US Navy

Rappel du premier message :

Citation :

(Jan. 26, 2013) Huntington Ingalls Industries celebrated significant progress today as the 555-metric ton island was lowered onto the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. The 60-foot long, 30-foot wide island was the 452nd lift of the nearly 500 total lifts needed to complete the aircraft carrier. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy Huntington Ingalls Industries/Released)

la us navy lance son DDG 1000 voila ce que j'ai lu

w.meretmarine.com a écrit:

Avec son allure massive, ses deux tourelles et son étrave en éperon, le Zumwalt rappelle les cuirassés d'autrefois. Tête de série d'un nouveau programme de destroyers lance-missiles de l'US Navy, ce bâtiment doit être mis sur cale en 2009 aux chantiers Northrop-Grumman de Pescagoula. D'une longueur de 185 mètres pour un déplacement de 14.500 tonnes en charge, il sera extrêmement automatisé, ne disposant que de 150 hommes d'équipage. La silhouette très furtive des Zumwalt est inspirée des projets Arsenal Ship puis DD 21, jugés trop coûteux et abandonnés en 1997 et 2001. Le nouveau projet, baptisé DD(X) puis DDG 1000, verra l'adoption de matériaux composites pour les superstructures et l'adoption de radars à faces planes, encastrés dans celles-ci. Il y a quelques semaines, le choix de la turbine à gaz MT 30 de Rolls-Royce a également été fait pour équiper le bâtiment. Les deux machines, d'une puissance unitaire de 35 MW, permettront une vitesse maximale de 31 noeuds.

La mission principale de ces unités sera l'action vers la terre. A cet effet, ils disposeront de quatre lanceurs verticaux, soit un total de 80 cellules, capables d'accueillir des missiles de croisière Tomahawk, des missiles antinavires Harpoon ou des missiles antiaériens et anti-missiles balistiques SM-3. Un radier, situé à l'arrière, permettra de mettre en oeuvre deux embarcations rapides, le hangar étant quant à lui capable d'accueillir un hélicoptère et trois drones. La grande nouveauté proviendra de l'artillerie principale, composée de deux pièces de 155 mm. Ces deux canons du type Advanced Gun System (AGS) tireront des munitions capables d'atteindre des objectifs terrestres à plus de 180 kilomètres. Avec ce programme, l'artillerie fait donc son grand retour sur les navires, son rôle ayant été progressivement cantonné, après l'avènement du missile, aux missions défensives. En Europe, l'industrie italienne planche également sur le sujet, avec une munition de 127 mm à longue portée. C'est toutefois en Allemagne que le concept devrait voir le jour en premier, avec les quatre frégates du type 125. Ces navires devraient être dotés d'une version navalisée du canon de 155 mm PzH 2000.

A l'origine, l'US Navy prévoyait l'acquisition de 30 Zumwalt, afin de remplacer les destroyers de la classe Spruance. Toutefois, le prix très élevé de ces navires, estimé à 2.3 milliards de dollars pièce, a incité la marine américaine à réduire ses ambitions. Il n'est plus aujourd'hui question que de 12 destroyers et peut être même seulement 8.

Je crois entendre cela fait un bon temps que l'administration américaine avait décidé de diminuer les dépenses financières de l'armée de terre afin de soutenir le budget de la marine aussi des force aérienne. cela concrétise que l'administration à pu déduire qu'une grande partie de la supériorité militaire du future se dispose dans le développement de ces deux secteurs stratégique c'est pourquoi l'innovation américaine demeure encore à l' apogée de l’industrie militaire.

Citation :

U.S. Navy to fly its MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems across the United States

By Captain Jim Hoke, Triton UAS Program Manager
This week, for the first time, we will fly our unmanned MQ-4C Triton cross-country to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, where the “future of naval aviation begins.” For months, our team, comprised of military, civilian and contractor personnel, has been doing a phenomenal job making sure every detail is in place for this historic day.

As a program manager, it is an extraordinary opportunity to see the team’s hard work come to fruition. Last year, I had the privilege of watching Triton’s first flight. Since then, I’ve observed tremendous success with our initial envelope expansion flight tests and now I’m anticipating its landing here shortly.

For me, my connection to this team and program goes well beyond my three years as program manager. In January 2006, I was serving as the final commodore at Wing FIVE in Brunswick, Maine. During that time, Wing FIVE executed the first-ever operational deployment of the Navy’s Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Unmanned Aircraft System, now known as BAMS-Demonstrator (BAMS-D). While providing critical information to warfare commanders, BAMS-D also provided critical lessons learned for a future unmanned platform, then named BAMS. At the time, I didn’t anticipate the stake I’d have in the program someday.

Now, finally five years later, here I am getting ready for the arrival of that ‘future system’, now formally named Triton. I will be eagerly waiting the MQ-4C take off from Northrop Grumman’s California facility. As it makes its way across the country, flying high at altitudes in excess of 50,000 feet while passing through the southern U.S. border, the Gulf of Mexico, across Florida and up the Atlantic Coast and Chesapeake Bay, we will monitor and control the flight from our Navy System Integration Lab here in Pax River. In the early hours of the morning, our team will watch it land on the runway and taxi into its new hangar for the first time.

