DefenseNews

US Navy’s four unmanned ships return from Pacific deployment

January 17, 2024
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy completed its first deployment of four unmanned ships, which spent five months in the Pacific testing concepts for how to integrate their capabilities into crewed fleet operations. The unmanned surface vessels — Sea Hunter, Sea Hawk, Mariner and Ranger — departed Southern California on Aug. 7 and returned Jan. 15. The Sea Hunter and Sea Hawk originate from a…
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Navy accepting Landing Ship Medium proposals for FY25 contract award

January 11, 2024
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is seeking proposals for its Landing Ship Medium program, which one Marine Corps leader called a top priority for the Navy-Marine amphibious team. The services are “on pace to procure in ’25, deliver it in 2029,” Maj. Gen. Marcus Annibale, the director of expeditionary warfare on the chief of naval operations’ staff, said Wednesday at the Surface Navy…
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US Army carves out its role in space

January 10, 2024
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army’s mission when it comes to operating in space and using space capabilities is shifting to adapt to the arrival of the U.S. Space Force. Before the Space Force’s establishment in 2019, the Army’s space-related mission areas included…
DefenseNews

Germany’s Hensoldt hires Thales executive to lead company

January 10, 2024
PARIS — Defense electronics specialist Hensoldt has hired a competitor’s executive as its new leader, the German company announced Monday. Oliver Dörre will become CEO at Hensoldt and replace outgoing boss Thomas Müller on April 1. Dörre joins Hensoldt from the French firm Thales, where he led the company’s German arm. Dörre has already started work on Hensoldt’s management board, the…
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Here’s what the Navy is doing to boost SWO retention

January 10, 2024
Retention among surface warfare officers going into department head school is slightly down from last year, but numbers overall remain up as the service has launched several initiatives to keep SWOs in the service longer, according to officials. SWOs have historically…
DefenseNews

Navy chief to prioritize getting more ships ready for action

January 10, 2024
ARLINGTON, Va. — The chief of naval operations said Tuesday the service must “get more players on the field” as international crises demand more of the naval force, in her first major address since taking the helm of the Navy two months ago. Adm. Lisa Franchetti said…
DefenseNews

Seeking 75 ships ready for combat, Navy turns to new readiness orgs

January 10, 2024
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s surface fleet, still short of its readiness goal of 75 combat-credible surface ships at any given time, is pursuing new ways to boost its readiness. Then-Commander of Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, who retired in August, announced in January 2023 the fleet would aim to have 75 mission-capable ships. The ships would be well maintained and the crews…
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