DefenceTalkFifty-four years ago this week, USS George Washington (SSBN-598) made history when it successfully launched two Polaris A1 missiles off Cape Canaveral, bringing to fruition a remarkable research and development effort composed of Navy and industry partners that had begun only four years earlier. Later that year, on November 15, USS George Washington began the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/the-continuing-role-of-strategic-deterrence-and-how-the-us-navy-meets-the-demands-60227/

DefenceTalkThe Navy’s $23 billion Littoral Combat Ship is less able to survive an attack than other U.S. warships, according to the Pentagon’s top weapons tester. Revised standards adopted for the vessel intended to operate in shallow coastal waters “continue to accept the risk the crew would need to abandon ship under circumstances that would not […]https://www.defencetalk.com/littoral-combat-ships-survival-in-an-attack-questioned-60122/

DefenceTalkThe US Navy has promoted a woman to the rank of a four-star admiral for the first time in its 238-year history, a milestone for females in the American military. In a ceremony on Tuesday, Michelle Howard was promoted to vice chief of naval operations, the number two job in the service, after having already […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-gets-its-first-four-star-female-admiral-60025/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) and the U.S. Navy successfully flew the unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout simultaneously with the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter for the first time. The capability demonstrates how a mix of aircraft can increase a ship commander’s intelligence-gathering capabilities aboard the Littoral Combat Ship. The flight tests took place May 12, aboard the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fire-scout-uav-seahawk-tested-on-lcs-1-59885/

DefenceTalkUSS Ross (DDG 71) departed its Norfolk homeport June 3 on her way to Rota, Spain, as the second of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to be forward deployed there. To enhance the security of the European region, two additional ballistic missile defense (BMD)-capable destroyers – USS Porter (DDG 78) from Norfolk and USS Carney […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uss-ross-to-be-forward-deployed-to-rota-spain-59779/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy today announced that Sikorsky Aircraft has been selected to build the next fleet of Marine One helicopters for the Office of the President. With the selection comes a $1.24 billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract to modify, test and deliver six FAA-certified S-92 helicopters and two trainer simulators to the U.S. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sikorsky-wins-us-navy-contract-to-replace-marine-one-helicopter-fleet-59527/

DefenceTalkThe Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50), homeported in Mayport, Fla., arrived in Constanta, Romania, for a scheduled port visit, April 28. Taylor’s presence in Romania reaffirms to NATO allies that the U.S. Navy shares a commitment to strengthen ties while working toward mutual goals of promoting peace and stability the Black Sea […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-frigate-arrives-in-romania-59452/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy today underscored its commitment to an advanced and adaptable submarine force by awarding General Dynamics Electric Boat a contract valued at $17.6 billion for the construction of 10 additional Virginia-class submarines. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. The multi-year Block IV contract enables Electric Boat and its industry […]https://www.defencetalk.com/general-dynamics-awarded-18-billion-by-us-navy-for-10-virginia-class-submarines-59429/

DefenceTalkIn partnership with the Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Navy deployed the second-generation Standard Missile-3 Block IB made by Raytheon for the first time, initiating the second phase of the Phased Adaptive Approach. “The SM-3 Block IB’s completion of initial operational testing last year set the stage for a rapid deployment to theater,” said Dr. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-deploys-standard-missile-3-block-ib-for-first-time-59393/

DefenceTalkLast February, I shared my vision as the Navy’s Air Boss with you for our aviation future based on ensuring a whole, capable and affordable force. Today, I am excited to announce the publication of Naval Aviation Vision, 2014-2025 — a document that builds upon the pillars of capability superiority, wholeness and maintaining capacity to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-naval-aviation-vision-a-preeminent-warfighting-force-today-and-in-the-future-59345/