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)

Yakuza a écrit:

le film stealth en marche

plus le laser testé dernièrement ..et voilà la guerre des étoiles ...ils prennent un virage à grande vitesse ..le monde n'a qu'à se tenir

US Navy - X-47B UCAS First Carrier-Based Launch From USS George H.W. Bush Nuclear Aircraft Carrier CVN 77

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UCAS Touch and Go Landing

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SAN DIEGO (May 14, 2013) Sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 1 conduct training in small boat defensive tactics in San Diego bay. The Coastal Riverine Force is a core Navy capability that provides port and harbor security, high value asset protection and maritime security operations in coastal and inland waterways



NORTH ARABIAN SEA (May 13, 2013) A Sailor signals an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Jolly Rogers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 onto a catapult on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dwight D. Eisenhower is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility promoting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.



PACIFIC OCEAN (May 15, 2013) A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B interceptor missile is launched from the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) during a Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy test in the mid-Pacific. The SM-3 Block 1B successfully intercepted a target missile that had been launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands in Kauai, Hawaii. Lake Erie detected and tracked the target with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar. The event was the third consecutive successful intercept test of the SM-3 Block IB missile.



ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 17, 2013) An X-47B unmanned combat air system (UCAS) demonstrator prepares to execute a touch and go landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). This is the first time any unmanned aircraft has completed a touch and go landing at sea. George H.W. Bush is conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean.



ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 14, 2013) An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator launches from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck.

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Multimedia Release -- Submarine Minnesota (SSN 783) Successfully Completes First Sea Trials


NEWPORT NEWS, Va., May 6, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced that the newest Virginia-class submarine, Minnesota (SSN 783), successfully completed alpha sea trials today. Alpha trials are the boat's first round of at-sea tests and evaluations. Minnesota is being built at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division.

www.globenewswire.com

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Des dauphins découvrent une torpille du 19e siècle au large de Coronado


Le US Navy Marine Mammal Program a pour but d’apprendre aux dauphins à détecter des mines sous-marines (Photo: Archives/Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua Scott/US Navy)

C’est à quelques kilomètres du musée naval USS Midway et non loin de l’Hôtel del Coronado, qu’une équipe de la US Navy a découvert un véritable bijou militaire: une torpille du genre qui était déployée à la fin du 19e siècle, et considérée à l’époque comme une merveille technologique.

La torpille dite Howell a en fait été découvert par… les dauphins qui sont formés par la marine américaine pour trouver des objets sous-marins, y compris des mines, que la technologie à un milliard $ n’est pas capable de détecter.

Selon Ed Budzyna, un porte-parole du Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, la marine américaine a fait appel à toute une ménagerie d’animaux depuis la création du programme US Navy marine mammal program dans les années 1960: requins, raies, orques, baleines pilotes et phoques.

Parmi les 100 animaux actuellement dans le programme basé à San Diego (Californie), seuls les lions de mer et les dauphins sont «opérationnels», ce qui signifie prêts à être déployés dans une situation de combat.

Le sonar naturel d’un dauphin reste encore bien supérieur à tout dispositif utilisé par l’armée. Ces mammifères marins sont en effet capables d’envoyer des ondes sonores et de «lire» dans les échos qui rebondissent.

Quant aux lions de mer, ils ont une excellente vision nocturne et sont capables de dire de quelle direction proviennent des sons sous-marins.


Une torpille Howell exposée au Naval Undersea Museum, dans l’État de Washingston (Photo: Archives/US Navy)

Même si elle n’est pas aussi connue que la Gatling et le char Sherman, la torpille Howell a été saluée comme une percée majeure lorsque les États-Unis était en forte concurrence pour la domination des océans. C’était la première torpille qui pouvait vraiment suivre une piste sans laisser de sillage et écraser une cible, selon les responsables de la Navy.

Seulement une cinquantaine de ces torpilles ont été réalisés entre 1870 et 1889 par une société du Rhode Island avant l’arrivée d’une copie améliorée par un rival.

C’est en 1870 que le capitaine de corvette américain John Adams Howell perfectionna la torpille Whitehead en remplaçant la propulsion à air comprimé par l’énergie accumulée dans un volant d’inertie lancé à 10 000 tours par minute avant l’envoi de la torpille. Outre une discrétion considérablement accrue au niveau visuel et sonore, l’effet gyroscopique du volant garantissait à l’engin une trajectoire rigoureusement rectiligne. Au cours d’essais comparatifs menée par l’US Navy, la torpille Howell construite par la société Hotchkiss obtint 95 % de tirs au but contre 37 % pour le modèle Whitehead.

