marines-drill-with-japanese-forces-in-test-of-new-island-hopping-concept

U.S. Carrier Group, Two Amphibious Ready Groups Drill in Philippine Sea with Japan

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Ruselle Kane, a native of San Francisco, assigned to Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), signals to an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 during a vertical replenishment (VERTREP) in support of Noble Fusion, Feb. 4, 2022 in the Philippine Sea. U.S. Navy Photo

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A U.S. Navy carrier strike group and two amphibious ready groups are drilling in the Philippine Sea with...

https://news.usni.org/2022/02/04/u-s-carrier-group-two-amphibious-ready-groups-drill-in-philippine-sea-with-japan

MQ-25A Refuels F-35C Joint Strike Fighter Over Illinois

An MQ-25 test asset, known as T1, conducts its first aerial refueling test flight with an F-35C Lightning II Sept. 13, 2021 near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois. Boeing Photo

The Boeing prototype MQ-25A T1 unmanned carrier tanker refueled an F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter as part of early testing for the program, Naval Air Systems Command announced on Tuesday.

The F-35C, assigned to the “Salty Dogs” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, and the MQ-25 flew from...

https://news.usni.org/2021/09/14/mq-25a-refuels-f-35c-joint-strike-fighter-over-illinois

Boeing MQ-25 Prototype Refuels E-2D Advanced Hawkeye

MQ-25 Stingray T1 test asset refuels an E-2D aircraft Aug. 18, 2021, at MidAmerica Airport in Illinois. Boeing Photo

Boeing’s prototype for the Navy’s first unmanned aerial tanker successfully refueled its second aircraft type in a test over Illinois, the service announced on Thursday.

The MQ-25 T1 prototype topped off an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye flown by the in a series of test flights from MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Ill., just outside of St. Louis.

“During the six-hour flight, Navy E-2D...

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/19/boeing-mq-25-prototype-refuels-e-2d-advanced-hawkeye

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