Three US ships in Vietnam for joint exercise

DANANG, VIETNAM (AP): Three US Navy ships were welcomed by former foe Vietnam for joint training, despite China's irritation following weeks of fiery exchanges between the communist neighbours over disputed areas of the South China Sea.

US and Vietnamese officials have stressed that the seven-day ship visit and naval training are part of routine exchanges planned long before tensions began flaring between China and Vietnam in late May. China has criticized the port call as inappropriate, saying it should have been rescheduled due to the ongoing squabble.

US Navy awards $18 mln contract to BAE systems

LOUISVILLE (BNS): US Navy has awarded $18 million contract to BAE Systems for the delivery of 519 Marine Corps Gunner Protection Systems for the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement and the High Mobility Multi-Wheel Vehicle (HMMWV).

The Marine Corps Gunner Protection System (MGPS) is also known as the Marine Corps Transparent Armored Gun Shield (MCTAGS) system.

Russia blasts US Navy maneuvers near Georgia

Russia is outraged at the maneuvers of American USS Monterey cruiser carrying the AEGIS air defence system near the Georgian coast on the Black Sea, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

The U.S. warship arrived for joint exercises with Georgia as part of the Phased Adaptive Approach program designed to shape the European segment of the U.S.-led project to build a global missile defence system, the Trend news agency said.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier expressed concern that along with negotiations on cooperation in the global air defense system, [the U.S.] is conducting simultaneous 'reconnaissance' operations near the borders of our country," the ministry said.

Fire Scout UAV Supports Operations in Afghanistan

The Navy’s Fire Scout is proving its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability during its first land-based deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The Fire Scout, managed by Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air Systems program office (PMA-266), deployed in late April to CENTCOM in response to a DoD ISR Task Force request to provide ISR services in northern Afghanistan.

In nine months, PMA-266, in conjunction with ISR task force leadership and Northrop Grumman, conducted site surveys of various basing locations, interfaced with key leadership personnel in the CENTCOM chain of command, planned and executed deployment preparations and sustainment for joint and allied military operations in Regional Command North, Afghanistan.

General Dynamics NASSCO gets $744 million contract

SAN DIEGO (BNS): General Dynamics NASSCO has received from the US Navy a $744 million modification to its Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) contract to fully fund construction of the first two ships of the new ship class. 

Construction of the first ship will begin immediately, with delivery to occur by the spring of 2013. The contract includes an option for the construction of a third MLP which, if exercised, will increase the total contract value to approximately $1.3 billion, a company statement said.

US Navy's F-35C makes first air show appearance

WASHINGTON (BNS): The US Navy’s F-35C Joint Strike Fighter has made its first public appearance at an air show at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Eric "Magic" Buus, the F-35C flight commemorated 100 years of naval aviation by highlighting the future of tactical air power, the US Navy said in its website. 

GD gets US Navy contract to develop submarine technology

GROTON (BNS): US Navy has awarded a $33.5 million contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat to develop advanced submarine technologies for current and future undersea platforms.

Under the contract, Electric Boat – a fully-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics – will perform advanced submarine research and development studies in support of a wide range of technology areas including manufacturability, maintainability, survivability, hydrodynamics, acoustics and materials.

US Army tranfers High Speed Vessels to Navy

WASHINGTON (BNS): The US Navy has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Army for transferring all five of the Army’s Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) to the Navy.

The intent of this MOA is to clarify relationships, identify the roles and responsibilities, and provide an implementation plan, a US DOD statement said.

A U.S. NAVY SEALS' SECRET WEAPON: ELITE DOG TEAM

The U.S. Navy SEALs who carried out the successful mission in Pakistan used high-tech helicopters, weaponry and masterful skills to kill Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, according to released details of the operation.

Members of the U.S. Navy military special forces, however, have yet another formidable weapon in their already impressive arsenal: an elite dog team that can parachute or rappel into action at a moment's notice.

It remains unclear if any members of the U.S. Navy SEALs' elite dog team participated in the raid of bin Laden's compound, but over the past several months, many of these dogs have been outfitted with "canine tactical assault vests" and other equipment, according to media reports.

General Dynamics gets $1.2 bn to build 4th Virginia-class nuke sub

GROTON (BNS): The US Navy has awarded a $1.2 billion contract to General Dynamics to build the nation’s fourth Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine, SSN-787.

The contract, awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, marks the beginning of production of two submarines per year on the Virginia-class programme, the company said. 

The release of the funding allows procurement of long lead-time components that will support the planned official construction of the yet-to-be named nuke sub later this year, it said.

Northrop delivers 1,000th GLTA assembly to US Navy

ROLLING MEADOWS (BNS): Northrop Grumman has delivered the 1,000th Guardian Laser Transmitter Assembly (GLTA) to the US government which is a part of the Department of Navy's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (DoN LAIRCM) system. 

DoN LAIRCM is currently installed on US Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters operating in Afghanistan and on ship-based CH-46E helicopters.

