US Navy

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(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)

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USN, Royal Thai Navy conduct "most complex" anti-submarine exercise to date

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
25 May 2016





The USN Navy (USN) and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) are carrying out a series of drills that includes the "most complex" anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise conducted between the two services to date.

The drills, which are being conducted as part of the annual bilateral naval exercise known as 'Guardian Sea', are being held in the Andaman Sea from 23 to 27 May. The exercise in 2016 involves a USN Los Angeles-class attack submarine, a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol craft and the RTN's sole aircraft carrier, the 182 m HTMS Chakri Naruebet .

Also participating from the USN is the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Stethem , the RTN's two Chinese-made Naresuan-class frigates, HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Taksin , and an unspecified number of S-70B naval helicopters, according to information provided to IHS Jane's on 25 May.

"Guardian Sea provides our navies the opportunity and challenge of detecting and tracking submarines, and to practice procedures related to anti-submarine warfare," said Capt H. B. Le, commodore of the USN's destroyer, Squadron Seven , in a statement on the bilateral drills.

"This year's exercise will be the most complex to date and we look forward to working alongside the Royal Thai Navy ashore and at sea to improve our skills and enhance our interoperability," he added.

Exercise 'Guardian Sea' in 2016 will also feature a shore phase with seminars and exchanges between subject-matter experts from both navies.

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Une femme afro-américaine à la tête de l’US Navy en Europe





Une femme afro-américaine à la tête de l’US Navy en Europe
Publié le 23/05/2016 18:33
Première femme à accrocher les quatre étoiles d’amiral sur ses épaulettes en 2014, Michelle Howard, 56 ans, va devenir chef des forces navales en Europe, poste qui comprend aussi la zone africaine et la responsabilité d’un état-major de l’Otan à Naples.



http://www.lemarin.fr/secteurs-activites/defense/25365-une-femme-afro-americaine-la-tete-de-lus-navy-en-europe

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Lockheed Martin to Build Advanced Sonar Systems for U.S. Navy's MK 48 Heavyweight Torpedoes

Lockheed Martin will provide the U.S. Navy the latest advancements in sonar systems under a contract valued at up to $425 million for guidance and control systems for the MK 48 Mod 7 torpedo, part of a five-year effort to increase the inventory of the MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedoes for the submarine fleet.






http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

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Deux F-18 de l'US Navy s'écrasent dans l'Atlantique

Deux chasseurs F/A-18 de la Marine de guerre américaine sont entrés en collision jeudi au large de la Caroline du Nord, selon les garde-côtes.

Les quatre membres d'équipage des deux chasseurs ont été récupérés et hospitalisés à Norfolk, en Virginie, a rapporté l'officier des garde-côtes américains Fagal Nifin cité par le journal local The Virginian-Pilot.

​​D'après les médias, le crash s'est produit vers 10h30 heure locale à 25 milles environ (40 km) du cap Hatteras, au cours d'un entraînement de routine.

Les garde-côtes d'Elizabeth City ont précisé que les avions avaient décollé de la base aéronavale Oceana située à Virginia Beach.
Un bateau de pêche aurait aidé les sauveteurs à récupérer les membres d'équipage.

Le chasseur McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 est un avion de combat multirôle, initialement destiné à être embarqué à bord de porte-avions de l'US Navy.

Source

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Lockheed Martin Receives Contract to Continue AGM-158C LRASM Integration and Test Program

Lockheed Martin has received a $321.8 million sole-source contract from the U.S. Navy for the continuation of the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) integration and test phase. The integration and test contract funds continuation of LRASM flight testing and integration onto the U.S. Air Force B-1B and the U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F aircraft. LRASM early operational capability for the U.S. Air Force and Navy is expected in 2018 and 2019 respectively.




http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

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US Navy Faces $848 Million Ops & Maintenance Shortfall
Christopher P. Cavas, Defense News 8:19 p.m. EDT May 26, 2016
Submarine overhaul goes from 28 to 43 months


WASHINGTON — US Navy leaders have made no secret the fleet’s maintenance accounts are underfunded. The situation – exacerbated by several years of sequestration-mandated budget cuts, a government shutdown, Congress’ chronic ability to pass a budget before the end of each fiscal year, a high operating tempo and the cumulative effects of all those problems – is affecting the readiness of ships, aircraft and sailors.

The Navy has an $848 million shortfall in its current operations and maintenance accounts, a service official said, and while there will be no impact to forces already deployed, continuing problems “would likely delay some deployments.”

As the Navy moves through the fiscal year’s third quarter, officials are preparing to take several actions to limit 2016 spending:

Deferring overhauls on four surface ships and one submarine from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 into fiscal 2017’s first quarter;
“descoping” or deferring continuous maintenance for the assault ships Makin Island and America amphibious ready groups and the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group;
Restricting Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) flying hours, including imposing a four-month no-fly period, and limiting other flying hour program costs; and
deferring “various other contracts.”
The Carl Vinson, America and Makin Island recently completed major overhauls and are expected to deploy in the coming year. CVW-1, on the other hand, completed a full deployment in 2015, is now in a “maintenance phase,” and is not expected to deploy again until 2019.

The Navy also notes that a decision announced May 2 to extend the current deployment of the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group by one month to combat ISIS will require an additional $91 million in operations spending.

Pushing the five ship overhauls into next year, the Navy official noted, will add to 2017’s scheduling problems and increase required funding by $473 million.

Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., is urging Congress to increase maintenance funding and Thursday, he chaired a combined hearing of his Seapower and Projection Forces and Readiness subcommittees to focus on the issue. Forbes had hoped to draw special attention by holding the hearing in Norfolk aboard the soon-to-deploy carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, but the effort was scotched by the Pentagon, although Forbes and other House Armed Services Committee members on Monday toured the flattop and several other ships and facilities.

“We are not currently providing our Navy with the resources it needs to do what we ask,” Forbes said Thursday in his opening statement. “At least not without burning out our ships and our planes and our sailors and undermining our long-term readiness.”

The Navy itself, Forbes said, notes that the service is at its “lowest readiness point in many years.

“The resources we have been allocating to that critical function of government have been woefully inadequate,” he intoned.

While Fleet Forces Commander Adm. Phil Davidson read an opening statement, the hearing sought to bring the readiness issue closer to the deck plates, and four Navy captains testified as to the effects on their commands and communities.

Capt. Randy Stearns, commodore of Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, said one in four aircraft were usually deployed and noted there were extreme issues with older F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters and CH-53 helicopters. Non-deploying aircraft were regularly being robbed of parts to keep deployed planes flying, he said, with the result that the fleet had little surge capacity should more aircraft be needed in action.

Asked where the problems began, Stearns replied, “sequestration – we’ve never caught up.”

Problems are being compounded, he noted, as new aircraft are being used at rates far higher than anticipated.

“We’re chewing up about 40 aircraft hours a month” on each F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet, he said, adding to the maintenance load to deployed aircraft, Fleet Readiness Centers and naval aviation depots.

Capt. Greg McRae, deputy commander of Submarine Squadron Six at Norfolk, detailed a particularly egregious case of a submarine overhaul that, for a variety of reasons, has nearly doubled in length and is leading to further issues.

The Los Angeles-class submarine Albany, McRae told the subcommittees, had been scheduled to enter Norfolk Naval Shipyard in October 2013 for a planned 28 and one-half month overhaul – known as an availability in Navy parlance. But at the time, he said, “we were going through sequestration and there was a lot of instability, so the availability was pushed to January 2014.”

Once in the shipyard, workforce challenges due to hiring freezes and funding shortfalls began to affect the overhaul. “About every three months we would get a new schedule pushing timelines to the right,” he said. As a result, the Albany is still in the shipyard. “Today, we’re looking at a 43-month overhaul.

“The impact is significant,” McRae added. “Certainly the operational days lost – days we will never recover those. It’s also had an impact on other submarines and crews.”

The submarine Boise, he said, was to have entered the shipyard after Albany. “But because of Albany’s delays, we’ve been extending Boise in three-month intervals,” he said. Because of needed maintenance, “we are no longer capable of operating Boise at sea after this summer,” he cautioned. “Any more delays after that,” he said, and the ship will remain pierside.

“It’s almost double the lost [operational] days if you think of it in that perspective,” McRae noted. “Clearly it’s a significant impact.”

The Albany’s crew has suffered from the prolonged shipyard period.

“One of the tertiary effects is the impact to crew and families,” McRae said. “Because of the Albany delays, many sailors will start and end their submarine tour in the shipyard – not something they signed up for.”

The ship’s commanding officer, McRae noted, expected to wrap up the overhaul period, prepare the ship to deploy and take her to sea.

“But he will be relieved with his ship still in the shipyard. Because of that he has decided to retire from the service.”

McRae added that Albany’s executive officer and chief engineering officer, unable to demonstrate their proficiency at operating a nuclear submarine, were not selected for command or to become XO.

“The engineer was by all measures a great performer,” McRae said, “but in the shipyard he could not demonstrate that expertise and he did not select for XO. Inhibiting their ability to go to sea certainly inhibits their professional development,” he declared.


http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense-news/2016/05/26/navy-maintenance-overhaul-funding-submarine-aircraft-carrier-forbes-mcrae-davidson-stearns-norfolk-congress-sequestration/84994640/

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Armada Española, USN conduct first Aegis interoperability escort trials

David Ing, Madrid - IHS Jane's Navy International
27 May 2016

Key Points
The Spanish and US navies have conducted the first escort interoperability trials involving a Spanish Aegis ship and a US Aegis BMD-capable ship
The trials focused on establishing communications, testing interoperability, and conducting pierside exercises.
The Spanish Navy has conducted its first escort interoperability trials involving one of its own Aegis combat system-equipped ships and one of the US Navy's (USN's) ballistic missile defence (BMD)-capable destroyers.

The vessels involved were the Armada Española's Álvaro de Bazán-class F 100 frigate Blas de Lezo (F 103) and the USN's DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71). The two ships were taking part in the 'Smartex 161' exercise at the Armada's Rota base, near Cádiz.

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FCLIP demonstrates improved SSDS detect-to-engage co-ordination

Richard Scott, London - IHS Jane's Missiles & Rockets
27 May 2016

Key Points
The live fire test demonstrated the FCLIP software update introduced into the SSDS Mk 2 system
RAM Block 2 missiles successfully engaged and killed two supersonic sea-skimming targets
A live-fire test performed from the US Navy (USN) Self-Defense Test Ship (SDTS) has successfully demonstrated an upgraded fire-control chain designed to improve detect-to-engage co-ordination in the Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) Mk 2.