Jusqu’à tout récemment, seule une torpille Howell avait été retrouvée. Elle est d’ailleurs exposée au Naval Undersea Museum, à Keyport (Washington).

«Considérant ce qui était fait avant que l’électricité ne soit fourni aux ménages américains, la torpille [Howell] était assez sophistiqué pour l’époque», a déclaré Christian Harris, directeur des opérations pour la division biosciences du Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific.

Des dauphins garde des bases de sous-marins américains dans les États de Géorgie et de Washington. Cet automne, ils seront déployés pour une mission de chasse aux mines au large de la Croatie.

Lorsqu’un dauphin nommé Ten a fait surface après une plongée en eau peu profonde le mois dernier et a touché l’avant du bateau, les spécialistes de la Marine ont été interloqué. «Il a été positif dans un endroit que nous ne nous attendions pas», a déclaré Mike Rothe, qui dirige le programme de mammifères marins.

Une semaine plus tard, un dauphin nommé Spetz a fait la même chose, dans la même zone. Cette fois, le dauphin a reçu l’ordre de placer un marqueur sur l’objet.

Des plongeurs de la Marine, puis des techniciens d’explosifs et munitions ont examiné l’objet, qui était en deux morceaux, et ont alors déterminé que les années l’avaient rendu inerte. Sur une pièce était inscrit «USN n° 24.»

Les morceaux de torpille ont été levées à la surface et emmenés dans une base de la Marine de nettoyage et d’attendre l’expédition de l’histoire navale et de commandement du patrimoine, situé au Navy Yard Washington.

Les dauphins ont trouvé des choses inattendues dans le passé, y compris une mine en forme de casier à homard lors d’une mission au large du Canada avec la Marine royale canadienne.

«Nous n’avons jamais trouvé quelque chose comme ça», a déclaré Mike Rothe, sa voix pleine d’admiration pour les mammifères marins. «Jamais».


http://www.45enord.ca/2013/05/des-dauphins-decouvrent-une-torpille-du-19e-siecle-au-large-de-coronado/

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NAVAIR requests data on another multi-stage target
By Richard Scott
5/22/2013
The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has begun a market and technology survey for a potential Multi-Stage Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Target while continuing work with ATK to resolve problems affecting the existing GQM-173A Multi-Stage Supersonic Target (MSST) programme.

The new request for information (RfI), released by NAVSEA's Aerial Target and Decoy Systems Program Office (PMA-208), details top-level performance requirements essentially identical to those set out for the original MSST competition.

PMA-208 said it was "reviewing the requirement and performing market research" as part of the MSST re-planning effort.

ATK was awarded a USD96.8 million, 50-month system development and demonstration (SDD) contract by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in August 2008 for the design, development, integration and test of the GQM-173A aerial target system, comprising a two-stage unmanned aerial target, a ground launcher and associated support equipment. Under the management of PMA-208, the MSST is being developed to meet the US Navy's requirement for a two-stage target surrogate representative of the Russian 3M54 Klub (NATO designation SS-N-27B 'Sizzler') anti-ship cruise missile.


http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065979437&channel=defence

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Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy Complete Triton Unmanned Aircraft's First Flight

2013-05-22T13:15:00-0700




PALMDALE, Calif. – May 22, 2013 – The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built MQ-4C Triton high-altitude unmanned aircraft successfully completed its first flight today from the company's manufacturing facility in Palmdale.

A photo accompanying this release can be found at http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=18898.

Triton is specially designed to fly surveillance missions up to 24 hours at altitudes of more than 10 miles – allowing coverage out to 2,000 nautical miles. The advanced suite of sensors can detect and automatically classify different types of ships.

"First flight represents a critical step in maturing Triton's systems before operationally supporting the Navy's maritime surveillance mission around the world," said Capt. James Hoke, Triton program manager with Naval Air Systems Command. "Replacing our aging surveillance aircraft with a system like Triton will allow us to monitor ocean areas significantly larger with greater persistence."

A Navy and Northrop Grumman flight test team conducted about a 1.5-hour flight that started at 7:10 a.m. from Palmdale.

