Navy Unmanned Helicopter Wish-List Getting Real
Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered the second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter to the U.S. Navy after completing final assembly at the company's unmanned systems center in Moss Point, Miss. The aircraft is joining the first one delivered to Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif., to conduct flight testing before using the system for operational missions in 2014. "Since 2006 we have conducted final assembly of the earlier MQ-8B Fire Scout aircraft from our Moss Point facility…
Contract: Additional Mission Modules for LCS
Northrop Grumman received a $25.2m contract from the U.S. Navy for additional Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Modules. The company will deliver three mission module packages - two for surface warfare missions and one for mine countermeasures. "Northrop Grumman continues to demonstrate that, as the mission package integrator, we are delivering high quality, fully integrated mission modules," said Doug Shaffer, director of information operations and electronic attack, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.
Littoral Combat Ship Support Facility Opens
The Program Executive Officer, Littoral and Mine Warfare (PEO LMW), Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) and the Littoral Combat Ship Class Squadron (LCS CLASSRON) will unveil the Navy's first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Package Support Facility (MPSF) during a ceremony at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Oct. 16. The 42,400 square-foot MPSF will service the Navy's projected initial mission packages to be employed by LCS ships. Mission package maintenance and integration within the facility will be conducted by contractors secured by the Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules Program Office (PMS 420). LCS is a revolutionary new warship, designed for littoral warfare missions in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare (SUW) and Mine Warfare (MIW).
Navy Commissions Newest Ship
USS Stockdale (DDG 106), the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, was Commissioned at Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme on Saturday, April 18, during a formal ceremony featuring H. Ross Perot as the Honorary Chair for the event and Admiral Keating as the Keynote Speaker. The fast warship - which is the same class of Navy ship as the USS Bainbridge deployed to the waters off Somalia to help in the rescue efforts of Capt. Roberts Phillips - will provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. As the first destroyer named for the Navy's highest ranking POW, the ship embodies the spirit and patriotism of Medal of Honor Recipient Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale.
Newest Navy Ship Visit
USS Stockdale (DDG 106), the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, will be arriving at Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme on Tuesday, April 14th at approximately 10:00 a.m. and will be Commissioned during a formal ceremony on April 18 at 11:00 featuring Admiral Keating as the Keynote Speaker and H. Ross Perot as the Honorary Chair for the event. An estimated 100 Vietnam Veterans and former Prisoners of War, and Medal of Honor recipients are attending this historic commissioning and the surrounding events. Named after the much respected American war hero and former Vice-Presidential candidate, Navy Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale, the fast warship will provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities.
CA Restricted Areas Amended
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers amended its regulations establishing restricted areas in waters of three in California. Vessels and persons are prohibited from entering these restricted areas without permission from the commanding officer of the adjacent military installation. Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme - 69 Fed. Reg. 20545 (April 16, 2004). Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu - 69 Fed. Reg. 20546 (April 16, 2004). Coast Guard Base, Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco - 69 Fed. Reg. 20547 (HK Law).
USS Pinckney Joins the Pacific Fleet
The U.S. Navy commissioned the newest ship to enter the fleet, the Aegis guided missile destroyer, USS Pinckney (DDG 91). Pinckney honors Navy Cook First Class William Pinckney (1915-1976), recipient of the Navy Cross for his courageous rescue of a fellow crewmember onboard the USS Enterprise (CV 6) during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in 1942. The commissioning took place in a ceremony at Naval Base Ventura County on Saturday. The ship is the 19th Arleigh Burke Class destroyer built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), and the 10th ship to honor an African-American.
U.S., Norway and Spain to Train Warships Together
According to the Ventura County Star, Naval Base Ventura County threw a party Saturday for visiting warships from Norway, Spain and a newly built U.S. destroyer. Over the next two weeks, the ships and their newly installed weapons systems will be put to the test during a series of at-sea exercises. This is the first time a Norwegian warship has docked at the Port of Hueneme, and the first combined Norwegian Navy, Spanish Navy and U.S. Navy Combat System Ship Qualification Trials. The crews of the Norwegian HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen, Spanish SPS Mendez Nunez and the USS Gridley will use the trials to train and operate the ships’ powerful cache of guided missiles and torpedoes. The Norwegian warship is 400 feet long and has 120 crew members.