Performed in April on the Point Mugu sea range off California, the test culminated in the destruction of two supersonic targets by RIM-116C (Block 2) missiles fired from the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Guided Missile Weapons System installed on the

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Rolls-Royce contracted for DDG 51 Flight III advanced power generation test article

Richard Scott, London - IHS Jane's Navy International
27 May 2016

Rolls-Royce North America has been awarded an USD8.15 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification by the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for the DDG 51 Flight III adaptation of the AG9160RF auxiliary turbine generator fitted to the new DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers.

To reduce development risk and save cost, the DDG 51 Flight III programme is capitalising on existing machinery and systems. Two AG9160RF auxiliary turbine generators are fitted on each DDG 1000, these being used to provide electrical power in light load conditions.

Under the terms of the new DDG 51 Flight III contract, announced on 24 May, Rolls-Royce Marine North America will provide one of two AG9160RF advanced power generation modules (APGMs) as test articles for use at the US Navy's Land Based Engineering Site for de-risk testing and control system integration, in advance of ship installation.

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Three US Navy Officers Newly Charged in 'Fat Leonard' Case
Christopher P. Cavas, Defense News 7:13 p.m. EDT May 27, 2016


WASHINGTON — Three current and former US Navy officers were charged in federal court documents unsealed Friday for their roles in the wide-ranging Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA) investigation, also known as the 'Fat Leonard' case after a nickname for GDMA’s principal officer.

According to the US Department of Justice, retired Capt. Michael Brooks, 57, of Fairfax Station, Virginia; Cmdr. Bobby Pitts, 47, of Chesapeake, Virginia; and Lt. Cmdr. Gentry Debord, 47, based in Singapore, have been indicted in the Southern District of California. Brooks and Debord were each charged May 26 with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Pitts was charged the same day with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of obstruction of justice.

Brooks and Pitts made their initial appearances today in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; Debord appeared in US District Court for the Southern District of California, the Justice Department said in a press release.

All of the charges, Justice said, relate to the defendants’ interactions with Leonard Francis, the former CEO of GDMA, a maritime husbanding agency and defense contracting firm based in Singapore.

Including the three latest charges, 13 individuals have been charged in connection with GDMA schemes that include bribery, intelligence gathering, the use of prostitutes and more.

According to the indictment, Brooks served from June 2006 to July 2008 as the US naval attaché at the American embassy in Manila, Philippines. The indictment alleges that in exchange for travel and entertainment expenses, hotel rooms and the services of prostitutes, Brooks used his office to benefit GDMA and Francis, including securing quarterly diplomatic clearances for GDMA vessels – a status that allowed GDMA vessels to transit in and out of the Philippines under the diplomatic clearance of the US embassy.

Additionally, said Justice, Brooks limited the amount of custom fees and taxes GDMA was required to pay in the Philippines and enabled the company and its clients to avoid inspection of any quantity or type of cargo it transported. The indictment also alleges that Brooks provided Francis with sensitive Navy information, including billing information belonging to a GDMA competitor and Navy ship schedules.

Pitts, Justice said, was from August 2009 to May 2011 the officer in charge of the Navy’s Fleet Industrial Supply Command (FISC), charged with meeting logistical needs of the US Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific. The indictment alleges that in exchange for entertainment, meals and the services of a prostitute, Pitts used his FISC position to interfere with NCIS investigations into GDMA.

Pitts, according to the press release, allegedly provided Francis with a hard copy of a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) report marked “for official use only” detailing an investigation into GDMA for contract fraud. According to the indictment, the report detailed NCIS’ investigative steps and witnesses that NCIS had interviewed. The indictment further alleges that in November 2010, Pitts forwarded to a GDMA employee an internal Navy email discussing details of FISC’s efforts to oversee GDMA’s US Navy contracts.

Debord, according to the criminal complaint, served from November 2007 to August 2013 in several logistical and supply positions in the Western Pacific. In exchange for cash, hotel stays and the services of prostitutes, Debord allegedly provided Francis with inside Navy information and documents, including information about competitors’ bids and information about an investigation into GDMA billing practices.

Justice added that, in an attempt to conceal the true nature of his relationship with Francis, Debord allegedly referred to prostitutes as “cheesecake” or “bodyguards.” The indictment also alleges that Debord schemed with Francis to defraud the Navy through the submission and approval of inflated invoices.

Brooks, according to his LinkedIn page, works as an emergency operations specialist for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and is cleared for top secret information with access to sensitive compartmented information. Prior to leaving the Navy in October 2011, according to his LinkedIn page, he was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency while working as a naval attaché in Manila and before that, Islamabad, Pakistan. His listing for the posting at Manila notes that he “planned and coordinated US Navy ship visits and clearance request[s] and coordinated port integrated vulnerability assessments with Navy criminal investigative services office.”

Of the 10 others charged in the GDMA investigation, nine have pleaded guilty, including Capt. Daniel Dusek, Cmdr. Michael Misiewicz, Cmdr. Jose Luis Sanchez, Lt. Cmdr. Todd Malaki, Petty Officer First Class Dan Layug and NCIS Special Agent John Beliveau. Former Department of Defense Senior Executive Paul Simpkins is awaiting trial.

Layug was sentenced on Jan. 21 to 27 months in prison and a $15,000 fine. On Jan. 29, Malaki was sentenced to 40 months in prison, payment of $15,000 in restitution to the Navy and a $15,000 fine.