Triton’s arrival to Pax River marks more than a key milestone on the path to initial operational capability; it represents the tireless work and dedication of a collection of individuals with a common goal in mind: critical capability development and delivery to the warfighter. Teamed with its manned-capability counterpart, the P-8A, Triton will be a key component of the Navy’s family of systems to achieve maritime domain awareness.

We are bringing the future here. This ferry flight marks the start of testing that will ready this system for the fleet in the next few years. The work being done by our team here is far from trivial.

Each one of our team members should reflect on the hard work that has gone into this effort and realize what they are contributing to our future warfighter. As always, it’s an honor to be part of this phenomenal team.

http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

Navy wants to harvest retired Japanese helos for parts


It's unusual for the United States - by far the biggest defense spender in the world - to seek scrapped military equipment from other nations. Typically, those roles are reversed.

But for the past several years, according to internal emails obtained by The Virginian-Pilot, the U.S. Navy has been negotiating to acquire Japan's retired fleet of MH-53E Sea Dragons. The Navy wants to harvest the old helicopters for parts to help keep its own Sea Dragons flying until 2025.

http://hamptonroads.com

Citation :

Future USNS Fall River Delivered

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Navy accepted delivery of Joint High Speed Vessel, the future USNS Fall River from the Austal USA shipbuilder, Sept. 15.

The delivery marks a major milestone, the official transfer of the vessel from the shipbuilder to the Navy. USNS Fall River is the U.S. Navy's fourth Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV).

"Today the Navy received a tremendous asset," said Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Manager Capt. Henry Stevens. "The addition of Fall River to the fleet will enhance our forward presence and ability to bolster global security from the sea by quickly transporting significant resources to a wide array of geographic regions throughout the world in time of need."

Joint High Speed Vessels are versatile, non-combatant transport ships built from a commercial design with limited modifications for military use. These ships enable the fast, intra-theater transport of troops, military vehicles and equipment. Each JHSV is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots.

The unique characteristics of JHSVs include a versatile off-load ramp and flight deck for helicopter operations. This further enhances port access and the Navy's operations in littoral areas.

The USNS Fall River has a core crew of 22 civilian mariners who operate and navigate the ship as part of the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command. The ship is designed to be used in support of a variety of different missions.

"The speed, cargo capacity and all around flexibility are game changing for military, relief, and humanitarian operations," said Stevens. "The ship's flight deck, ramp and shallow-draft provide options for employment across a wide spectrum of operations, particularly in austere regions of the world."

Delivery of Fall River follows the completion of its builder's and acceptance trials in July. The program continues to progress with JHSV 5's launch which is expected to occur in the coming weeks. All ten ships of the JHSV class are under contract with Austal USA.

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft. Delivering high-quality war fighting assets - while balancing affordability and capability - is key to supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy.

http://www.military.com

Citation :

"USS America": un nouveau type de navire amphibie pour l’US Navy  


L'arrivée de l'"USS America" à San Diego le lundi 15 septembre. Ce navire amphibie présente la particularité de ne pas comporter
de radier pour laisser plus de place aux installations d’aviation. (Photo US Navy)

Le plus récent navire amphibie de l’US Navy, l’USS America (LHA-6), a rejoint, le lundi 15 septembre, son port base de San Diego, en Californie, au terme d’un voyage inaugural qui l’a vu effectuer le tour de l’Amérique du Sud.

L’USS America est le premier représentant d’une nouvelle classe de porte-hélicoptères d'assaut de type LHA (Landing Helicopter Assault) destinés à remplacer les navires plus anciens de la classe Tarawa. Son design est basé sur celui de l’USS Makin Island mais il présente la particularité de ne pas comporter de radier pour laisser plus de place aux installations d’aviation.

Cette conception correspond aux tactiques modernes qui n’insistent plus sur le débarquement massif de troupes sur la plage mais se concentrent plutôt sur le contournement des défenses en débarquant les forces loin dans les terres.

L’US Navy ne devrait cependant construire que deux exemplaires sur le modèle LHA-6, l’America lui-même et le Tripoli, pour lequel le chantier naval Huntington-Ingalls a récemment reçu un contrat. Les futurs navires amphibies américains reviendront à une conception plus traditionnelle et comporteront un radier.

L’USS America mesure 257 mètres de long pour un déplacement de 45 700 tonnes à pleine charge. Il pourra embarquer 1 700 marines, des avions de transport à rotor basculant MV-22 Osprey et des avions de combat à décollage vertical F-35B Lightning II ainsi que différents types d’hélicoptères. Son équipage se compose de 1 064 hommes.

