Uss News
HII Delivers Destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128) to U.S. Navy
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division has delivered Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128) to the U.S. Navy. This marks the second Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be delivered by Ingalls shipbuilders.“The delivery of Ted Stevens reflects the strong momentum of our destroyer program as we accelerate Flight III production and bring enhanced capabilities to the fleet,” said Brian Blanchette, Ingalls Shipbuilding president. “We are honored to deliver DDG 128 to the Navy knowing that it will stand as a powerful asset in strengthening U.S.
Phoenix Assists US Navy with Aircraft Recovery in the South China Sea
Phoenix's International (Phoenix) recently assisted the Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA) Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) with the successful recovery of an MH-60R helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft. The two aircraft went down within 30 minutes of each other during routine flight operations off the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) in the South China Sea on October 26, 2025. All crew members survived and were rescued.Phoenix personnel traveled to Singapore and…
Trump-Class Battleship Unveiled, Defense Contractors Put on Notice
U.S. President Trump on Monday announced plans for a new "Trump class" of battleships, marking the start of an expanded naval buildup and signaling increased scrutiny of defense contractors over production delays and cost overruns.Trump said the new battleships would be larger, faster and "100 times more powerful" than any previously built, forming the centerpiece of what he called an expanded "Golden Fleet" aimed at cementing U.S. naval dominance.The program will begin with two vessels and is expected to grow to between 20 and 25 ships, Trump said.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine Appoints Kenneth J. Braithwaite as Chairman
Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) appointed former U.S. ambassador to Norway and the 77th Secretary of the Navy, Kenneth J. Braithwaite, as Chairman of their Board of Directors. Braithwaite brings a career in defense and public service to the role, as well as deep Navy ties. He is a 1984 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. His active naval service included time as a naval aviator flying anti-submarine missions in the Pacific and Arctic…
HII Marks Oklahoma Submarine Construction Milestone at Newport News Shipbuilding
HII announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has reached a significant construction milestone for Virginia-class submarine Oklahoma (SSN 802).Oklahoma is now “pressure hull complete,” which signifies all of the hull sections have joined to form a single, watertight unit.It is the 29th Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the first of Block V and the 14th to be delivered by NNS.The ship’s sponsor is Mary “Molly” Slavonic, an Oklahoma native. Slavonic has long supported both the state of Oklahoma and the Navy.
GE Aerospace Secures Orders for LM2500 Marine Gas Turbines to Power Arleigh Burke Flight III Destroyers
GE Aerospace's Marine Engines & Systems has received orders to supply eight LM2500 marine gas turbine engines for the U.S. Navy's next two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers: the future USS Intrepid (DDG 145) and USS Robert Kerrey (DDG 146). Each destroyer is powered by four LM2500 engines, providing the proven propulsion power that has made the Arleigh Burke class the backbone of the U.S. Navy's surface fleet for over three decades.As of January 2025, 74 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are active with GE Aerospace’s LM2500 engines being the prime mover for propulsion.
HII Completes Acceptance Trials for Destroyer Ted Stevens
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division successfully completed the final round of sea trials for Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128). The Ingalls Test and Trials team spent several days in port and at sea conducting a comprehensive series of acceptance test and evaluations, overseen by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). These trials confirmed that the ship successfully demonstrated required mission capabilities, preparing it for delivery to the U.S.
Obituary: Iconic Maritime, Shipbuilding Leader Fred Harris Passes
Frederick Joseph Harris of Mystic CT, passed peacefully at 5:47PM on 10/24/2025, with his family by his side. “Fred” was born on 11/25/1944 at Framingham Union Hospital to Frederick Everett and MaryRosa Camilla Harris.Fred was a proud patriot who loved his country. Fred received his bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from Maine Maritime Academy (with Honors) in 1967. Upon graduation, Fred was commissioned in the U.S. Naval Reserve with the obligation of sailing in the U.S. Merchant Marine. In the Merchant Marine, Fred sailed on various U.S.
US Navy Helicopter, Fighter Jet Crash in South China Sea
A U.S. Navy helicopter and a fighter jet crashed separately into the South China Sea within the space of an hour during routine operations conducted from the same aircraft carrier on Sunday, the U.S. Navy said, adding all personnel were safe.The incidents came while President Donald Trump was on a visit to Asia.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump said the crashes were unusual and could be due to "bad fuel," adding that what caused them would likely soon be known.The U.S. Pacific Fleet, in a post on X, said: "All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition.
Second Builder’s Sea Trials for Destroyer Ted Stevens Complete
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division successfully completed the second builder’s sea trials for guided missile destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128), building on the success of the initial trials conducted at the end of September.The Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer spent multiple days in the Gulf of America testing the ship’s main propulsion, combat systems, and other critical systems in preparation for the future acceptance trials.During the trials, the Ingalls and Navy team completed additional hull, mechanical, electrical and combat systems tests.