Alex Wisidagama, a former GDMA employee, was sentenced on March 18 to 63 months and to pay $34.8 million in restitution to the Navy. Dusek, on March 25, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, payment of $30,000 in restitution to the Navy and a $70,000 fine. On April 29, Misiewicz was sentenced to 78 months in prison, a fine of $100,000 and forfeiture of $95,000 in proceeds for the scheme.

Making the announcement for the investigative team were Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, US Attorney Laura Duffy of the Southern District of California, Acting Director Dermot O’Reilly of the Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Director Andrew Traver of NCIS and Director Anita Bales of Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA).

NCIS, DCIS and DCAA are conducting the ongoing investigation, according to the press release. Assistant Chief Brian Young of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant US Attorney Mark Pletcher of the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.


http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/navy/2016/05/27/three-us-navy-officers-newly-charged-fat-leonard-case/85060310/

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US Navy Deploys Most Carrier Strike Groups Since 2012
Christopher P. Cavas, Defense News 7:17 p.m. EDT June 6, 2016

WASHINGTON — For the first time in nearly four years, the US Navy has four aircraft carrier strike groups deployed at the same time. Two more carriers are carrying out local operations, making for six of the fleet’s ten active carriers underway — an unusually high percentage. And another is preparing to go.

The departure June 4 of the Ronald Reagan from Yokosuka, Japan, coupled with the June 1 deployment of the Dwight D. Eisenhower group from the US East Coast, doubled the number of deployed groups. The Harry S. Truman is in the eastern Mediterranean conducting combat strikes against ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq, and the John C. Stennis group is continuing operations in the South China Sea.


http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense-news/2016/06/06/navy-aircraft-carrier-strike-groups-deployed-china-russia-operations/85526820/

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USA: un amiral de la Marine va plaider coupable dans une affaire de corruption


Los Angeles, 9 juin 2016 (AFP) -

Un amiral de la Marine américaine devait plaider coupable jeudi d'avoir menti à des enquêteurs dans une affaire de corruption à grande échelle qui secoue l'US Navy, selon son avocat.

L'Amiral Robert Gilbeau va admettre ces faux témoignages devant un juge de San Diego, a admis à l'AFP son conseil, David Benowitz.

L'Amiral Gilbeau va ainsi devenir le plus haut gradé poursuivi dans cette affaire. Et dans toute l'histoire américaine très peu de responsables de ce rang ont été reconnus coupables de tels délits.

La Navy a déjà blâmé trois autres amiraux pour leurs rôles dans ce scandale impliquant Leonard Francis, dit "Fat Leonard" ("gros Leonard") en raison de son embonpoint, un sous-traitant de la Navy basé à Singapour. Celui-ci a plaidé coupable en janvier de corruption à l'encontre de plusieurs gradés de la marine américaine.

Sa société, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, a versé des pots de vin à plusieurs officiers américains pour que les bateaux de la Navy traitent avec son entreprise lors de leurs escales dans plusieurs ports en Asie.

Les officiers ont été payés en argent liquide, en prostituées, en cigares cubains et même en boeuf de Kobe.

L'avocat de Robert Gilbeau a précisé que son client admet avoir livré de faux témoignages, mais il ne reconnaît pas les faits de corruption.

"Le contre-amiral Gilbeau a en effet livré un faux témoignage durant cette importante enquête", a dit M. Benowitz. "Dans cette situation malheureuse il accepte sa responsabilité pour les décisions qu'il a prises et pour sa conduite".

Selon M. Benowitz, son client risque la prison: "On fait tout pour qu'il ne soit pas incarcéré", a-t-il dit, notant que l'amiral Gilbeau avait accompli une carrière brillante durant 37 ans, au cours de laquelle il a notamment été décoré d'une Bronze Star et d'une Purple Heart.

L'avocat n'a pas précisé de quels mensonges l'amiral était accusé.

Plusieurs autres officiers ont été touchés par ce scandale.

Ainsi, le capitaine Daniel Dusek, 49 ans, a été condamné en mars à 46 mois de prison dans cette même affaire pour avoir favorisé l'entreprise de Leonard Francis lors d'attributions de contrats en échange de prostituées, voyages et autres cadeaux "luxueux". Il va aussi devoir verser 70.000 dollars d'amende et 30.000 dollars de restitutions à la marine.

Au total une dizaine de militaires dont au moins quatre officiers ont été impliqués dans ce scandale qui remonte à 2006-2007.

Les sommes en jeu étaient importantes: en juillet 2011, la société avait notamment remporté un contrat de cinq ans pour un montant de 200 millions de dollars.

Arrêté en 2013 en Californie et placé en détention depuis, Leonard Francis a plaidé coupable et admis avoir escroqué l'armée américaine de dizaines de millions de dollars en surfacturant régulièrement les coûts de carburant, de remorquage et de nettoyage des bateaux.

Sa sentence est attendue plus tard cette année. Il risque jusqu'à 25 années de prison.

http://www.marine-oceans.com/actualites-afp/13010-usa-un-amiral-de-la-marine-va-plaider-coupable-dans-une-affaire-de-corruption

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Italian Radar To Equip US Navy's Fire Scout Drones
Tom Kington, Defense News 10:15 a.m. EDT June 10, 2016



ROME — A new electronically scanned radar built by Italy’s Leonardo-Finmeccanica has been selected for the US Navy’s MQ-8C Fire Scout helicopter UAV, the service has announced.