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor to the Navy's MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance program.

"Triton is the most advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance [ISR] unmanned aircraft system ever designed for use across vast ocean areas and coastal regions," said Mike Mackey, Northrop Grumman Triton UAS deputy program director. "Through a cooperative effort with the Navy and our industry partners, we successfully demonstrated the flight control systems that allow Triton to operate autonomously. We couldn't be prouder of the entire team for this achievement."

Additional flight tests will take place from Palmdale to mature the system before being flown to the main flight test facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., later this year.

In 2008, Northrop Grumman was awarded a systems development and demonstration contract to build two aircraft and test them in preparation for operational missions.

The Navy's program of record calls for 68 Tritons to be built.

Triton carries a variety of ISR sensor payloads that allow military commanders to gather high-resolution imagery, use radar to detect targets, and provide airborne communications and information sharing capabilities to military units across long distances.

At 130.9 feet, Triton has a wingspan larger than the world's most common commercial airliner, the Boeing 737. Combined with an efficient engine and other aerodynamic design features, Triton can fly 11,500 miles without refueling.

Northrop Grumman's Triton industry team includes Aurora Flight Sciences, BAE Systems, Curtis-Wright Corporation, L3 Communications, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce, Sierra Nevada Corporation and Vought Aircraft Industries.

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.

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OKINAWA, Japan (May 18, 2013) The race team from the Headquarters Company of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 cruises down a hill in a hand crafted banana box car on Camp Shields during a modified soap box derby. The event was part of the deployment training for NMCB-5. NMCB-5 is supporting Navy and joint forces throughout the U.S. Pacific Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John P. Curtis/Released)

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the United States Naval Academy Class of 2013

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The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) returns to its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 completed flight operations off the coast of Southern California.

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The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) conducts training operations in the Atlantic Ocean.

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(May 15, 2013) Cmdr. Jeff Farah, Gold Crew commanding officer of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730), speaks to a Sailor on the bridge as the boat moors at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor following a strategic deterrent patrol.

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(May 20, 2013) Sailors assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75 perform helicopter maintenance on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

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(May 21, 2013) The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728), gold crew, arrives in Souda harbor. Florida is homeported in Kings Bay, Ga., and is deployed conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

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(May 21, 2013) Republic of Indonesia Navy sailors render honors as the guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) arrives in Jakarta, Indonesia.

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(May 22, 2013) The amphibious assault ship USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Laramie (T-AO-203).

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(May 22, 2013) The Northrop Grumman-built Triton unmanned aircraft system completed its first flight from the company's manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif. The one an a half hour flight successfully demonstrated control systems that allow Triton to operate autonomously. Triton is specially designed to fly surveillance missions up to 24 hours at altitudes of more than 10 miles, allowing coverage out to 2,000 nautical miles. The system's advanced suite of sensors can detect and automatically classify different types of ships.

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Littoral combat ships are fast, agile and mission-focused platforms that are designed to operate near shores and in the open ocean.

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(May 21, 2013) The amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) fires a surface to air intercept missile from it's Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launcher while off the coast of California during a live-fire exercise.

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Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Jose Toro, left, monitors an MH-53E Sea Dragon from the Vanguards of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is conducting training and carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean.

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Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Steven Lilly signals to an MV-22 Osprey from the Marine Tiltrotor Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 22 as it prepares to land on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

USS Shiloh ( CG67 ) à Zhan Jiang

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Engagements validate defensive weapon's upgrades


TUCSON, Ariz., May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --The U.S. Navy completed the first series of developmental and operational testing (DT/OT) of Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2.

In at-sea tests conducted from the U.S. Navy's Self-Defense Test Ship, RAM Block 2 missiles engaged two targets in tactical dual-salvo scenarios designed to demonstrate the advanced missile's defensive capabilities. The DT/OT tests successfully engaged high-speed, maneuvering and sub-sonic, maneuvering targets with all four RAM Block 2 missiles meeting test objectives.

"RAM Block 2's success in these developmental tests follows the completion of a series of guidance test vehicle flight tests," said Rick Nelson, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Naval and Area Mission Defense product line. "RAM Block 2's increased kinematic capability and its advanced guidance system will continue to give the warfighter an unfair advantage in the fight."

Raytheon and its manufacturing partner RAMSYS of Germany were awarded the second U.S. Navy RAM Block 2 low-rate production contact for 61 missiles in December 2012. In addition, as previously reported, the company received a $155.6 million Block 2 production contract for the German navy earlier this year.

