Aircraft Carrier Battle News

The U.S. military on Thursday christened an experimental self-driving warship designed to hunt for enemy submarines, a major advance in robotic warfare at the core of America's strategy to counter Chinese and Russian naval investments. The 132-foot-long (40-metre-long) unarmed prototype, dubbed Sea Hunter, is the naval equivalent of Google's self-driving car, designed to cruise on the ocean's surface for two or three months at a time - without a crew or anyone controlling it remotely.

Chinese navy official Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo confirmed that China plans to put aircraft carrier battle groups to sea, says a report in SCMP. The country will deploy them not only in the disputed East and South China seas, but also to protect the country’s overseas ­interests. Yin Zhuo said that the service intends to create aircraft carrier battle groups to “defend China's sovereignty on the islands and reefs, maritime rights and overseas interests,” an apparent reference to the nation's South China Sea claims. The defence ministry confirmed this year that China was building its second aircraft carrier, its first wholly home-made one.

The Chinese Navy has released the first photographs of what many military observers believe is the 'Liaoning' aircraft carrier battle group reports Xinhua. The photo (reproduced here) shows the Liaoning sailing in company with several battleships, submarines and military aircraft  The Navy did not disclose when and where the picture was taken. The carrier has successfully carried out 37 days of tests and training exercises in the South China Sea and has now returned to a People's Liberation Army 's naval base in Qingdao.

On a crisp fall morning in Newport, R.I., friends, family, veterans and special guests gathered to watch as USS Chafee (DDG 90), the Navy's newest warship, was formally commissioned honoring the late Sen. John H. Chafee of Rhode Island. Chafee, a decorated Marine veteran of World War II and Korea, also served as Secretary of the Navy prior to being elected U.S. senator. With the historic and now retired aircraft carriers USS Forrestal (CVA 59) and USS Saratoga (CV 60) in the background, more than 6,000 supporters braved the blustery winds off Narragansett Bay to witness the historic commissioning. Speakers included U.S. Senators from Rhode Island Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee, son of the ship's namesake. "Today is a proud day," said Reed. "This ship bears an even prouder name. Sen.

Those companies that belabor the arduous conditions prevalent in business today will literally be left on the docks when the pace picks up during the coming year. All signs seem to point towards the start of economic recovery in the U.S., though the ripple effects will take some time to filter through to maritime and offshore businesses. Despite a generally dour hangover from the past 12 months, business opportunities are available to those who seek them. Politics and irrational bean counters aside, the U.S. Navy will present ample opportunities for companies selling into this market in the decades to come. The cacophony of individual interests making cases for increased dollars at budget time does a great disservice to the causes that are truly needy. While the U.S.

The President is proposing a much needed, and long overdue increase of $49 billion in his fiscal year 2003 budget for National Defense. What is astonishing is that this larger budget proposes slashing the Navy's shipbuilding procurement account below that recommended by the previous Administration. Why is this astonishing? If it were not for ships of the Navy and Marine Corps, the U.S. would not have been able to defend America from additional attacks from the air and sea, or retaliate in Afghanistan after the September 11 attack on New York and Washington, D.C. Long before the terrorist attacks, the commanders-in-chief (CINCs) of the…

Millennium Maritime began providing ship assist and escort services to the Los Angeles harbor area in. late-April, with the first of two new 4,400 bhp (3,282 bkW) Z-drive sister tugs designed and built by Marco Shipyard. The 105 ft. Millennium Falcon is powered by two Cat 3516B marine diesel engines, each rated 2,200 bhp (1,641 bkW) at 1,600 rpm, supplied by N C Power Systems, Seattle. The electronically controlled Cat engines drive Ulstein stern Z-drive propulsion systems with 94.5 in. four blade propellers inside Ulstein high performance nozzles. The second Millennium vessel is currently under construction at Marco and is scheduled to enter service in. August 2000.

President Bush nominated Adm. Michael Mullen to serve as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Marine Corps Gen. James E. “Hoss” Cartwright as his Vice Chairman on June 28. Mullen currently serves as Chief of Naval Operations, and Cartwright serves as Commander, U.S. Strategic Command. If confirmed by the Senate, they will succeed Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, vice chairman. Bush noted that Mullen’s and Cartwright’s nominations come at a critical time for the United States. “America is at war, and we are at war with brutal enemies who have attacked our nation and who would pursue nuclear weapons and would use their control of oil as economic blackmail and intend to launch new attacks on our country…

The Chinese president, Hu Jintao, has called on top military commanders to build a powerful navy, the state media reported as China continues to spend heavily on a modern, blue-water fleet. In a speech to navy officers attending a Communist Party meeting Wednesday, Hu said China was an important maritime nation and the navy should be ready to protect the country's interests at any time, according to reports. His comments also reinforce the views of senior Chinese military officers who argue that China needs a navy that can deploy far from the country's coastline to protect its huge maritime, trade including crucial imports of oil and raw materials. China has a fleet of more than 50 submarines, including modern Russian and domestic designs, that could pose a major threat to U.S.

Reuters said a Chinese submarine stalked a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier battle group in the Pacific last month and was undetected until it surfaced within firing range. The Chinese Song-class diesel-powered attack submarine was seen within five miles of the carrier Kitty Hawk and its accompanying warships on October 26, the Washington Times reported, citing defense officials. The surfaced submarine was spotted by a routine surveillance flight by one of the U.S. carrier group's planes, the report said. Disclosure of the surprise encounter comes as the commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet, Adm. Gary Roughead, was making his first visit to China which began over the weekend, The Washington Times said. Source: Reuters

United Defense Industries, Inc. announced today the U.S. Navy's award to Southwest Marine (SWM) of the advanced planning segment of the contract for dry docking and pier side work on the USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG-57), a Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruiser home-ported in San Diego. Southwest Marine is a member of United States Marine Repair, Inc. (USMR), which was acquired by United Defense last month. The advanced planning segment of the contract is valued at $518,484. With funded options, the total contract value is in excess of $12 million. SWM is the prime contractor and has teamed with National Steel and Shipbuilding Company and Continental Maritime of San Diego to perform the work.

As the USCG heads into the 21st century, all the surface and air assets which perform missions in the Deepwater environment (beyond 50 nautical miles from U.S. shores) are approaching the end of their respective service lives. These missions typically require either extended on-scene presence, long transit distance to reach the operating area, forward deployment of forces, or a combination of these factors. In addition, the USCG is faced with a constrained budget. The USCG must therefore concentrate its scarce resources on an integrated system of surface, air, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) and logistics assets to maximize operational effectiveness while minimizing life-cycle costs.