Navy of the Future: The Revolution & Evolution of Surface Combatants
Following the drawdown at the end of the Cold War, the Navy finds itself trying to build up again. The expansion of Russian and Chinese naval power has changed the calculus. While there will always be a debate about the final number of ships to build, we can all agree on one thing: the Navy must get bigger and the demand signal is to start building now,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, in testimony before Congress regarding the sea service’s 2019 budget request.
The U.S. Navy's Fundamental Problem
A series of mishaps at sea has prompted the U.S. Navy to examine the way it conducts business. The accidents shared some similar contributing causes such as fundamental watchstanding and seamanship, and each of these incidents were preventable. The four incidents involved surface combatants in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility. • On January 31, 2017, the Yokosuka-based Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Antietam, while anchored in high winds, dragged anchor and ran aground in Tokyo Bay. 1,100 gallons of hydraulic fluid spilled into Tokyo Bay.
US Navy Ship Pulls out of MH370 Search
The U.S. Navy announced that its ship USS Kidd and MH-60R helicopters will detach from the MH370 search and rescue (SAR) effort as of March 18 after searching a combined 15,000 square miles of the Andaman Sea since March 10. The decision was made in consultation with Malaysia’s government, the U.S. Navy said in a news release. So far no debris or wreckage associated with the missing aircraft was found, the Navy said. "The dedication of this crew is amazing. 314 Sailors were out here operating for 24 hours a day…
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Shipboard Protection Technology
Northrop Grumman Corporation completed demonstration trials of a new, integrated multi-sensor situational awareness, surveillance and response system designed to counter pirate or terrorist attacks. The live demonstrations were conducted by Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit in January and February 2007 at the Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier Integration Center (VASCIC) on the waterfront at Newport News. The event was observed by U.S. Navy and commercial maritime customers. During the trials, the system successfully detected, tracked and intercepted two surface craft under several different high- and low-speed scenarios designed to replicate potential real-world maritime threats.
Northrop Grumman Gets USN Radar Contract
Northrop Grumman won a contract by Bath Iron Works to supply commercial-off-the-shelf surface search radars for new Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) Class destroyers. Northrop Grumman's Marine Systems business unit, headquartered here, will supply the Decca BridgeMaster E naval radars for the next 19 ships in the class, replacing the SPS-64 radars installed on the earlier DDG 51 Class ships. The first installation is scheduled to take place on USS Mason (DDG 87), which will be commissioned in 2002. In addition to the radars, the contract also includes application engineering, installation, technical support, commissioning and crew training. Award of the navigation radar contract complements other Marine Systems navigation equipment aboard the DDG 51 Class ships.
