Defensive Weapons Systems News

Capt. Michael R. Coughlin, commanding officer of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Newport, and James Russell, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM), signed an education partnership agreement (EPA) for undersea acoustic research during a brief ceremony on Friday, March 31. Under the EPA, NUWC Newport will provide research, expertise, and material on the Navy's historic and current role in marine mammal research in conjunction with the museum’s recently acquired collection of historic marine mammal recordings, photographs and collection equipment. The William A. Watkins Collection of Marine Mammal Sound Recordings and the William E.

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport dedicated a new $24.9 million Virginia Payload Tube Facility (VPTF) with a ribbon cutting today, Wednesday, October 15. The ceremony was followed by an opportunity for businesses with an interest in the technology to tour the facility and learn about its capabilities. Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, U.S. Senator Jack Reed and U.S. Congressman James Langevin attended the ceremony. “Since forming the Torpedo Station on Goat Island, [NUWC] has been the center of cutting-edge research of undersea technologies,” Reed said.

Kraken Sonar Systems Inc. announced that its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, Rhode Island was successful. NUWC Division Newport is one of two divisions of the U.S. Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center. Its mission is to provide research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, undersea offensive and defensive weapons systems and countermeasures.

Rhode Island’s economic assets include a surprising number of prominent and lesser known maritime firms. A recent media tour hosted by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) highlighted the Ocean State’s key role(s) in the nation’s maritime industry. As the state of Rhode Island – along with everyone else, so it seems – works to revitalize a struggling local economy, it has become increasingly apparent that the marine industry will play a prominent role in that revival. In March, the Ocean State’s marine trade industry opened their doors to national trade media, showcasing the important work being done here in the ocean state.

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport cut the ribbon and officially dedicated a new $11 million Maritime Subsurface Sensor Operations Laboratory on Tuesday, Aug. 16. Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse attended the event, as well as Rep. David Cicilline. NUWC attendees included the Warfare Center Commander Rear Adm. Thomas Wears and NUWC Technical Director Donald McCormack, and the NUWC Newport Technical Director Dr. Paul Lefebvre. "This project resulted in a significant addition to the towed array facility and a major upgrade to our capabilities," said Wears. Under construction since its July 31, 2009 ground breaking, the 40,000-square-foot, single-story laboratory provides secure workspace for the testing, refurbishment, and maintenance of towed arrays.

Capt. Todd W. Cramer relieved Capt. Michael W. Byman as Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport, July 16, in a ceremony at the warfare center. Rear Adm. Thomas Wears. Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center was the guest speaker. "Captain Byman fostered an environment that valued uniqueness and diverse perspectives" said Wears. Byman, who has served as Commander of NUWC Newport since Aug. 2005, will report to the Navy's Submarine Acoustic Systems Program Office (PMS 401) in Washington D.C. He holds the distinction for serving as Commander of NUWC Newport for the longest period in the command's 141 year history. "NUWC's technical capabilities derive from the combination of the talent…

The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command accepted responsibility for submarine tender USS Frank Cable Monday, Feb. 1. Cable, which is homeported in Guam, serves as a floating maintenance and logistics facility for Navy submarines. Cable will operate as a commissioned ship with a U.S. Navy captain in charge of a hybrid crew, consisting of 157 civil service mariners and 206 uniformed Navy personnel. Other uniformed personnel will maintain and operate the onboard repair facility. Prior to the transfer, Cable was crewed by approximately 599 Navy personnel plus an embarked repair department that brought the total uniformed number to 1,363. Operating ships with civil service mariners frees uniformed sailors to perform critical jobs in the combatant fleet.

The Navy officially accepted delivery of the future USS Dewey (DDG 105) Aug. 17 from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss. In June, the guided-missile destroyer completed a combined Builder's and Acceptance trial, also called "super trials," after spending three days in the Gulf of Mexico. "This is the second DDG we've delivered this summer," said Capt. Pete Lyle, DDG 51 class program manager in the Navy's Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO Ships). The future USS Dewey is the 57th destroyer in the Arleigh Burke class and is scheduled to be commissioned in December. Designated DDG 105, the new destroyer honors Adm. George Dewey who is best known for his valor during the U.S. victory in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.