General Dynamics Bath Iron Works

House Passes FY 2023 NDAA That Authorizes $858B for National Defense

Moon over U.S. Capitol on Nov. 13, 2016. NASA Photo

The House, on Thursday, passed the compromise Fiscal Year 2023 defense policy bill that authorizes $858 billion for national defense.
In a 350 to 80 vote, lawmakers authorized legislation that approves $32.6 billion for the Navy to buy 11 battle force ships, an increase from the nine battle force ships the service sought in its original budget request.

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, praised the...

https://news.usni.org/2022/12/08/house-passes-fy-2023-ndaa-that-authorizes-858b-for-national-defense

Compromise $857B Defense Policy Bill Authorizes 11 Battle Force Ships, $25M for Nuclear Cruise Missile Research

NASA Photo

The compromise Fiscal Year 2023 defense policy bill released late Tuesday night authorizes a $32.6 billion shipbuilding budget for the Navy to build 11 battle force ships.

The buy would include “three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers; two Virginia-class submarines; two expeditionary fast transports; one Constellation-class frigate; one San Antonio-class amphibious ship; one John Lewis-class oiler; and one Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ship,” according to a summary of the bill...

https://news.usni.org/2022/12/06/compromise-857b-defense-policy-bill-authorizes-11-battle-force-ships-25m-for-nuclear-cruise-missile-research

House, Senate Agree to Authorize 3 Flight III Destroyers in FY 23 NDAA Negotiations

Arleigh Burke destroyers Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123) and the Legend-class cutter Calhoun (WMSL-759) at Ingalls Shipbuilding on Aug. 4, 2022. USNI News Photo

Congress is set to authorize the Navy to buy three Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers as part of a nearly finalized House and Senate Fiscal Year 2023, $847 billion defense policy bill, USNI News has learned.

House and Senate negotiators of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act,...

https://news.usni.org/2022/11/30/house-senate-agree-to-authorize-3-flight-iii-destroyers-in-fy-23-ndaa-negotiations

CNO Gilday: Industrial Capacity Largest Barrier to Growing the Fleet

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday delivers testimony at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the fiscal year 2023 defense budget request on May 12, 2022. US Navy Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The biggest barrier to adding more ships to the Navy is industrial base capacity, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said Thursday.

The service’s top officer said shipbuilders need indicators from the service before they’re able to make the investments required to build, for...

Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | July 26 – Thai and Alabama police boats, US and Saudi naval ship deliveries and more

New patrol boats were recently delivered to the Royal Thai Police and a law enforcement agency in Alabama. A new navy ship enters service with Saudi Arabia and constructi ..

The post Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | July 26 – Thai and Alabama police boats, US and Saudi naval ship deliveries...

https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/maritime-security-world/non-naval/maritime-security-vessel-news-roundup-july-26-thai-and-alabama-police-boats-us-and-saudi-naval-ship-deliveries-and-more/

GAO Report on Risk in Defense Industrial Base

The following is the July 7, 2022, Government Accountability Office report, Defense Industrial Base DoD Should Take Actions to Strengthen Its Risk Mitigation Approach.

From the report

The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Industrial Base Policy office does not yet
have a consolidated and comprehensive strategy to mitigate risks to the
industrial base—the companies that develop and manufacture technologies and
weapon systems for DOD. The office is using a combination of four previously
issued reports...

https://news.usni.org/2022/07/08/gao-report-on-risk-in-defense-industrial-base

Former BIW Head Lesko to Helm Canadian Shipyard

Irving Halifax Shipyard

The former president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is headed north to oversee Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding, the Canadian shipyard announced on this week.

Dirk Lesko, who headed BIW from 2016 until his abrupt departure in April, will now lead the yard that is at the center of the Canadian plan to recapitalize its fleet starting in September, according to the statement from Irving.

AT BIW, Lesko oversaw the construction of the Arleigh Burke-class and Zumwalt-class...

https://news.usni.org/2022/07/07/former-biw-head-lesko-to-helm-canadian-shipyard

VIDEO: Christening of Destroyer John Basilone

The following is the June 18, 2022, christening ceremony of the guided missile destroyer John Basilone (DDG-122).

“The ship’s namesake, Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, received the Medal of Honor for heroism displayed in the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II, where he led his heavy machine gun sections in defense of a critical position and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Basilone later returned to action at the Battle of Iwo Jima in February of 1944, where he single-handedly...

https://news.usni.org/2022/06/20/video-christening-of-destroyer-john-basilone

Congress Wants Potential 15 Hull, 5-year Destroyer Deal at 3 Ships a Year

Frank Petersen (DDG-121) leaves HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding on April 8, 2022. HII Photo

Congress is considering a new multi-ship deal to buy up to 15 guided-missile destroyers for the Navy over the next five years, two legislative sources familiar with the deliberations told USNI News on Thursday.

The deal would authorize a 10-ship multi-year deal with options to buy five additional Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers from Fiscal Year 2023 to 2027. The work would be split between General...

https://news.usni.org/2022/05/12/congress-wants-potential-15-hull-5-year-destroyer-deal-at-3-ships-a-year

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