Construit aux chantiers Ingalls Shipbuilding de Pascagoula, le navire a effectué le tour de l’Amérique du Sud lors de son voyage inaugural de deux mois avec des escales en Colombie, à Guantanamo, au Brésil, au Chili et au Pérou. La cérémonie d’admission au service actif aura lieu le 11 octobre à San Francisco.

Les États-Unis disposent à l’heure actuelle de neuf groupes de navires d'assaut amphibie, composé chacun d'un porte-hélicoptères d'assaut et de deux transports de chalands de débarquement.

http://www.lemarin.fr/articles/detail/items/uss-america-un-nouveau-type-de-navire-amphibie-pour-lus-navy.html

Citation :

KONGSBERG contracted by US Navy to test NSM from Littoral Combat Ship

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG) is contracted by the US Navy to test fire KONGSBERG`s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) under the Foreign Comparative Testing program. The firing was requested by the US Navy to demonstrate the capability to engage a surface target at a range of 100 nautical miles from an LCS class ship. The test is planned to be conducted during September this year from the USS Coronado, an Independence-class LCS.



This demonstration follows a successful NSM live fire event from the Royal Norwegian Navy´s Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate witnessed by the US Navy during the recently completed Rim of the Pacific 2014.

“We are very pleased that the US Navy has decided to evaluate the NSM missile. This contract does not however include any commitment for the US Navy beyond the test, but confirms NSM`s unique capabilities and the test will enable the US Navy to study it closer in a realistic scenario”, says Harald Ånnestad, President Kongsberg Defence Systems.



The NSM is in series production for the Norwegian Navy, the Fridtjof Nansen class frigates and Skjold class coastal corvettes, and the Polish Navy Coastal Squadron system. Deliveries for the platforms are scheduled for 2011-2014.

The NSM is the only 5th generation long range precision strike missile in existence today. The missile combines unsurpassed penetration capability due to “low observable” shape, super sea skim, high-G random maneuvers and I3R (intelligent imaging infra red) seeker with Autonomous Target Recognition (ATR) providing programmable hit-point and optimized fuze-setting,

http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

Navy to Conduct Strike Missile Demonstration Aboard LCS 4

WASHINGTON — The Navy is scheduled to conduct a live-fire demonstration of a Kongsberg-built Naval Strike Missile (NSM) aboard the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) while underway in the Pacific Ocean Sept. 24, a Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman announced in a Sept. 18 release.

The Kongsberg NSM is a long-range precision-strike missile designed to be launched from a variety of ships against a variety of targets. This demonstration is intended to test the capabilities of the Norwegian-made missile from a sea-based platform against a Mobile Ship Target (MST) and provide insights into the weapon’s stated capabilities of increased range and lethality. The Navy does not currently have any acquisition or integration requirements for the NSM aboard any of its ships.

“We saw what the missile could do from a Norwegian ship during RIMPAC [Rim of the Pacific exercise], and now have the opportunity to see it perform from one of our ships,” said RDML Jon Hill, program executive officer, Integrated Warfare Systems. “We’re excited to see what potential the missile has as a possible future warfighting tool for the U.S. Navy.”

The planned live firing demonstration of the NSM will take place under the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program and will act as a demonstration of the ship’s potential to execute an increased anti-surface warfare role. The FCT program is designed to test items and technologies of foreign allies that have a high Technology Readiness Level in order to satisfy valid defense requirements quickly and economically.

The NSM currently is used on Norwegian Nansen Class frigates and Skjold-class missile torpedo boats, and in the Polish Coastal Missile Division. Kongsberg has previously contracted with the U.S. Navy to supply simulation training tools for Navigation, Seamanship, and Shiphandling Training (NSST) programs.

Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems, together with Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ships, will coordinate the demonstration. In the event of inclement weather or an unfavorable sea state, the demonstration will be conducted Sept. 25.

http://www.seapowermagazine.org

Citation :

U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics $16 Million for F/A-18 Mission Computers

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics , was awarded a $16.2 million contract by the U.S. Navy to produce Type-3 Advanced Mission Computers (AMC) for the F/A-18 E/A-18G Super Hornet aircraft. Since 2002 General Dynamics has produced, tested and delivered the F/A-18 AMC, which serves as the nerve center of the Super Hornet and provides the Navy with situational awareness and combat systems control.



“By leveraging commercial off-the-shelf technologies and an open architecture, we are helping the Navy keep lifecycle costs down, while strengthening mission-critical performance capabilities for the flight crew,” said John van Dyke, senior director, Sensors and Processing at General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. “We look forward to continuing to provide the Navy with our cost-effective, low-risk solution that addresses obsolescence, increases flexibility and helps the nation and its allies advance their mission.”

Under the contract, General Dynamics will produce, build, test and deliver the Type-3 AMCs to the U.S. Navy and Australia. Designed to operate in extreme environmental conditions, the ruggedized, high-performance AMC processes high-speed data rates from aircraft sensors. The integrated information processing system also performs general purpose, input/output, video, voice and graphics processing, and is configurable to any operating environment.