The RAM Block 2 upgrade includes a four-axis independent control actuator system and an increase in rocket motor capability, increasing the missile's effective range and delivering a significant increase in maneuverability. The improved missile also incorporates an upgraded passive radio frequency seeker, a digital autopilot and engineering changes in selected infrared seeker components.

RAM is a supersonic, lightweight, quick reaction, fire-and-forget missile providing defense against anti-ship cruise missiles, helicopter and airborne threats, and hostile surface craft. The missile's autonomous dual-mode, passive radio frequency and infrared guidance design provide a high-firepower capability for engaging multiple threats simultaneously. RAM is installed, or planned for installation, aboard more than 165 ships as an integral self-defense weapon for the navies of Egypt, Germany, Greece, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

raytheon.mediaroom.com

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Family members observe the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) depart Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to participate in Pacific Partnership 2013, May 25. Pacific Partnership is an annual Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance mission between U.S. military, host and partner nations, non-governmental organizations and international agencies designed to build stronger relationships and disaster response capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

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JAVA SEA (May 25, 2013) Sailors aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) send Morse code flash messages to the guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) during a night flash exercise as a part of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2013. More than 1,000 Sailors and Marines are participating in CARAT Indonesia 2013. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste.

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Sailors work on the flight deck as the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) transits the Strait of Malacca, May 25.

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An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 prepares to drop divers from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 into the Indian Ocean during a mine pounce training operation, May 26.

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A landing craft air cushion (LCAC) enters the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in the Gulf of Aden, May 30.

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San Diego into the South China Sea

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USS Florida (SSGN 728)

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Sikorsky awarded $435 million contract for four CH-53K test aircraft

The US Navy is awarding Sikorsky a $435 million contract modification to build four more CH-53K prototype helicopters for operational evaluation purposes.

Instead of awarding a separate contract for the four system demonstration test articles, the Naval Air Systems Command has decided to add the machines to an existing $3.5 billion system development and demonstration contract that was awarded in April 2006.

The original contract obliged Sikorsky to build five developmental test aircraft and two ground static test airframes. The four additional aircraft are going to be used strictly for mission testing, Sikorsky says.

The first aircraft is expected to be delivered within 39 months and all four aircraft are scheduled for delivery by the end of March 2017 when the US Marine Corps hopes to start its operation evaluations. Those grueling trials call for the CH-53K to haul 12,247kg (27,000lb) over a distance of 110nm (204km/h)-meaning the new K-model will have three times the external payload capacity as the old E-model helicopter.

The four additional prototypes are not production aircraft, Sikorsky emphasises. Low rate initial production will start later, however, the extra machines do count against the total CH-53K programme of record consisting of 200 helicopters, meaning there will be a total of 196 production aircraft.

www.flightglobal.com/

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US Navy Awards $6.2 Billion In Destroyer Contracts

WASHINGTON — Construction contracts worth more than $6 billion were awarded Monday to shipbuilders General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls to build nine new DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the US Navy announced, with an option for a tenth ship.

The awards keep destroyer construction humming at a pace that has been maintained since the DDG 51 class was restarted in 2009.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) received a $3,331,476,001 fixed-price-incentive firm target (FPIF) contract for the design and construction of five ships, one each in fiscal 2013 to 2017, the Navy said in a press release. The ships will all be built at the company’s Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) was awarded a $2,843,385,450 FPIF contract for the design and construction of four ships, one in 2013 and one each in 2015 to 2017. The award also includes a contract option for a fifth ship, which, if approved, about be added to 2014.

The Navy officially has asked Congress to fund one ship in 2014, but is seeking multi-year procurement (MYP) authority to add a second ship in 2014, hence the option for another ship. Congress is generally disposed to support adding the ship, and the service, in a press release, said it is working with Capitol Hill “to resolve funding shortfalls resulting from sequestration reductions before contracting the tenth ship.”

HII received the five-ship MYP award due to a lower bid, which works out to about $666 million per ship. BIW’s four-ship award comes to nearly $711 million per ship.

The contract awards do not include high-priced government-furnished equipment (GFE) bought separately by the Navy. GFE includes such major items as the Aegis combat system and all weapon systems.