Under a $5.8 million contract awarded May 26, the US Naval Air Systems Command will acquire the new Osprey radar, produced by Leonardo-Finmeccanica's Airborne and Space Systems Division.

The 360-degree airborne radar uses fixed panels distributed around the body of aircraft and has already been sold to the Norweigan Air Force for use on its AW101 search and rescue helicopters, as well as to two unnamed US customers.


http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/naval-aviation/2016/06/10/fire-scout-drone-uav-radar/85690866/

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US Navy prepares for west coast transition of Poseidon

Gareth Jennings, NAS Jacksonville, Florida - IHS Jane's Navy International
10 June 2016




The US Navy (USN) is to shortly begin transitioning its west coast maritime patrol squadrons over to the Boeing P-8A Poseidon as it looks to phase out of service the lion's-share of its Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion fleet before the end of the decade, a service official told reporters on 9 June.

Speaking at the home of the USN's P-8A training force at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in Florida, instructor pilot with Patrol Squadron (VP) 30, Lieutenant Nikee Giampietro, said that with all of the east coast fleet having recently completed the move at the base from the P-3C over to the P-8A, work to do the same for the west coast fleet at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington state will begin in the coming weeks.

"[The USN] completed the stand up of its six east coast squadrons in April, and the west coast transition will start in the [beginning of the third quarter] of this year," Lt Giampietro said, adding that it will take approximately seven to eight months for each of the remaining six operational units to go through the transition process.

Those squadrons now stood up at NAS Jacksonville comprise VP-30 responsible for P-8A, P-3C, and Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle training, with P-8A operational units made up of VP-16, VP-5, VP-45, VP-8, VP-10, and VP-26. VP-30 will also undertake training for NAS Whidbey Island, with that station's operational P-8A units set to comprise VP-4, VP-47, VP-9, VP-1, VP-40, and VP-46. The first operational unit to be located at NAS Whidbey Island will be VP-4, which is currently deployed to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. The second unit will be VP-47, with the remaining order to be announced.

The USN plans to transition over to the P-8A for all its Patrol Squadrons by 2019, although a number of P-3Cs may remain in service after this date with the Special Projects Patrol Squadron.



http://www.janes.com/article/61141/us-navy-prepares-for-west-coast-transition-of-poseidon

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Saturday, 11 June 2016

Video: U.S. Navy Develops DAVD Head-Up Display for Divers

The US Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Centre Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) is planning to equip divers with a technology previously met only in aircraft. The new system is called Divers Augmented Vision Display (DAVD) will network frogmen while operating beneath the surface.








http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4084

Le nouveau porte avions Américains ,bientôt a la mer...
http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/le-nouveau-porte-avions-americain-bientot-la-mer

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Navy weighs radical changes to littoral combat ship crews, modules
David Larter, Navy Times 6:30 p.m. EDT June 14, 2016



Navy leaders are weighing radical crewing changes to the embattled littoral combat ship program, which has suffered two high-profile engineering breakdowns in the past year that have prompted renewed congressional scrutiny.

A 60-day review of the program is being briefed at the Navy's highest levels and is targeting changes intended to simplify the new class' complicated rotational crewing, where ship crews exchange custody of different ships during the training and deployment cycle.

The LCS was designed to be minimally manned with rotating crews to keep the ships forward and underway as much as possible. The 3-2-1 concept: three crews would be assigned to two ships. Typically, a crew would be deployed, a second crew would be training to deploy on a ship based out of the U.S. and the third crew would be restarting their training ashore and getting downtime after their deployment.

That set-up is likely to change, say two sources familiar with the Navy's deliberations. The review ordered by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson will likely include recommendations to shift to a Blue and Gold crew structure, a set-up used on ballistic missile and guided missile submarines where two crews swap custody of a single hull to maximize deployed time. The Navy has been moving away from rotational crew models other than the Blue and Gold out of concern that maintenance issues may slip through the cracks for crews serving only temporarily aboard any ship.

The review will also recommend changing some of the signature modularity of the program — the concept that ships at sea could readily swap out sensors and weapons packages to meet emergent missions.

Instead of three mission modules being available to switch out on deployment, the Navy is looking at moving to a “one ship, one mission” approach, where each LCS will be designated as surface, anti-submarine or mine countermeasures ships with the ability to switch out if needed.

“We are moving beyond the current idea of modularity,” said a Navy official familiar with the review. “Instead of three mission modules that can switched out in theater, we will move [to] something simpler: one ship, one mission. In this case, modularity will come in our ability to easily upgrade and switch out mission systems as new technology becomes available over time.”

With that approach, the ship’s crew — while still composed of the core crew of 50 and mission module of roughly 20 — would significantly increase the size of the crew because the module crew would be semi-permanently assigned to the crew.

Module crews will train and deploy with the core crews, the official said.

The review by Naval Surface Forces comes at the end of a rough seven months for the LCS program that revealed serious material and maintenance problems over a program that has been under heavy scrutiny.

“The goal of the review and specifically the crew proposals made by SURFOR is increased stability, simplicity, and ownership,” the official said. “An updated crewing plan, as well as adding more sailors to the core crew is the first step.”

When asked for comment for the proposed changes, a SURFOR spokeswoman said the plan was being briefed to leadership.