This contract will be performed primarily at the General Dynamics facility in Bloomington, Minn., where it is supported by more than 125 employees. This contract will be completed by March 2016.

www.navyrecognition.co

Citation :

U.S. Navy selects Lockheed Martin Syracuse for $147 million contract to upgrade ship defenses

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin's suburban Syracuse plant a contract worth $147 million to upgrade its electronic warfare defenses against threats such as anti-ship missiles.

The contract is at least the second that the plant at Electronics Park in Salina has received to produce Block 2 of the Navy's Surface Electronic Warfare Program, or SEWIP.

In April 2013, Lockheed received an initial $57 million contract to upgrade the fleet's electronic warfare defenses on ships that included the USS Bainbridge, a guided-missile destroyer.

The new contract is for low-rate initial production of 14 systems to upgrade the existing defenses on all U.S. aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and other warships that have the capability to determine if potential enemies are using electronic sensors to track the ship.

Joe Ottaviano, SEWIP program director for Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Training business unit, said in a statement that the contract will help American fleets "facing a rapidly changing threat environment in theaters across the globe. This contract allows us to continue providing much needed technological advances that will help outpace our adversaries and protect our warfighters."

Lockheed Martin is Onondaga County's largest for-profit employer, with a workforce of about 1,600 at Electronics Park in Salina. The suburban Syracuse plant designs and builds radar, sonar and other sensors used by the military.

Lockheed officials said the initial contract for the SEWIP program would not result in any new jobs at the local plant.

http://www.syracuse.com

Citation :

Navy halts nuclear work at Norfolk Naval Shipyard

The Navy has suspended most nuclear work at Norfolk Naval Shipyard after discovering, on two separate occasions in recent weeks, that civilian workers improperly handled potentially contaminated equipment.

The problems that led to the nuclear work stoppage "were minor and did not result in any impact to the safety of the public, the environment or employees," said Jeff Cunningham, a shipyard spokesman.

The shipyard paused all but the most critical nuclear operations on Sept. 13 after the second safety violation, Cunningham said. It's unknown when the work will be allowed to resume.

Three nuclear-powered vessels at the shipyard are affected - the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower and the submarines Maryland and Albany. It's not clear whether the pause in work will influence when those ships return to the fleet, Cunningham said.

The Navy did not announce the shutdown. The Virginian-Pilot learned of the pause from a source familiar with the situation.

Twice in the past month, shipyard workers improperly handled equipment that had been used to work on nuclear reactors, violating the Navy's strict rules for the handling of potentially contaminated materials. Shipyard leadership ordered the pause to study the problem and establish corrective actions, Cunningham said. He declined to say whether any workers had been disciplined.

"We work on small problems aggressively to prevent larger issues from ever developing," Cunningham said.

Safety pauses are not unprecedented, said Chris Johnson, a spokesman for the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., which is responsible for oversight of the Navy's four public shipyards. The Navy is swift to correct even minor breaches in nuclear safety protocol, Johnson said.

At least one former high-ranking Navy official, however, characterized a pause of this length as "a significant shutdown." A delay of even a few days in nuclear work could disrupt the Navy's maintenance schedule, which is already backlogged, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

About 9,200 civilians and 500 sailors work at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, in addition to hundreds of sailors who serve aboard ships that are undergoing maintenance there.

There's not much to be done in the reactor shop aboard the Eisenhower during the nuclear pause, sailors on that ship said, but the crew still must report for duty each day in case work resumes.

Mike Hixenbaugh, 757-446-2949, mike.hixenbaugh@pilotonline.com

Citation :

LCS: U.S. Navy Complied with Regulations, but Quality Problems Persisted after Delivery

The U.S. Navy decisions to accept the first two littoral combat ships (LCS)—LCS 1 and LCS 2—in incomplete, deficient conditions complied with the Federal Acquisition Regulation's (FAR) acceptance provisions, largely due to the cost-reimbursement type contracts in place to construct these ships.

The Navy also met FAR requirements related to responsibility for and place of acceptance, among other provisions, by using an authorized Navy representative to accept each ship at its respective contractor's facility. Under the cost-reimbursement contracts, the LCS 1 and LCS 2 prime contractors were only required to give their best efforts to complete quality-related activities—along with the other work specified in the contracts—up to each contract's estimated cost. These efforts resulted in both ships not completing all required sea trials—tests that evaluate ships' overall quality and performance against contractual requirements—including acceptance and final contract trials.

Not completing these trials increased knowledge gaps related to ship performance and deficiencies. In addition, LCS 1 and LCS 2 did not meet the quality standards outlined in the Navy's ship acceptance policy, although the policy also contains several notable flexibilities to these standards. In particular, the policy recognizes situations where the Navy may defer work until after delivery and final acceptances and affords the Chief of Naval Operations the authority to waive certain quality standards outlined in the policy. The Navy relied extensively on these waivers to facilitate its trials and acceptance processes for LCS 1 and LCS 2.