The construction awards, Navy said, are based on “a competitive allocation strategy used in the DDG 51 class shipbuilding program since 1996. Known as profit related to offers, or PRO, [the strategy] uses FPIF contracts to ensure reasonable prices while maintaining the industrial base.

“Congressional approval for the use of MYP contracts facilitated program budget savings of more than $1.5 billion while enabling the shipbuilders and equipment manufacturers to more efficiently plan future workloads,” the Navy said in its press release.

The nine-ship MYP awarded June 3 includes hull numbers DDG 117 through 125. The addition of a tenth ship would extend the contract through DDG 126.

Two ships already are funded in 2013, the Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), which will be built at Ingalls, and the Bath-build Daniel Inouye (DDG 118).

The yet-to-be-named DDG 119, requested in the 2014 budget, will be built at Ingalls.

Initially, the new ships will be built to the Flight IIA version of the Arleigh Burke class, to which all ships since DDG 79 have been completed.

Starting with the second ship in 2016, however, a significant addition, the new Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), will be introduced to replace the SPY-1D radars in current ships. The AMDR, which will continue to work with the Aegis combat system, will have greater capabilities for the ballistic missile defense role, but also will require greater installed power and other design changes.

An AMDR contractor has yet to be chosen, although later this year the Navy is expected to select a radar from either Lockheed Martin, Raytheon or Northrop Grumman.

The switch to the Flight III will be contractually handled as an “engineering change proposal,” the Navy said.

It is not yet decided which hull, or which shipbuilder, will handle the first Flight III ship. Should Congress fund only one ship in 2014, Ingalls would also get DDG 120 in 2015, with DDG 121 going to Bath. That would work out to Bath building the first AMDR ship, which would be DDG 123.

Should the second 2014 ship be added, DDG 120 would become a Bath ship, and the second 2016 ship would become DDG 124, built at Ingalls.

It is also possible construction of the first AMDR ship could slide and be awarded at a later date, although that is not now the Navy’s intention.

Bath Iron Works continues as the DDG 51 program’s lead design shipyard, a position it has held since the 1980s.

Arleigh Burke destroyers currently under construction include the John Finn (DDG 113) and Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) at Ingalls, and the Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) and Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) at Bath.

www.defensenews.com

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Northrop Lands a Pair of Follow-On E-2D "Hawkeye" Contracts

By Rich Smith | More Articles
June 4, 2013 | Comments (0)


Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC ) won a pair of Pentagon contracts Tuesday, both benefiting the U.S. Navy, and both relating to the Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft.

The smaller of the two awards, not to exceed $7.5 million in value, is a delivery order under a previously awarded Basic Ordering Agreement calling upon Northrop to repair 43 line items on the Advanced Hawkeye System used on the E-2D aircraft. Northrop is to complete these repairs by June 3, 2015.

The larger award by a factor of two, for $17.1 million, modifies a different previously awarded contract, this one for the advanced acquisition of product, fleet, and engineering support needed to begin full rate production of Lot 1 E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes. This contract should be completed by June 2014.

Northrop describes the Advanced Hawkeye as the "digital quarterback" of a Navy carrier strike group. Its role is to sweep the battlefield ahead of a strike force with its powerful airborne radars, detecting threats and assigning assets to meet these threats. In battle, the Advanced Hawkeye "manages" the Navy's warplanes in the air, identifying and keeping track of friendly and unfriendly aircraft and warning the seaborne fleet away from danger.

www.fool.com

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DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Multiyear Procurement Contract Awarded
The US Navy awarded two contracts for the DDG 51 fiscal years (FY) 2013-2017 multiyear procurement (MYP) for DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers June 3. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) is being awarded a $2,843,385,450 fixed-price incentive firm target (FPIF) contract for the design and construction of four DDG 51 class ships, one in FY 2013 and one each in FY 2015-2017. This award also includes a contract option for a fifth ship.Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is being awarded a $3,331,476,001 fixed-price-incentive firm target (FPIF) contract for the design and construction of five DDG 51 class ships, one each in FY 2013-2017.

These multiyear procurement awards are for a total of nine ships, with an option for a tenth ship. The Navy's objective is to procure the tenth ship as part of the planned FY 2013-2017 MYP. The Navy will work with Congress to resolve funding shortfalls resulting from sequestration reductions before contracting for the 10th ship.