“Vice Admiral Thomas Rowden, Commander, Naval Surface Forces, briefed the Chief of Naval Operations and other members of the review team last week,” said Lt. Rebecca Haggard in an email. “The brief went well. We will let you know once a final decision has been made.”

Damage control

The past seven months have been a trying time for LCS, a ship class of as many as 40 hulls on whose future the size of the Navy's fleet rests. Both the forward-deployed LCS Fort Worth and the brand new Milwaukee had major mechanical failures within weeks of each other.


http://www.defensenews.com/story/military/2016/06/14/lcs-program-changes-review-john-richardson-navy/85865948/

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LCS Survives First Shock Test, Preps For More
Christopher P. Cavas, Defense News 8:58 p.m. EDT June 16, 2016


WASHINGTON – The new littoral combat ship (LCS) Jackson was showered by spray and shaken by a large explosion June 10 as she endured the first of a series of controlled tests intended to prove the design’s ability to withstand and survive combat and damage.

A 10,000-pound explosive charge was set off about a hundred yards from the Jackson – the Navy wouldn’t say exactly how close, saying the actual distance is classified – in waters off Florida’s Atlantic coast.

So was there any damage?

“Nothing unexpected,” said Capt. Thurraya Kent, a spokesperson for the Navy’s acquisition directorate. She acknowledged that minor damage was expected, such as items falling to the deck or glass cracking, and some components could be stressed.

Other sources indicated that initial results show the ship withstood the explosion better than expected, although evaluations continue.

About 260 instruments are placed throughout the ship to measure various aspects of the blast, which strikes above and below the water. After the test, the Jackson returned to the Mayport Naval Station where engineers downloaded instrument data, examined the ship and made necessary repairs, Kent said.

Another test is scheduled to take place around June 22, she said, with a third and final shot planned for July 8. Each test will use the same 10,000-pound explosives charge, but the ship will be moved progressively closer to the explosion.

The test schedule, Kent noted, is volatile, subject to weather conditions, traffic in the vicinity of the blast and marine fish and mammal activity. The first test, she noted, was delayed several days by weather.

The ship’s crew of about 50 and a number of engineers and observers – many from the Pentagon’s Office of Test and Evaluation (OT&E) -- were on board during the test. Kent added that a veterinarian was included “to assess sea mammal’s safety and security.”

“We take the safety and security of marine mammals seriously,” Kent added. “We have to keep in mind migration patterns in addition to the other variable of sea state and weather. We also have additional lookout, more than you would normally have when you’re out to sea. We do not conduct test shots if a marine mammal is in the proximity.”

Full Scale Shock Trials (FSST) are performed on most new US Navy ship designs, although Congress – at the urging of Pentagon OT&E director Michael Gilmore – actually wrote into law a requirement for the LCS tests. Thus, the tests are coming earlier in the LCS production line than originally planned.

Gilmore himself is expected to be aboard for the third test shot on Jacksonville.

The last time the Navy conducted FSSTs was in 2008 with Mesa Verde, the third ship of the San Antonio-class of amphibious transport docks.

Kent noted that a great deal of testing already has been accomplished on individual components built into the ships.

“Individual equipment shock trials, modelling and testing and other surrogate testing already have been done. They give you an idea of what to expect,” she said.

“Shock trials become the validation of those tests and demonstrate the ship’s ability to withstand an explosion. Shock trials are actually the culmination of all the trials that have been done to date.”

With two different LCS designs in production, there will be two series of shock trials. Jacksonville represents the Independence LCS 2 class, while the Milwaukee will test the Freedom LCS 1 design.

The Milwaukee recently completed a maintenance period and is also operating from Mayport. Her first test shot is scheduled for Aug. 9 and the last on Sept. 13. The ship recently completed a firing exercise using her 57mm gun.


http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense-news/2016/06/16/littoral-combat-ship-lcs-coronado-fort-worth-freedom-independence-milwaukee-rimpac-jackson-explosion-shock-test/86002384/

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U.S. Navy Delivers First MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters to Danish Defense
(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued June 15, 2016)


COPENHAGEN, Denmark --- Danish Defense celebrated the delivery of its first three MH-60R Seahawk helicopters by the U.S. Navy during a ceremony on June 6 in Copenhagen Harbor, Denmark. To mark the new additions to Danish Defense, the ceremony commenced with a Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk helicopter landing aboard a Danish frigate of the Iver Huitfeldt class.

The ceremony was attended by HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Danish Defense officials, the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, the Minister of Defense for Denmark, members of the Danish Parliament, and officials from U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). Also in attendance were executives from MH-60R Seahawk helicopter manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company.

"The delivery of these first three of nine MH-60R helicopters to Denmark is a great team accomplishment between our two governments and our industry partners," said Captain Craig D. Grubb, U.S. Navy Program Manager, H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopters with NAVAIR. "The aircraft have immediately entered service in Demark, and we look forward to operating, sustaining and advancing the MH-60R with Denmark for decades to come."

Representing the first FMS MH-60R Seahawk helicopters in Europe, the aircraft will be stationed at Air Squadron 723, Karup Air Base in Denmark. The helicopters' primary missions will be maritime surveillance, Anti Surface Warfare, force protection and utility transport operations, including providing support to NATO in anti-piracy operations. In the Arctic and North Atlantic region, the Danish MH-60R Seahawk helicopter will also provide support to austere regions, patrolling territorial boundaries, fisheries and perform search and rescue.