Navy decisions to accept delivery of LCS 1 and LCS 2 in incomplete, deficient conditions were driven by a focus on near-term cost performance by shipbuilders, a desire to introduce the long-delayed ships to the fleet, and—in the case of LCS 1—environmental and treaty considerations associated with constructing that ship adjacent to the Great Lakes. The Navy prioritized these factors over its quality assurance processes for both ships, which has caused it to devote considerably more time and money to resolving deficiencies after delivery than anticipated. However, because the Navy did not establish clear deadlines for resolving ship deficiencies, corrections were allowed to lag, to the point that fleet operators inherited unresolved deficiencies on each ship. These deficiencies have constrained recent shipboard operations.



Why GAO Did This Study
GAO has reported extensively on LCS—an innovative Navy program, consisting of a ship and its mission packages. The Navy bought the first two ships using research and development funds, initially planning to experiment with them to test concepts and determine the best design. As GAO reported in July 2013, the Navy later opted to fund additional ships without having completed this planned period of discovery and learning. Further, LCS 1 and LCS 2 have experienced major cost growth and schedule delays. In August 2010, GAO reported that the ships were incomplete at delivery and in November 2013, GAO reported on significant quality problems with Navy ships, including LCS 1 and LCS 2, noting that the Navy regularly accepts ships with numerous open deficiencies.

Congress mandated that GAO review the Navy's compliance with federal regulations in accepting LCS 1 and LCS 2. This report (1) assesses the extent to which the Navy complied with applicable federal regulations, policies, and contracts and (2) evaluates the basis for and outcomes from decisions to accept these ships. To conduct this work, GAO analyzed applicable federal regulations, policies, contracts, and program documentation, and spoke with relevant Department of Defense (DOD) and contractor officials.

What GAO Recommends
Because the opportunity to implement acquisition changes to these two ships has passed, GAO is not making any new recommendations in this report, but has made prior recommendations to improve LCS acquisition. DOD has acted on some, but not all, of these.

http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

Meet the Zumwalt: The Navy's stealth destroyer will go to sea next spring

BATH, MAINE — The ship is plainly visible from Front Street, across the Route 1 bridge in downtown Bath. Nothing like this angular, almost hulking giant has ever been seen here, even after well over a century of shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works.

The futuristic shape of the Zumwalt, DDG 1000, has become familiar after more than a decade of graphics presentations and artist drawings, and models of the destroyer have been a staple at naval expositions for years. But now the whole ship is coming together, all construction blocks assembled and set afloat. People walk her decks and she rises and falls with the tide as all that planning turns into a real thing. She’ll take to the sea for the first time in the spring.

The epitome of naval stealth design, Zumwalt’s sleek shapes belie a ship filled with new features. Walking aboard, one of the first impressions is one of size — she is by far the largest ship ever called a “destroyer.” So, one would think, she must be roomy inside.

“You know, she is almost 16,000 tons, 610 feet long, about 81 feet abeam, you imagine that everything must be spacious,” said Capt. James Kirk, Zumwalt’s prospective commanding officer. “But when you get on her, you realize she is packed full of the equipment necessary to operate her and give her the capability to fight.”


Below decks, a main deck passageway is large and wide, designed to quickly and easily move supplies and ammunition to storage rooms below. But the forward hull is also taken up with the automatic reload equipment and shell magazines for the ship’s two 155mm advanced gun systems — the biggest guns built into a naval ship since World War II.

The guns own the centerline real estate that, on other missile ships, is taken up by vertical launch systems. On Zumwalt, missile cells flank the guns, lining the sides of the hull fore and aft in a peripheral arrangement. Between the guns and the missile, that pretty much takes up the forward hull.

Amidships, the knife-like bow turns into a full, wide hull, crammed with power equipment. Zumwalt is an electric ship, with 78.5 megawatts of installed power — an unheard-of feature in a destroyer. Power units are arranged throughout the ship, reminding everyone of the different nature of its integrated power system, able to shift power from propulsion to sensors to weapons.

The bridge sits low on the superstructure on the O2 level, and will be staffed by a minimum of three watchstanders. During a visit this summer, shipbuilders were busy installing the windows, specially designed to withstand the green water expected to come as the narrow bow slices through, rather than rides, over waves.


Below decks, a main deck passageway is large and wide, designed to quickly and easily move supplies and ammunition to storage rooms below. But the forward hull is also taken up with the automatic reload equipment and shell magazines for the ship’s two 155mm advanced gun systems — the biggest guns built into a naval ship since World War II.

The guns own the centerline real estate that, on other missile ships, is taken up by vertical launch systems. On Zumwalt, missile cells flank the guns, lining the sides of the hull fore and aft in a peripheral arrangement. Between the guns and the missile, that pretty much takes up the forward hull.

Amidships, the knife-like bow turns into a full, wide hull, crammed with power equipment. Zumwalt is an electric ship, with 78.5 megawatts of installed power — an unheard-of feature in a destroyer. Power units are arranged throughout the ship, reminding everyone of the different nature of its integrated power system, able to shift power from propulsion to sensors to weapons.