"These contract awards represent great value to the taxpayer and will ensure our warfighters have the ships and systems they need to prevail in any situation," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "By leveraging competition in the DDG 51 class shipbuilding program, these shipbuilders will continue their proud histories in delivering these highly capable ships to the fleet while meeting critical operational requirements for integrated air and missile defense capability."

A competitive allocation strategy used in the DDG 51 class shipbuilding program since 1996, known as profit related to offers, or PRO, uses FPIF contracts to ensure reasonable prices while maintaining the industrial base. Congressional approval for the use of MYP contracts facilitated program budget savings of more than $1.5 billion while enabling the shipbuilders and equipment manufacturers to more efficiently plan future workloads.

"I am proud of the success of the DDG 51 program and appreciate Congress' continued support and approval of the Navy's multiyear procurement request," said Mabus. "This award enables stability in our industrial base and ensures the Navy and the nation get the most efficient and affordable build plan for these destroyers."

The destroyers are being procured in a Flight IIA configuration, relying on a stable and mature infrastructure while increasing the ship's air and missile defense capabilities through spiral upgrades to the weapons and sensor suites.

The Navy plans to introduce the first DDG 51 Flight III on the second ship in FY 2016. Once Flight III requirements are approved, the new baseline will be implemented as an engineering change proposal. It is anticipated that the Flight III design will replace the Aegis AN/SPY-1D radar with the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and provide for more electrical power and cooling capacity, providing the next generation of integrated air and missile defense and joint battle space awareness.

navyrecognition.com/

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Submarine Minnesota Delivered on Budget and Ahead of Schedule

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., June 6, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced that the company's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division delivered the submarine Minnesota (SSN 783) to the U.S. Navy today. The boat, the last of the Block II Virginia-class submarines, delivered nearly 11 months ahead of schedule.

www.globenewswire.com

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07/06/2013

La Navy modernise ses E-6B «Mercury»!



L'US Navy va moderniser les systèmes de communication sur son avion de commandement aéroporté E-6B «Mercury». Cette amélioration permettra en autre la mise en réseau du système avec les autres plateformes aériennes et maritimes.

Boeing, le constructeur du E-6B (basé sur une cellule de B707) et Rockwell Collins seront les fournisseurs pour la mise à niveau IPBE (Internet Protocol and Bandwidth Expansion). Les modifications prévoient que l'E-6B dispose d’une architecture de système entièrement numérique et d’un nouveau système de communication. Le système en réseau élargi et sécurisé permettra un flux en direct «Line-Of-Sight» de données numériques à ultra-hautes fréquences.

Au total se sont 12 appareils de type E-6B «Mercury» qui sont concernés par ces améliorations. L’E-6B devrait rester en service jusqu’en 2038.


Le Boeing E-6B «Mercury» :

Le E-6A, nommé «Hermes» à l'origine, entra en service le 3 août 1989, au sein de la VQ-3 "Ironmen". Il équipa également la VQ-4 "Shadows" en janvier 1991, afin de remplacer les EC-130Q de la Navy. Il fut construit à 16 exemplaires. Plus de 20 équipages sont opérationnels sur cet appareil, basé à Tinker AFB. A l'automne 1991, l'US Navy suggéra de le renommer Mercury. Il dispose en particulier du système LTWA (Long Trailing Wire Aerial), consistant en 2 antennes, l'une longue de 1’525 m et l'autre de 8’500 m. L'appareil volant en cercle peut alors entrer en communication VLF (pour Very Low Frequency, soit entre 3Khz et 30Khz. Cette gamme de fréquence à onde longue est la plus à même de pénétrer l'eau) avec les sous-marins. Une grande attention a été portée à la résistance au brouillage électromagnétique.

Le E-6B, lui, vola pour la première fois en 1997, afin de remplacer les EC-135 de l'Air Force et entra en service en octobre 1998. Les modifications concernent principalement le cockpit, plus proche du Boeing B737, la capacité de servir de relais aux silos basés à terre et de poste de commande. La fonction dite "Looking Glass", ou mission ABNCP (Airborne National Command Post), permet à l'avion en vol de prendre le relais si jamais les postes de commandement nucléaires sont détruits, grâce au système ALCS (Airborne Launch Control System).