Danish Defense signed a Letter of Agreement in 2012 to procure nine MH-60R Seahawk helicopters through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program to replace its fleet of British Lynx helicopters. The ninth MH-60R Seahawk aircraft will be delivered in 2018.

Denmark is the second FMS procurement for the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, following the Royal Australian Navy, which will take delivery of its 24th MH-60R Seahawk aircraft later this year.

The MH-60R "Romeo" Seahawk helicopter is deployed as the primary U.S. Navy anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare system for open-ocean and littoral zones. U.S. naval forces have found the Romeo platform to be an operationally effective and reliable first responder for all missions and contingencies encountered at sea around the world.

In addition to its primary mission of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, the MH-60R Seahawk aircraft performs search and rescue, troop transport, medical evacuation, ship-to-ship replenishment, and humanitarian relief operations.


Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.


http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/174736/us-navy-delivers-first-mh_60r-helicopters-to-denmark.html

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US Navy Issues RfI for Low-Rate CH-53K Production (excerpt)
(Source: IHS Jane's Defence Weekly; published June 16, 2016)
By Gareth Jennings
LONDON --- The US Navy has disclosed its intention to contract Sikorsky to deliver 20 low-rate initial production (LRIP) CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters to the US Marine Corps (USMC).

A request for information (RfI) for the programme management, engineering, logistics support, various recurring and nonrecurring efforts, and the fabrication, assembly, and delivery of 20 LRIP 3 and LRIP 4 CH-53K helicopters was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website on 13 June.

Once awarded, the contract will cover 24 CH-53K LRIP deliveries, testing, sustainment, and support.

According to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), responders should have or have had a working relationship with the CH-53K original equipment manufacturer, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, and should submit their information no later than 17:00 hours Eastern Daylight Time on 18 June.

According to the production plan, which was briefed to journalists at the recent ILA Airshow in Berlin, LRIP production of 26 CH-53K helicopters will commence in the fourth quarter of 2019 (the beginning of fiscal year 2020) and run through four lots through to the fourth quarter of 2023 (Q1 FY 2024).

Full-rate production of 168 helicopters will commence with Lot 5 in Q4 2019 and run through to Lot 12 at the end of 2031. Including the six system demonstration platforms, the USMC has a programme of record for 200 CH-53Ks. (end of excerpt)




http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/174784/us-navy-issues-rfi-for-low_rate-ch_53k-production.html

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Manoeuvres américaines en mer des Philippines, malgré les contentieux avec Pékin


Manille, 19 juin 2016 (AFP) -

Deux porte-avions américains ont entamé des manoeuvres en mer des Philippines, ont annoncé dimanche des responsables militaires américains, au moment où un profond contentieux oppose Manille et Pékin en mer de Chine méridionale.

Le commandement américain du Pacifique a précisé que le USS John C. Stennis et le USS Ronald Reagan avaient débuté samedi des exercices de défense aérienne, de surveillance maritime et des tirs à longue portée.

Le commandement précise que ces opérations s'inscrivent dans le cadre de la présence depuis des décennies des forces armées américaines en Asie-Pacifique, une région où Pékin a un comportement de plus en plus expansionniste.

Pékin, avançant des raisons historiques, revendique la souveraineté de la quasi-totalité de la mer de Chine méridionale, une région riche en ressources et cruciale pour le commerce mondial.

Pour appuyer ses prétentions, la Chine y mène d'énormes travaux de remblaiement, construisant des îles artificielles et des pistes d'atterrissage pouvant accueillir des avions militaires.

Des opérations effectuées au grand dam des pays riverains, notamment du Vietnam, des Philippines, de la Malaisie ou de Brunei, qui ont également des revendications sur la zone -- qui se chevauchent parfois.

"Aucune autre marine ne peut concentrer sur une seul mer une telle puissance de feu. C'était vraiment impressionnant", a affirmé le contre-amiral Marcus Hitchcock.

Le ministre américain de la Défense Ashton Carter s'était en avril rendu à bord de l'USS Stennis alors qu'il naviguait au large des Philippines, non loin des zones disputées entre Manille et Pékin.

A cette occasion, M. Carter avait affirmé que les Etats-Unis allaient continuer "à jouer un rôle pour conserver la paix et la stabilité" dans la région, malgré les ambitions de Pékin.

Peter Galvez, porte-parole du ministère philippin de la Défense, a affirmé que les manoeuvres américaines montraient la détermination des Etats-Unis à respecter sa promesse de défendre les Philippines.

La marine américaine a précisé que ces manoeuvres impliquant deux porte-avions avaient lieu depuis plusieurs années en mer des Philippines, en mer de Chine méridionale et en mer de Chine orientale, où un autre contentieux territorial oppose Pékin et Tokyo, autre allié de Washington

http://www.marine-oceans.com/actualites-afp/13063-manoeuvres-americaines-en-mer-des-philippines-malgre-les-contentieux-avec-pekin

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US Aircraft Carriers Start Drills Off Philippines
Agence France-Presse 1:58 p.m. EDT June 19, 2016

MANILA, Philippines — Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the Philippine Sea, defense officials said Sunday, as Washington’s close ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea.

The US Pacific Command said the USS John C. Stennis and USS Ronald Reagan, among the world’s largest warships, began conducting air defense drills, sea surveillance, and long range strikes on Saturday.