US to Deploy Aircraft Carrier Amidst Tensions with Venezuela
President Donald Trump dramatically escalated a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean on Friday by deploying the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier group to Latin America, a show of force that far exceeds any past counter-narcotics need and represents Washington’s most muscular move yet in the region.The deployment is part of Trump's military buildup in the Caribbean, which includes eight additional warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft. It is likely to raise concern in the…
Ingalls Shipbuilding Authenticates Keel of Missile Destroyer Thad Cochran
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding authenticated the keel today of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Thad Cochran (DDG 135). The ship honors Thad Cochran, a Navy veteran and former U.S. senator who represented Mississippi from 1978 to 2018. Ceremony attendees included Cochran’s wife and ship sponsor Kay Webber Bowen Cochran and Ingalls shipbuilders.Thad Cochran was an unwavering supporter of the U.S. military. Throughout Cochran’s career, he championed critical national security priorities…
Oil Leaking from USS Arizona Could Provide Guidance for Thousands of WWII Shipwrecks
A new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin shows that oil is still seeping from the wreck of the USS Arizona, more than 80 years after its sinking at Pearl Harbor. The study focuses on samples collected by the National Park Service in 2016 and 2018.Researchers, led by the University of Houston and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), analyzed oil samples collected from multiple leak points on the sunken battleship, using advanced molecular fingerprinting techniques. The results confirm the oil is a heavy fuel oil refined from California crude, consistent with U.S.
HII Completes Builder’s Sea Trials for Destroyer Ted Stevens
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division successfully completed builder’s sea trials for guided missile destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128), marking a major milestone in the construction of the second Flight III destroyer built at Ingalls.The trials were conducted over several days in the Gulf of America, and tested the ship’s engineering, navigation, and combat systems to ensure readiness for the future acceptance trials and eventual delivery to the U.S. Navy.During builder’s trials, the Ingalls test and trials team completed a full range of hull…
In Memoriam: Captain Charles Robert MacVean, USN, (Ret.), PhD
In Memoriam: Captain Charles Robert MacVean, USN, (Ret.), PhDMarch 22, 1937 – September 10, 2025The book, Blind Man’s Bluff, describes the secret USN submarine operations known as “The Projects.” It begins with the opening line, “There was something about Commander Charles R. MacVean that had a way of inspiring legend.” Authors Sontag and Drew narrowed that “something” down to “his sense of humor and humanity.” Even in the toughest of situations, MacVean radiated calm assurance and situational command.
US to Deepen Military Cooperation with Finland, Despite Scaling Back Elsewhere
The United States is committed to deepening military cooperation with Finland, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said on Thursday, despite U.S. plans to scale back its operations elsewhere on NATO's eastern flank in Europe.Finland, which joined NATO in 2023 in response to Russia's 2022 invasion of its other neighbour Ukraine, has a bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement with the U.S., granting the U.S. military unimpeded access to 15 facilities and areas in Finland."We are very pleased that the U.S. is prepared to deepen their cooperation with us," Hakkanen told Reuters onboard the U.S.
Venezuela Says U.S. Boarding of Tuna Vessel “Hostile”
The Venezuelan government announced on Saturday that a U.S. destroyer intercepted, boarded and occupied a Venezuelan tuna fishing vessel for eight hours in the waters of the South American country's Special Economic Zone on Friday.In a statement read by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, the government stated that the tuna vessel was boarded in an illegal and hostile manner, and that it was crewed by nine "humble" fishermen and was "harmless."Tensions have been mounting between Washington and Caracas. Last week, a U.S.
China Condemns US, British Warships in Taiwan Strait
China's military on Friday condemned the sailing of a U.S. and British warship through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, saying it ordered naval and air forces to monitor and warn the two ships.The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command said the U.S. destroyer USS Higgins and British frigate HMS Richmond were engaged in "trouble-making and provocation"."The actions of the United States and Britain send the wrong signals and undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait…
Hegseth Visits Puerto Rico as Tensions with Venezuela Soar
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the top U.S. general Dan Caine made a surprise visit to Puerto Rico on Monday, the first trip there by senior Pentagon officials since the start of a military buildup in the Caribbean that has escalated tensions with Venezuela.Hegseth and Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were seen being received by Puerto Rico's governor, Jenniffer Gonzalez, in photographs she posted to social media site X.U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Defense to rename itself the Department of War, a change that will require action by Congress.
US Builds Forces in Caribbean: Why?
A large buildup of U.S. naval forces in and around the Southern Caribbean has officials in Caracas and experts in the United States asking: is the move aimed at combating drug cartels, as the Trump administration has suggested, or is it for something else entirely?Seven U.S. warships, along with one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, are either in the region or are expected to be there soon, bringing along more than 4,500 sailors and marines.U.S. President Donald Trump has said combating drug cartels is a central goal for his administration and U.S.
Tensions Rise as US Warships Arrive in Southern Caribbean
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are rising amid a large U.S. naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters, which U.S. officials say aims to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.U.S. President Donald Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a central goal of his administration, part of a wider effort to limit migration and secure the U.S. southern border. While U.S. Coast Guard and Navy ships regularly operate in the Southern Caribbean, this buildup is significantly larger than usual deployments in the region.A U.S.
US Deploying Amphibious Squadron to Caribbean
The United States has ordered an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of President Donald Trump's effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels, two sources briefed on the deployment said on Wednesday.The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the USS San Antonio, USS Iowa Jima and USS Fort Lauderdale could arrive off the coast of Venezuela as early as Sunday. The ships are carrying 4,500 service members, including 2,200 Marines, the sources said.The sources declined to detail the specific mission of the squadron.
No Injuries Reported as Fire breaks Out on USS New Orleans Offshore Japan
A fire broke out on U.S. naval ship New Orleans off southern Japan's Okinawa prefecture on Wednesday but there are no reports of any injuries, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) said on Wednesday.An official from Japan's Defense Ministry said the country's Self-Defence Forces were engaging in firefighting efforts, but that no further details were available.The JCG said one of its ships near the U.S. vessel was also preparing to join the effort to bring the blaze under control, adding that no oil leaks had been observed in nearby waters.(Reuters)