Photo : E-6B «Mercury» @ US Navy


http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2013/06/07/la-navy-modernise-ses-e-6b-mercury.html

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(June 7, 2013) Midshipmen participate in a live-fire exercise on the fantail aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

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PACIFIC OCEAN (June 7, 2013) C-2A Greyhounds, from the Providers of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30, taxi on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

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The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) transit the Indian Ocean, June 1

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The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) performs high-speed maneuvers in the Arabian Gulf, June 3.

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INDIAN OCEAN (June 8, 2013) An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the Gray Wolves of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts



U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (June 6, 2013) Midshipmen participate in a barricade drill with Sailors on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dwight D. Eisenhower is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility promoting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.



WASHINGTON (June 7, 2013) In an undated file photo provided by Huntington Ingalls Industries, the Virginia-class attack submarine Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Minnesota (SSN 783) is shown during sea trials. The last of the Block II Virginia-class submarines was delivered to the Navy June 6, 2013, nearly 11 months ahead of schedule



ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 6, 2013) The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) transit alongside the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198) during a replenishment-at-sea. Bataan is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting routine training and qualifications.



SAN DIEGO (May 2, 2013) U.S. Navy SEALs jump out of an SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter during a combat rescue swimmer course. Navy SEALS are the maritime component of U.S. Special Operations Forces and are trained to conduct a variety if operations from the sea, air and land



GULF OF AQABA (June 6, 2013) A landing craft air cushion (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 conducts operations while assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17). San Antonio is deployed as part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group with embarked Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

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UPDATE 1-Bell, Boeing to get order for 99 more V-22 Ospreys

WASHINGTON, June 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy plans to sign this week a five-year contract valued just under $6.5 billion to buy 99 new V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft built by Boeing Co and Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc, the program's manager said in an interview on Monday.

Marine Corps Colonel Gregory Masiello said the multiyear contract, the second one signed for the program, covers the period from fiscal year 2013 through 2017 and includes options for 22 additional aircraft. He said the government's decision to sign the five-year agreement underscored its confidence in a program that had once been threatened with cancellation.

"Given the current fiscal situation, it speaks volumes as far as the confidence that the Department of Defense and the government have in the V-22," Masiello told Reuters. "This is a big year for us."

He said 92 of the aircraft in the new order would be built for the Marine Corps, the main buyer of the V-22s, with the Air Force set to receive seven aircraft. The Navy's Naval Air Systems Command oversees the program and negotiates contracts with the manufacturers.

Boeing and Bell Helicopter jointly build the V-22 aircraft, or Osprey, which can fly as fast as a plane but lands like a helicopter. The program is getting good reviews for its performance in combat after a rocky start that saw 23 Marines killed during flight testing in 2000. Two more Marines were killed during a training exercise in Morocco last year.

Masiello said the five-year contract would save the Navy $1 billion compared with buying the aircraft one at a time.

The Navy is already exploring the possibility of a third multiyear contract for 100 or more aircraft, which could include the 48 V-22s that the Navy plans to buy for its own use, as well as possible international sales, he said.

"I don't think it's too soon for us to start working on those details," he said, noting the aircraft's performance since its first deployment in 2007 was fueling international demand and could generate other orders in the United States.

The contract signing is scheduled for Wednesday. Masiello said the contract would be a modification of an initial single-year deal valued at $1.4 billion that was announced in December.

He said the agreement was good news for the prime contractors on the program, but would also stabilize production for smaller suppliers that build parts for the aircraft.

He said the program was making good strides and the 214 aircraft in use now had flown nearly 190,000 hours in combat.

One V-22 would be used this week on the USS Truman for a series of exercises aimed at demonstrating its ability to deliver food and other cargo to Navy ships at sea, Masiello said. The Navy could save billions of dollars if it used the V-22 to replace its fleet of aging C-2 supply aircraft, he said.

Two V-22s had also been added to the military unit that flies the U.S. president, while others were being deployed to Britain and Spain, he said.

International interest in the new aircraft also remained high, Masiello said, noting that the U.S. government had provided briefings to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, Singapore and Australia.

He said the Pentagon was exchanging letters with three countries on possible V-22 purchases but did not name them.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced in April that Israel would be the first foreign buyer of the V-22. Sources said Israel would receive five or six V-22s at an estimated price of $70 million each.

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All Navy commands are conducting a sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) stand-down between June 10 and July 1st....

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The first MV-22 Osprey to be embarked with a #USNavy ship in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), June 14.

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The Navy's first littoral combat ship, USS Freedom (LCS 1),