The command said the operations marked America’s continued presence in the Asia-Pacific as China expands its maritime strength and engages in massive island building activities in disputed waters.

“No other Navy can concentrate this much combat power on one sea ... It was truly impressive,” said US Rear Adm. Marcus Hitchcock, carrier strike group commander.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/asia-pacific/2016/06/19/us-aircraft-carriers-start-drills-philippines/86112498/

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LCS Coronado departs on maiden deployment
Sam Fellman, Navy Times 1:52 p.m. EDT June 23, 2016


The fleet’s water jet-propelled trimaran is about to turn heads across the western Pacific.

Littoral combat ship Coronado set out from San Diego Wednesday on the ship’s maiden deployment, which will be the first deployment to 7th Fleet for the Independence-class LCS.

The ship will take part in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific exercise off Hawaii and then will conduct operations with Asia-Pacific allies and partners.

In addition to the core crew, the Coronado has embarked a MQ-8 Fire Scout drone helicopter, which has been outfitted with a radar that “will significantly improve the Navy’s surface search capabilities for LCS and its action group,” according to a 3rd Fleet release Tuesday.

"It is an honor and privilege to deploy the first LCS-2 variant to the 7th Fleet AOR," said Cmdr. Scott Larson, the Coronado’s skipper, in the release. "It's time to demonstrate the full potential of these ships to the fleet, and I have every confidence that the Coronado team is poised to execute at a high level in support of vital operational tasking.”

This all-aluminum LCS variant built by Austal USA has some eye-popping capabilities, including hitting speeds above 50 mph.



http://www.defensenews.com/story/military/2016/06/23/lcs-coronado-departs-maiden-westpac-deployment/86289352/

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Malgré les écueils, l’US Navy poursuit la mise au point d’un canon électromagnétiquePosté dans Forces navales, Technologie par Laurent Lagneau Le 26-06-2016


Depuis 2005, l’Office of Naval Research (ONR) de la marine américaine développe un arme qui pourrait révolutionner l’artillerie navale : le canon électromagnétique (ou Railgun).

Il s’agit, avec un projectile d’une dizaine de kg, de faire circuler un courant électrique très intense ainsi qu’un champ magnétique entre deux rails parallèles conducteurs d’électricité. Grâce à la force de Laplace, résultante de celle de Lorenz, la munition subit alors une
accélération assez forte pour l’éjecter du canon à une vitesse d’au moins 5 fois la vitesse du son (Mach 5).

Un canon électromagnétique présente trois avantages. Le premier est il ne sera plus utile de stocker, à bord d’un navire, des explosifs. Ensuite, sa portée étant estimée à 200 nautiques, il sera donc possible de frapper vite et à une distance de sécurité, ce qui éviter le risque d’une éventuelle riposte. Enfin, son coût d’utilisation devrait être abordable dans la mesure où un tir de railgun coûtera au maximum 50.000 dollars (il faut compter entre 0,5 et 1,5 millions dollars pour un tir de missile).

L’ONR a déjà mené plusieurs essais à terre de cette arme. L’un d’eux, réalisé en décembre 2010, a permis d’envoyer un projectile à 200 km de distance, avec une vitesse de Mach 5. La puissance de ce tir avait été mesurée à 33 mégajoules.

Et cela suppose, et c’est un premier écueil, de disposer d’énormément d’énergie électrique. Il faut en effet fournir environ 25 MW pour expédier un obus sur une cible. Le seul navire de l’US Navy en mesure de produire assez d’électricité pour alimenter le railgun est le nouveau destroyer USS Zumwalt, commandé à seulement trois exemplaires.

Un autre problème de cette arme est que, à cause des contraintes physiques, souffre d’usure prématurée. Les travaux actuellement menés par l’ONR visent donc à améliorer significativement la résistance de ses composants, l’objectif étant d’arriver à tirer des milliers de projectiles.

« Nous allons y arriver. Nous progressons et nous le prouverons par les faits », a assuré, à l’AFP, Tom Boucher, le responsable de ce projet à l’ONR.

Faute de quoi, ce projet de canon électromagnétique pourrait tomber à l’eau… Car il a été établi que les obus développés pour le railgun peuvent tout aussi bien être tiré à très grande vitesse par les canons traditionnels.

« Il se trouve que des canons à poudre tirant le même projectile à haute vélocité permettent d’offrir presque autant que le canon électrique, et qu’en plus on peut y arriver beaucoup plus rapidement », a en effet expliqué Bob Work, le secrétaire adjoint américain à la Défense.

Pour autant, Tom Boucher estime que ce canon électromagnétique sera opérationnel et déployé d’ici 10 ans. Une solution à court terme serait de concevoir un railgun moins gourmand en énergie afin de pouvoir l’installer sur des navires actuellement en service… Mais cela réduirait ses performances (portée réduite de 100 à 50 nautiques avec une vitesse deux fois moins importante).

Tout dépendra de l’évolution des technologies en matière de condensateurs, de matériaux et de production d’électricité. D’après Popular Mechanics, Raytheon Integrated Defense System mène des recherches dans ce sens en collaboration avec l’ONR.


En savoir plus sur http://www.opex360.com/2016/06/26/malgre-les-ecueils-lus-navy-poursuit-la-mise-au-point-dun-canon-electromagnetique/#Fcx9rzodc6Wt9B70.99