Navy Mission News

Babcock International Group (Babcock) has agreed a two‑year extension to the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), ensuring the continued delivery of vital fleet and infrastructure support for the Royal Navy’s surface ships.The agreement maintains the full scope of the existing FMSP contract, covering ship engineering delivery and management for Type 23 frigates, amphibious warfare ships, Sandown minehunters and landing craft vessels.This work continues to be delivered primarily through Babcock’s facilities at Devonport and Rosyth…

Boston-based Blue Water Autonomy, a company designing and producing unmanned ships for the U.S. Navy, has formed an Advisory Board whose members include:• RADM (ret.) Tom Anderson, former Program Executive Officer, Ships (PEO Ships)• Stephen Rodriguez, Chairman of Blue Forge Alliance & dual-use investor• Michael Stewart, former Director, Navy Disruptive Capabilities Office and Unmanned Task Force• VADM (ret.) Roy Kitchener, former Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific"As we enter the next phase of growth…

Two U.S. Navy ships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait this week in the first such mission since President Donald Trump took office last month, drawing an angry reaction from China, which said the mission increased security risks.The U.S. Navy, occasionally accompanied by ships from allied countries, transits the strait about once a month. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, says the strategic waterway belongs to it.The U.S. Navy said the vessels were the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and Pathfinder-class survey ship, USNS Bowditch.

What has been described as the most transformational warship in the U.S. Navy has been transformed again. USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) recently completed modifications to remove her main guns and replace them with a hypersonic missile capability. The work to have her guns removed to make space for new weapons was conducted at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. With the modifications, Zumwalt  now carries four “all-up round canisters” for the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) missile in place of the forward Advanced Gun System (AGS) gun mount.

In September 2024, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, issued her Chief of Naval Operations Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy. Admiral Franchetti describes this Navigation Plan as the strategic guidance to the U.S. Navy.This Navigation Plan embodies “Project 33” in recognition of the fact that Admiral Franchetti is the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations. Project 33 articulates two overarching objectives: An imperative to be ready for the possibility of war with the People’s Republic of China by 2027…

L3Harris Technologies reports the U.S. Navy has exercised an option on its previously awarded contract to produce enhanced submarine imaging masts and spares.L3Harris said it will provide two configurations of its Type 20 low-profile mast to meet the Navy’s operational requirements. Production will be performed at L3Harris’ Northampton, Mass. facility, with initial deliveries scheduled to begin in 2024.L3Harris describes its Type 20 mast as a modular non-hull-penetrating imaging…

Leadership has added a new face in the contracting department at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). Michael Brian Donaldson assumed the role of deputy chief of the contracting office (DCCO) in December, with management responsibility for a team of more than 110 contracting specialists, contracting officers, cost analysts, policy analysts and other contracting professionals.The contracting department at NSWCDD executes several thousand contract actions in a typical year, with a collective value of approximately $950 million.

Capturing complex bends on pipes is an art form members of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Pipe Group have harnessed for many years. Now entering a more modern era with a new dual-head pipe bending machine, NNSY is able to create more precise bends in a fraction of the time, thanks to modern, automated controls. Originally, pipe benders would have to work on a semiautomatic machine where everything would have to be measured exactly and each bend would have to be checked with a protractor to guarantee the needed dimensions were captured. It was tedious work and there was a risk of wasted material should the measurements not equate to what was needed.

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) (TR) held the first ever "Bridge Talks" to kick off U.S. Pacific Fleet's (PACFLT) new program "The Bridge," April 12. The Bridge is a program designed to give all Sailors, regardless of rank or experience, an opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas for improving the Navy. According to PACFLT, "The Bridge is a belief and a commitment. Rear Adm. Jay Bynum, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, addressed the Theodore Roosevelt crew following the event. "If you read the Navy design for maintaining maritime superiority, this is an urgency," said Bynum. "An existential urgency for the United States Navy that we accelerate our learning, that we innovate, and that we create a culture where we hear from the people closest to the problem.

USS Detroit (LCS 7) was commissioned in its namesake city of Detroit on October 22. Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, officially placed the vessel in commission. "Today is about service. Cmdr. Michael P. Desmond, who command LCS Crew 108 “Ghost Riders,” assumed command of Detroit. "USS Detroit is truly blessed to have the opportunity to commission in its namesake city. Speakers included Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters. "Cmdr.

Nearly 6,500 people gathered in front of the General Motors building at the Port of Detroit for the commissioning ceremony for the U.S. Navy’s new Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), USS Detroit (LCS 7), on October 22, when the ship was officially placed in commission by Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “When a ship is commissioned she is placed in service of the American people and is given the charge to do one thing: to execute the Navy's mission – to be prepared to conduct prompt, sustained combat incident to operations at sea,” Davidson said.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson released 'A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority,' Jan. 5, a document that addresses how the Navy will adapt to changes in the security environment and continue to fulfill its mission. To read A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority click here. The term 'design' refers to the document's built-in flexibility, recognizing the rapid rate of change occurring in both technology and the maritime domain. "This guidance frames the problem and a way forward, while acknowledging that there is inherent and fundamental uncertainty in both the problem definition and the proposed solution," said Richardson. "As we move forward, we'll respect that we won't get it all right, and so we'll monitor and assess ourselves and our surroundings as we go.

