DefenceTalkSikorsky Aircraft Corp. has received a $435 million U.S. Navy contract to build four production-representative CH-53K heavy lift helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps. Designated as System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA), the four aircraft will enable the Marines to conduct operational evaluation of the new helicopter system in support of Initial Operational Capability in 2019. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sikorsky-to-build-ch-53k-operational-test-helicopters-for-us-navy-48057/

DefenceTalkUSS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) conducted the first aircraft carrier-borne end-to-end at-sea test of the Surface Ship Torpedo Defense (SSTD) System, the Navy announced, June 6. The SSTD System combines the passive detection capability of the Torpedo Warning System that not only finds torpedoes, but also classifies and tracks them, with the hard-kill […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-carrier-countermeasure-anti-torpedo-launched-48053/

DefenceTalkThe 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 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ddg-51-multiyear-procurement-contract-awarded-48030/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy completed the first series of developmental and operational testing (DT/OT) of Raytheon Company’s 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 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raytheon-us-navy-complete-first-phase-of-ram-block-2-developmental-testing-47989/

DefenceTalkUSNS Choctaw County, the Navy’s second Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV 2), satisfactorily completed Acceptance Trials, May 3 in Mobile, Ala. The JHSV is a versatile, non-combatant transport ship built by Austal USA and designed for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles and equipment. The ship was presented to the Navy’s independent Board of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navys-jhsv-2-completes-acceptance-trials-47814/

DefenceTalkUSS George H.W. Bush (AT SEA): The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) completed its first ever carrier-based catapult launch from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia today. “Today we saw a small, but significant pixel in the future picture of our Navy as we begin integration of unmanned […]https://www.defencetalk.com/x-47b-catapulted-from-us-navy-aircraft-carrier-47791/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin have delivered the second Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) spacecraft to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., where it will be prepared for a July liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. MUOS vastly improves current secure mobile satellite communications. It links mobile users for the first […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-and-lockheed-deliver-newest-secure-communications-satellite-for-mobile-users-47776/

DefenceTalkCommander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) will forward deploy five patrol coastal (PC) ships to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), Manama, Bahrain, May 14. USS Tempest (PC 2), USS Squall (PC 7) and USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) are scheduled to arrive this summer. Two additional ships are expected to transfer next year. Commander, Patrol […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navy-forward-deploys-additional-patrol-boats-to-bahrain-47740/

DefenceTalkHelicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 became the first composite expeditionary helicopter squadron to include both the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter; the MH-60R Seahawk and the MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Take-off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV); during an establishment ceremony today on Naval Air Station North Island. As the Navy’s first operational […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navys-first-squadron-to-operate-manned-and-unmanned-aircraft-47696/

DefenceTalkThe Navy’s first Mobile Landing Platform, USNS Montford Point (MLP 1), successfully completed builder’s sea trials March 20, in San Diego. Builder’s trials test the vessel’s propulsion, ballasting, communications, navigation and mission systems, as well as related support systems. General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) constructed MLP 1. “This first-of-class ship performed very […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mlp-1-successfully-completes-builders-sea-trials-47262/