Tag: USN

USN, Marines Increase F-35 Collaboration with Asia-Pacific Allies

FlightGlobal reports that US Navy Rear Admiral Christopher Stone “says that work continues to refine missions for the Lockheed Martin F-35, including working closely with operators of the type in the Asia-Pacific.” Admiral Stone “is the commander of Task Force 76/3, an experimental unit formed in 2022 that seeks to more deeply integrate the USN and US Marine Corps (USMC) at the leadership and operational levels in the Asia-Pacific region.” A focus “is improving joint capabilities amid the growing military threat from China.” The task force “comprises 11 warships centered on USS America, an amphibious assault ship that operates three USMC types: the short take-off and vertical landing version of the F-35, the F-35B, in addition to rotorcraft such as the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and Sikorsky CH-53K.” Stone said of the F-35, “These fifth-generation aircraft are incredibly capable. The capabilities that the aircraft itself provides in terms of sensor coverage and weapons capability are truly breathtaking.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal – subscription publication)

USN, USMC Want to Maintain F-35 Production, End KC-130J Production After 2024

Aviation Week reports the US Navy and Marine Corps “want to maintain production of the Lockheed Martin F-35B and F-35C at a steady rate over the next five years and end KC-130J production after 2024, while not requesting any F/A-18E/Fs, E-2Ds or V-22s, according to the fiscal 2024 budget request.” Janes reports the USN’s “budget requested USD17.3 billion to purchase 88 aircraft and helicopters, including spare parts, support equipment, and facilities.” The service “intends to spend USD4.9 billion dollars to procure Lockheed Martin F-35s. USD2.3 billion is meant to purchase 16 F-35Bs, the vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft flown by the US Marine Corps (USMC). The F-35Bs will replace Boeing AV-8Bs and F/A-18C/Ds. Another USD2.6 billion is slated for 19 F-35Cs, the conventional aircraft carrier-capable variant flown mainly by the USN. 15 of the C-models will go to the Navy, while the remaining 4 will go to the US Marine Corps.” According to Janes, the “other major purchase is the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, designated to replace the CH-53E as the USMC’s heavy-lift helicopter. The USN allocated USD2.16 billion to purchase 15 of the King Stallion helicopters.”
Full Story (Aviation Week); More Info (Janes)

USN Tests SMAMD System on MQ-8C

Seapower Magazine reported that the US Navy recently had a successful demonstration of an MQ-8C Fire Scout UAS carrying the “Single-system Multi-mission Airborne Mine Detection (SMAMD) System.” The tests included “drifting, tethered and moored mines throughout beach zone to deep waters,” both night and day, in various water depths, and during various weather conditions. The SMAMD System, developed by BAE Systems for the Office of Naval Research, can perform detections in a single pass, with “low false alarm rate,” and sends “real-time detection sent via data link” which enables rapid response.
Full Story (Seapower Magazine)

Northrop Grumman Delivers First IFC-4 Triton to USN

Aviation Week reports that “Northrop Grumman has delivered the first production version of the MQ-4C Triton to the U.S. Navy that comes equipped with low- and high-band signals intelligence payloads.” According to Aviation Week, the “delivery is a key milestone in the Navy’s plan to replace the Lockheed EP-3E Aries II with a family of systems.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)