The company has also produced over 930 small laser transmitter assemblies for a total of nearly 2,000 production laser-based IRCM transmitters.

The system functions by automatically detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat and activating a high-intensity laser-based countermeasure system to track and defeat the missile.

US Navy receives first Standard Missile-6 from Raytheon

TUCSON (BNS): Raytheon has announced the delivery of the first Standard Missile-6 production to US Navy on Monday.

“Now the US Navy has a missile that provides an umbrella of protection against the full spectrum of air threats," Frank Wyatt, vice president of Raytheon's Air and Missile Defence Systems product line said.

SM-6 leverages the legacy Standard Missile airframe and propulsion elements while incorporating the advanced signal processing and guidance control capabilities of Raytheon's Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile.

This missile can use both active and semi-active modes, giving the war-fighter an enhanced ability to reach remote targets.

Five years ago, Raytheon had received the contract from US Navy for the delivery of Standard Missile-6.

Aegis combat systems installed on US Navy destroyers

MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY (BNS): The US Navy has installed the Aegis Combat System aboard two new Navy destroyers, USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109).

The Aegis Combat Systems aboard the ships have also been certified as fully operational through the tests known as Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials, a statement by Lockheed Martin said.

US Navy uses Facebook to acquire information

It is necessary to study and make the best use of new communication opportunities afforded by Internet technology, said US Chief of Naval Operation Admiral Gary Roughead who recently visited Russia and gave an exclusive interview to Central Navy Portal. 

"In my view, we're only beginning to understand all advantages of these new means of communication and mass information", said the admiral talking about social nets like Facebook. As for the American admiral, information he gets from Internet forums gives him better awareness of the situation in subordinate forces and helps to keep abreast of developments.

Supercharged Sonobuoys To The Rescue

The U.S. Navy is big on sonobuoys again. Another 65,000 were recently ordered. While sonobuoy technology has not changed a lot recently, the way sonobuoys are used has. This is all about taking advantage of new software, and cheap, but massive, computer power, to provide an edge against non-nuclear (and very quiet) submarines operating in coastal waters. The most effective way of hunting down subs is via helicopters or maritime patrol aircraft equipped with homing torpedoes and sonobuoys. The latter are nearly a meter (three feet) long, 120mm in diameter and weigh about 18 kg (40 pounds). They are used once, by dropping them into the water. The U.S. has two basic types of air dropped sonobuoys. The AN/SSQ-101 floats upright, sending sonar signals into the water, and transmitting any data bouncing back, to the aircraft overhead.

US Navy, Northrop test new laser weapon system

NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY (BNS): The US Navy and Northrop Grumman have successfully tested a new laser weapon system which has validated its prowess to intercept and destroy small boats at sea.

The new weapon, called the Maritime Laser Demonstrator (MLD) designed and built by Northrop, was fired from a surface ship and destroyed a small target vessel during its latest test on April 6.

Open ocean tests for the system were conducted between October 2010 and April 2011 at the Pacific Ocean Test Range near San Nicolas Island off the Central California coast. For these tests, the laser system was installed on the Navy’s Self Defence Test Ship, the USS Paul Foster.

BAE to upkeep US Navy’s Ticonderoga class warships

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA (BNS): BAE Systems has received a contract from the US Navy to maintain six Ticonderoga class (CG 47) guided missile cruisers.
Under the multi-ship, multi-option (MSMO) dry dock contract, spanning for five years, BAE will undertake execution planning, modernisation, maintenance and repair work for the warships.
The ships include: USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Monterey (CG 61), USS Anzio (CG 68) and USS Vella Gulf (CG 72). 

BAE to provide Mk 38 Mod 2 machine guns to US Navy

ARLINGTON, US (BNS): British defence firm BAE Systems has received a contract from the US Navy to deliver 40 Mk 38 Mod 2 Machine Gun Systems (MGS).

This is the first year of a four-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a total value of over $165 million under which BAE will deliver the naval guns in 2011 and 2012. 

The latest order will increase the total number of Mk 38 Mod 2 guns in the US Navy’s fleet to more than 220, the company said.

US Navy awards $1.5 bln contract to Ingalls

PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI (BNS): The US Navy has recently awarded $1.5 billion worth defence contract to Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) for the construction of the 10th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.

The contract will be used to build John P. Murtha (LPD 26), with construction expected to start in May.

The announcement was made Tuesday in Pascagoula, with local and state officials present. The contract will carry the company into the year 2016.

US Navy awards $5.4 mln contract to Lockheed Martin

MARION (BNS): Lockheed Martin will design and deliver a second-generation anti-submarine training target under a $5.4 million contract from the US Navy.

The targets, known as MK39 Expendable Mobile Anti-submarine Warfare Training Targets, or EMATTs, are used by air and surface crews for unrestricted, open-ocean and on-range anti-submarine warfare training. Designed to simulate the movements and sounds of diesel submarines, EMATTs help crews maintain their critical anti-submarine combat skills.