The bridge sits low on the superstructure on the O2 level, and will be staffed by a minimum of three watchstanders. During a visit this summer, shipbuilders were busy installing the windows, specially designed to withstand the green water expected to come as the narrow bow slices through, rather than rides, over waves.

DDG 1000: In pictures
http://intercepts.defensenews.com/2014/06/zumwalt-ddg-1000-the-future-is-nearly-here/

....

http://www.militarytimes.com

Citation :

Future USNS Trenton Launches




MOBILE, Ala. (NNS) -- Austal USA launched the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) the future USNS Trenton from its shipyard Sept. 30.

Launch is a major milestone for a ship and its class, signifying that the vessel is ready to enter the final stages of construction. USNS Trenton will be the U.S. Navy's fifth Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV 5).

"The JHSV program is benefitting from serial production," said Capt. Henry Stevens, Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Manager, Program Executive Office, Ships. "Because of program maturity, design stability and a dedicated team of engineers and shipbuilders, we are launching this ship only seven months following the laying of her keel."

Trenton will now prepare for the tests and trials which will evaluate and ready the ship for delivery to Military Sealift Command (MSC) next spring. JHSVs are operated within MSCs Sealift program.

JHSVs are manned by a crew of 22 civil service mariners with military mission personnel embarking as required. The ships are capable of supporting of a wide range of operations across the world by facilitating the transport of troops, equipment, and supplies across operational distances including to austere and challenging ports.

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft. Delivering high-quality war fighting assets - while balancing affordability and capability - is key to supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.

http://www.navy.mil

Citation :

Navy Upgrades Maverick Air-to-Ground Missile



The Navy is upgrading the guidance control systems on its inventory of 500 air-launched AGM-65 Maverick missiles in order to give the weapon semi-active laser targeting technology, Raytheon officials said.

The upgrades are converting the Navy’s infrared-guided AGM-65 F-model Mavericks into laser-guided AGM-65 E2 variants.

“The enhanced laser Maverick is backward compatible with a number of platforms, including the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet,” said Gordon McKenzie, Raytheon business development, Maverick.


The air-to-ground Maverick missile is configured with infrared guidance, television-view guidance and laser guidance. The weapon can be fired with a 300-pound blast fragmentation warhead or a 125-pound shaped charged warhead, McKenzie added.

Fired by the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, the Maverick missile is engineered to fire from F-15s, F-16s, A-10s, F/A-18s, Harriers and P-3 surveillance planes, among others. The weapon can also be fired from helicopters.

The Navy variant of the Maverick is built with a special mechanical safe arming device to ensure safety of the weapon while it is handled on ships, such as the deck of an aircraft carrier, McKenzie said.

The laser-guidance technology of the weapon increases its ability to strike fast-moving or maneuvering ground targets, he added.

The laser-guidance option for the Maverick is only available with the heavier 300-pound blast-fragmentation warhead, McKenzie said.

http://www.dodbuzz.com

Citation :

USS America Joins the Fleet

SAN FRANCISCO (NNS) -- USS America (LHA 6), the Navy's newest and most technologically advanced amphibious assault ship, was commissioned during a formal ceremony at Pier 30/32 during San Francisco Fleet Week, Oct. 11.

More than 8,000 friends, family members and invited guests gathered in front of the ship to witness its introduction to the fleet.

During the ceremony, Adm. Harry B. Harris, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, commended the crew for their performance during acceptance trials and sailing around South America. He said because conflict and crisis can arise at any time, warships like America will be needed as the nation conducts its strategic rebalance to the Pacific.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Harris introduced Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Ray Mabus, who spoke of the importance of having a ship named America join the fleet.

"This ship, forged in a shipyard in my home state of Mississippi, with components and systems and parts manufactured all across this great country, is a symbol of the long and historic links between the citizens of this country and our Navy and Marine Corps who defend them," Mabus said. "Having a ship named the America, sailing the world's oceans, defending freedom and peace and helping those in need, as we have for more than two centuries, is crucial to America and to our Navy and Marine Corps."

Following Mabus' remarks, in a time-honored Navy tradition, Mrs. Lynne Pace, ship sponsor and wife of retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave the order, "Man our ship and bring her to life!"

The crew responded by saying "Aye, aye, ma'am" and began running toward the brow to man the ship as the Navy Band Southwest played "Anchors Aweigh." Crew members took their places, side-by-side, manning the rails as the ship's systems came online. Radars, weapon systems, and other parts of the ship began moving to symbolize the ship "coming to life."

After the crew manned the rails, Capt. Robert A. Hall Jr., commanding officer of USS America, stepped forward to deliver his remarks.

"To the crew of USS America, as plankowners we've been granted awesome responsibility and great privilege to send America out to sea on the right course," Hall said. "You've worked extremely hard thus far to get her to this point, performing extraordinarily on our maiden voyage around South America. I thank you for that incredible effort, and I'll tell you, it's just the beginning."