Fleet Ocean Tug USNS Apache (T-ATF 172) departed Norfolk, Virginia, today to begin searching for wreckage from the missing U.S. flagged merchant vessel El Faro. The ship is deploying to a search area northeast of Crooked Island in the Bahamas island chain, which is the last known location of the vessel. The initial search area is 100 square miles, and water depth is estimated to be 15,000 feet across the expected search area. Transit to this search area is expected to take four-to-five days due to weather.

The U.S. Navy has awarded a five-year, $22 million contract to Appledore Marine Engineering, a specialist focusing exclusively on the inspection and design of marine infrastructure, for waterfront inspection services. The contract covers Region 4, which includes the Northwest, Alaska, and all Pacific U.S. Territories including Guam, Wake Island, American Samoa, Midway Island and others. “Our task with this contract is to assure operational readiness for the naval facilities in this vast region,” said Noah Elwood, President of Appledore Marine Engineering. Appledore’s team of in-house engineer-divers will perform underwater and above water inspections along with material condition assessments on the installations waterfront structures including dry docks…

General Dynamics Mission Systems makes its debut as General Dynamics' newest business unit at the Surface Navy Association's (SNA) 27th National Symposium. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and General Dynamics C4 Systems combined to form General Dynamics Mission Systems on January 1, 2015. "This restructuring has allowed us to create a real powerhouse. We are stronger together and offer a more robust portfolio of products, services and solutions that help customers successfully execute their missions in today's dynamic environment," said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics Mission Systems. "Our exhibits at SNA highlight our collective capabilities from which the U.S. General Dynamics Mission Systems will deliver greater capability more efficiently.

The Navy will christen the future USNS Trenton (JHSV 5) Jan. 10 during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony in Mobile, Alabama. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Virginia Kamsky, chair and chief executive of Kamsky Associates, Inc., will serve as the ship’s sponsor. “This ship represents the hard-working men and women of New Jersey and the importance of the American cities along the Delaware River. It represents American shipyard, factory, and assembly line workers who have been the backbone of the Arsenal of Democracy since President Franklin Roosevelt coined the phrase more than seven decades ago. It represents the American spirit of hard work, patriotism and perseverance,” said Mabus.

The Navy will christen littoral combat ship (LCS) Montgomery Nov. 8 during a ceremony at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michelle Howard, will deliver the principal address at the ceremony. Mary Sessions, wife of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (Alabama), will serve as the ship's sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by Sessions breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow to formally christen the ship, which is a time-honored Navy tradition. The selection of Montgomery honors the capital city of Alabama, and will be the second ship to bear the city's name. "As we christen the future USS Montgomery…

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa hosted 23 distinguished visitors from multiple European countries aboard aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as a part of the Navy's Distinguished Visitor (DV) Embark program, Oct. 30. The DV program is a unique experience that allows civilian and military guests board the ship while underway and experience the Navy's mission and witness carrier operations firsthand. The DVs included Lithuanian Minister of National Defense, Juozas Olekas; Latvian Minister of Defense, Raimonds Vejonis; Polish Undersecretary of State, Maciej Jankowski; Estonian Defense Forces Commander, Commander, Estonian Defense Forces, Maj. Gen. Riho Terras; and Spanish Fleet Commander in Chief, Adm. Santiago Bolibar.

The U.S. Navy christened the future USS Detroit (LCS 7), the fourth Littoral Combat Ship of the Freedom variant, in a ceremony at Marinette Marine Shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin, Oct. 18. The Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus, delivered the principal address at the ceremony, and Barbara Levin served as the ship's sponsor. As ship sponsor, Levin is considered a permanent member of the ship's crew and is expected to advocate for the well-being of both ship and crew. Levin, wife of U.S. Senator Carl Levin from Michigan, has been a longtime supporter of military families.

The Navy will christen littoral combat ship (LCS) Detroit, on Oct. 18 during a ceremony at Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, will deliver the principal address at the ceremony, and Barbara Levin, wife of U.S. Senator Carl Levin (Michigan), will serve as the ship's sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by Levin breaking a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship, which is a time-honored Navy tradition.

Innovative unmanned systems program moves forward to Phase II. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is developing new, advanced unmanned systems to support the Department of Defense's capability to deploy global persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and strike capabilities in a faster and more cost-effective way. The next-generation Tactical Exploited Reconnaissance Node (Tern) program is one example of several in progress focused on addressing various customer challenges. Designed to operate off small-deck U.S.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Tuesday Europe must take responsibility for rescuing boat migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Africa by making a "significant investment" in the region's border control agency, Frontex. "A Europe that tells the Calabrian fisherman that he must use a certain technique to catch tuna but then turns its back when there are dead bodies in the sea cannot call itself civilized," Renzi said in parliament. Italy's navy and coast guard have been patrolling the waters between Africa and the Italian island of Sicily since October…

Dr. Katherine Holmes Cochran, Ph.D., ship's sponsor for the littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Jackson (LCS 6), breaks a bottle across Jackson's bow during a christening ceremony at Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala. LCS 6 is the first U.S. Navy vessel christened in tribute to the capital city of Mississippi, and honors the state's ties to the U.S. Navy and the shipbuilding industry. Jackson is an innovative surface combatant designed to operate in littoral seas and shallow water to counter mines, submarines and fast surface craft threats in coastal regions.