DefenceTalkDefenceTalkChina on Friday warned off a US warship sailing near contested islands in the South China Sea, Beijing said, the first such encounter made public since the inauguration of President Joe Biden. The USS John S. McCain “broke into China’s Xisha territorial waters without the permission of the Chinese government,” Beijing’s military said in a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/beijing-warns-off-us-warship-from-south-china-sea-islands-76766/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is departing the Central Command area of responsibility and moving into the U.S. Indo-Pacific region, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby announced today. “We want to thank all the men and women aboard the ships in that strike crew and the squadrons who supported Central Command now for more […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nimitz-carrier-group-sails-into-indo-pacific-command-76728/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkA Ghost Fleet Overlord unmanned surface vessel, part of a partnership between the Defense Department’s Strategic Capabilities Office and the Navy, recently traveled a distance of more than 4,700 nautical miles, almost entirely autonomously. Afterward, it participated in exercise Dawn Blitz where it again spent nearly all of its underway time operating autonomously. “This is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dods-autonomous-vessel-sails-through-transit-test-participates-in-exercise-dawn-blitz-76673/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe US reversed a decision to bring an aircraft carrier home from the Gulf Sunday, with the Pentagon saying that due to “recent threats” by Iran the USS Nimitz would stay in position. The Nimitz has been patrolling Gulf waters since late November, but in a statement issued on December 31, acting US defense secretary […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-aircraft-carrier-to-stay-in-gulf-pentagon-76632/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkBoeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Navy will demonstrate advanced missile technologies that will make carrier air wing strike fighters more lethal against threats into the next decade. Boeing has been awarded a $30 million contract from the Navy to co-develop the Supersonic Propulsion Enabled Advanced Ramjet (SPEAR) flight demonstrator with the Navy’s Air Warfare […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-us-navy-to-demo-future-ramjet-missile-technology-76501/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkSecretary of Defense Mark Esper announced Wednesday an ambitious plan to expand the US Navy with a range of unmanned and autonomous ships, submarines and aircraft to confront the growing maritime challenge from China. The Pentagon chief said a sweeping review of US naval power dubbed “Future Forward” had laid out a “game-changer” plan that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eyeing-china-pentagon-plans-larger-more-lethal-navy-76357/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkIn December 2016, the Navy released a force-structure goal that calls for achieving and maintaining a fleet of 355 ships of certain types and numbers. The 355-ship goal was made U.S. policy by Section 1025 of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2810/P.L. 115-91 of December 12, 2017). The Trump Administration has identified the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navy-force-structure-and-shipbuilding-plans-background-and-issues-for-congress-76343/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkDeveloping and deploying a sea-launched nuclear cruise missile is essential to deter Russia, U.S. officials have said. A recent State Department paper says the new weapon would help fill a gap identified in the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review. The United States retired its last nuclear sea-launched cruise missile in 2010 — one of only two […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nuke-sea-launched-cruise-missile-would-bolster-deterrence-officials-say-76136/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, consisting of flagship USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), participated in cooperative exercises with the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean commencing July 20. “It was a privilege […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nimitz-strike-group-participates-in-cooperative-exercises-with-indian-navy-75971/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkPHILIPPINE SEA: The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Australian Defense Force (ADF), and the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group began a trilateral exercise in the Philippine Sea, July 19. U.S. Naval forces routinely operate alongside regional allies, strengthening shared commitments to regional stability, and a free and open Indo-Pacific through integrated training and cooperation. “The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-japan-join-u-s-for-trilateral-naval-exercise-75956/