Hall said the ship is named after the greatest country on Earth and spoke of the legacy America will carry forward. "It's only the greatest country because it values everyone's contributions," said Hall. "It takes every one of us doing our part, working together, dedicating ourselves to preserving the ideals of freedom and democracy that make this country great."

America is the first ship of its class and the fourth ship named "America." The first America was originally a racing schooner launched in 1851 and served in the Navy until 1873 before returning to civilian life. In 1921, she was presented to the Navy for preservation as a relic and remained at the U.S. Naval Academy until being scrapped in 1945. The second America transported troops during World War I. The third ship to bear the name was a Kitty-Hawk class aircraft carrier, CV 66, which supported operations from the Vietnam War through Operation Desert Storm.

America weighs 44,971-tons, is 844 feet in length and has an overall beam of 106 feet. It's equipped with a fuel-efficient, hybrid electric propulsion system, the same built for USS Makin Island (LHD , which is an energy initiative designed to give the ship the benefit of increased range, endurance, and time on station, enhancing its combat capability. It also provides greater flexibility in scheduling refueling and reduces maintenance costs.

View All Hands Magazine Special Website

The ship is optimized for aviation and will be capable of supporting current and future aircraft, such as the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. It was designed with additional aviation spaces and provides increased aviation capacity, including an enlarged hangar deck, the realignment and expansion of aviation maintenance facilities which provide a significant increase in available stowage for parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity.

http://www.navy.mil

Citation :

Boeing Delivers 18th P-8A Poseidon to U.S. Navy


SEATTLE, Oct. 15, 2014 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered the 18th P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy ahead of schedule October 14, where it joined other Poseidon aircraft being used to train Navy crews.

The P-8A departed Boeing Field in Seattle for Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., and was Boeing’s fifth delivery this year.

“We’re proud to continue to deliver aircraft on cost and on schedule,” said Rick Heerdt, Boeing Mobility, Surveillance & Engagement vice president and program manager. “The Navy’s need for the P-8A resonates even more following Patrol Squadron 5’s recent operational deployment.”

Earlier this summer, the VP-5 ‘Mad Foxes’ replaced the VP-16 War Eagles squadron that completed 600 sorties and 3,500 flight hours while on deployment operating out of Kadena Air Base, Japan. The Mad Foxes are currently conducting operational missions internationally.

Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 commercial airplane, the P-8A provides the Navy anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

The Navy plans to purchase the versatile multi-mission aircraft to replace its P-3 Orion fleet. Boeing is currently under contract for 53 P-8As.

Boeing’s industry team includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.

http://boeing.mediaroom.com

Citation :

US Navy declares first E-2D squadron operational

The US Navy on 10 October announced the initial operating capability of its Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft.

The E-2 radar, communication and command and control aircraft was first introduced in 1964 to improve the radar range of aircraft carrier strike groups at sea.

The E-2D improves upon its predecessors with a passive electronically scanned radar array, more powerful datalinks and a fourth crew member to handle mission data.

“This is not an E-2C with upgrades,” says Cmdr John Hewitt, commanding officer of VAW-120, the E-2 squadron in charge of training and transition of units from the C-model to D-model Hawkeyes. “This a brand new platform. There are some legacy systems shared between the two platforms, but those similarities end very quickly.”

The E-2C was designed to operate specifically in a maritime environment, so it “has its limitations over land and littoral environment”, Hewitt says. “With the E-2D we have great improvement to see contacts – air and surface – over land, over water. It really doesn’t matter. The aircraft does not care about its operating environment.”

The most notable upgrade is the range and power of the aircraft’s radar over its predecessor. The Lockheed Martin APY-9 system can see smaller targets at greater ranges in more environments than older systems. The solid state, rotating radar also can detect cruise missiles over ground clutter.

“The radar in the E-2D can see a very small radar cross section targets in any operating environment,” Hewitt says. “If my radar has line of sight to that target, we will see it over the E-2C.”

At the ranges the E-2D can reach, which officials did not specify, the aircraft can also support the naval integrated fire control-counter air strategy, allowing the aircraft to act as an over-the-horizon target designator for long-range munitions.

The D-model’s upgraded radars and associated equipment add about 907kg (2,500lb) to the aircraft, which required Northrop to redesign 60% of the fuselage, says Bart Legrone, vice-president of E-2/C-2 programmes at Northrop.

The E-2C has a maximum trap weight – the heaviest it can be to safely land on a carrier – of 21,100kg while the E-2D can land aboard ship loaded to 22,500kg. The E-2D was outfitted with beefed up Rolls-Royce T56-427A turboprop engines to accommodate the added weight.

Northrop has delivered 15 E-2Ds of 52 currently contracted, though the navy’s programme of record is 75 aircraft. A 16th aircraft should be delivered by the end of the year, Legrone said. The navy will begin phasing out legacy E-2Cs in 2017. By 2025, all Hawkeye squadrons should be equipped with the D-model aircraft.

The first squadron of five E-2Ds, VAW-125, already is scheduled to deploy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2015.

Recognising the long-term need for an AEW aircraft, room for growth was built into the E-2D, says Capt John Lemmon, the navy’s E-2/C-2 airborne tactical data systems programme manager. The Northrop C-2 Greyhound is primarily a cargo aircraft that ferries supplies to and from carriers.

“As long as we’ve got aircraft carriers out there forward deployed, we’re going to need the Hawkeye,” he says.

http://www.flightglobal.com

Citation :

USN, Northrop Grumman to deploy more mine-hunting USVs to the Gulf

http://www.janes.com/article/44543/usn-northrop-grumman-to-deploy-more-mine-hunting-usvs-to-the-gulf

Citation :

Northrop Grumman-built E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Reports for Duty

Achieving Initial Operational Capability means the first operational squadron is ready to start deployment preparation with E-2D aircraft

NORFOLK, Va. – Oct. 27, 2014 – The U.S. Navy has declared initial operational capability (IOC) for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, designed, developed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC). It is the newest and most technologically advanced variant of the venerable E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning command and control (AEW&C) platform.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=26236

"This significant milestone is a result of the strong partnership between the fleet, the acquisition community and our industry partner," said Capt. Drew Basden, commander, Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing. "By achieving IOC, we can effectively deploy the E-2D for operational missions and continue our successful transition from the E-2C Hawkeye."

Developed and produced by Northrop Grumman, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the world's only aircraft specifically designed as a carrier-based AEW&C system. The E-2D's structurally distinctive design – which includes a rotating rotodome and four vertical stabilizer tail configuration – provides unprecedented, 360-degree surveillance to the warfighter.

"Since the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye delivery in 2007, every aircraft has been, and continues to be, delivered on cost and on schedule," said Capt. John S. Lemmon, program manager, E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office (PMA-231). "The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye represents a revolutionary jump in capabilities. I'm confident that the E-2D will continue to be ready, relevant and capable for decades to come and continue serving the Navy Carrier Strike Group with distinction."

As the only DoD-designed, tested and in-production AEW&C platform, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has undergone a significant transformation from previous E-2 models, resulting in revolutionary capabilities. This includes the new, more powerful AN/APY-9 radar system, exclusive to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, which represents a two-generational leap in radar technology and allows the warfighter to "see" a greater number of targets at much greater distances – as well as new avionics and a glass cockpit.

"This is a significant milestone that the entire Navy, Northrop Grumman, and industry team can be proud of," said Bart LaGrone, vice president, E-2/C-2 Programs, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "We are proud of the pivotal role the E-2 Hawkeye has played, and continues to play, in military and humanitarian operations around the globe with the Navy as well as our international operators - the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the French Navy, and the air forces of Taiwan and Egypt."

The Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program of record is for 75 aircraft, of which Northrop Grumman has already delivered 15 production aircraft.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

http://www.globenewswire.com

Citation :

U.S. Navy F-35C to start first series of aircraft carrier tests at sea this coming week

Two U.S. Navy F-35C stealth fighters are set to contuct the first aircraft carrier tests over the next two weeks on board USS Nimitz (CVN-68). Test aircraft CF-3 and CF-5 will be used for the test that will reflect typical carrier operations: Touch and go, arrested landings and catapult launches. Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, the Joint Strike Fighter program executive officer said the two F-35Cs are flying directly to the carrier and will land using arresting gear. “We’re not putting them on the ship with a crane.”

Two U.S. Navy F-35C stealth fighters are set to contuct the first aircraft carrier tests over the next two weeks on board USS Nimitz (CVN-68). Test aircraft CF-3 and CF-5 will be used for the test that will reflect typical carrier operations: Touch and go, arrested landings and catapult launches. Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, the Joint Strike Fighter program executive officer said the two F-35Cs are flying directly to the carrier and will land using arresting gear.
NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md.(May 7, 2014) An F-35C Lightning II aircraft makes an arrested landing during a test flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The F-35C is the carrier variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin by Dane Wiedmann/Released)


The F-35C carrier variant (CV) is the U.S. Navy’s first stealth fighter and the world’s only 5th Generation, long-range stealth strike fighter designed and built explicitly for carrier operations.

The F-35C variant has larger wings and more robust landing gear than the other variants, making it suitable for catapult launches and fly-in arrestments aboard naval aircraft carriers. Its wingtips also fold to allow for more room on the carrier’s deck while deployed.

During testing in 2011, all eight landing tests of the F-35C failed to catch the arresting wire; a redesigned tail hook was developed and delivered two years later in response. In February 2014, Lockheed said the F-35C was on schedule for sea trials after the tailhook was redesigned. The new tailhook has a different shape to better catch arresting wires. Testing on land achieved 36 successful landings.

http://www.navyrecognition.com

F-35C Lightning II Conducts Developmental Testing aboard USS Nimitz #2

NAVY EOD